unexpectedly good ; kyuhyun / sungmin ; pg ; part b
unexpectedly good
kitariii | pg | romance, slight!drama, fluff
kyuhyun / genie!sungmin
A man who thought his life had less meaning after finding out that he has a critical disease tries to drown his sorrows in wine. However, instead of tasty wine, out comes a genie who gives him five rule-free wishes. When he could wish for absolutely anything, what would he choose?
“Excuse me, Mr. Cho, is there something wrong?” The voice of his professor startled Kyuhyun, making him realize that the two of them weren’t alone in this room. In fact, there were a number of students who have witnessed his sudden outburst - he would’ve told him that someone was bothering him (namely, Sungmin) but then he remembered that no one could see the latter but him.
“Nothing’s wrong, sir. I’m sorry for the disturbance.” As he apologized, his eyes narrowed to a glare directed towards the person beside him. The other man simply avoided his gaze while muttering a small, “Sorry, Kyu.”
After his last class, Kyuhyun made his way towards the soccer field for the practices.
“You stay over there and watch.” Kyuhyun turned to Sungmin and swerves him gently aside to which the latter complies.
“Okay.” He gave Kyuhyun a nod before holding up both his hands for a thumbs-up.
“Kyuhyun-ah!” His attention was diverted when somebody called out for him. He looked behind him to see their team captain making his way towards him with a soccer ball in hand.
“Glad to see you’re doing well now!” He gave the ball to Kyuhyun and patted his shoulders before telling him what to do. “Practice is starting, let’s have a quick demonstration. Kyuhyun, you pitch the ball.”
“Okay.”
Kyuhyun held the ball on his hands as he waited for the other members of the team to line up, dribbling and playing around with it. He turned back to look at Sungmin who was standing around two meters away from him, observing the vast space of the fields where people gathered for their extra-curricular activities. He watched as the oblivious man gawks at the homerun a certain student over at the baseball area hit, he couldn’t help but smile at the small action.
“Kyuhyun, let’s start!”
Kyuhyun positioned himself before letting the soccer ball on his hand roll on the ground for the first in line to kick. The player lunged forward before kicking the ball with so much force that it got off course and deviated to another direction. His eyes dilate when he realized that the ball was headed towards Sungmin’s direction.
“Sungmin!” He felt adrenaline rush through him and without thinking, he left his spot and ran over to Sungmin, knocking him off so that the ball wouldn’t hit him. Before he was about to fall on Sungmin on the ground, he was able to stabilize himself with his arms. He looks down before him and sees Sungmin staring at him with a shocked expression.
“Hey, you alright?”
“Uh-”
“Kyuhyun! Are you alright? Is it your leg again? You shouldn’t have attempted to catch the ball!” He stumbled on his back side and saw their team captain jogging towards him and offered him a hand.
“No, no it’s okay really.” He rejected the hand and went up by himself.
Sungmin on the other hand was still fazed. He hadn’t expected Kyuhyun to go running up to him like that. He watched as Kyuhyun talked with another man, the former looking a little glum. He wondered if it was his fault that Kyuhyun’s mood had suddenly changed which made him feel the need to apologize… yet again. He stood up and slowly approached him, only to be held back.
“Kyuhyun, you can’t be stubborn!” The authorizing voice of the other man as he scolded Kyuhyun sent chills down Sungmin’s spine. He observed as Kyuhyun tried to avoid the look the other man was giving him.
“I-I still want to practice. My legs doesn’t even hurt anymore!”
“Who are you fooling? Kyuhyun, you’re one of our most valuable players in the team - I can’t risk losing you. So even if it’s against your will, I’m cutting you off practice for a week to heal your leg. That’s it.” Kyuhyun watched the captain’s retreating back before running off to a different direction, leaving Sungmin behind.
“Kyuhyun, wait!” He tried to catch up to the latter but to no avail, he found himself lost in the abyss called school.
///
Not long after, it started raining so hard that students who were practicing on the field had to stop and look for quarters to stay whilst the raining was pouring. Kyuhyun, on the other hand, was on the school rooftop, slumped over the fence. Even when the droplets of rain have started drenching him, he still made no effort to look for somewhere to shield himself from the rian.
He looked up at the sky and thought about all the things that were bothering him - his disease, his temporary suspension of practice and moreover the unexpected appearance of a genie of all things! He had been a child who believed in such however, he was older now and he didn’t believe that such existed. Of course, when he thought he was right, something always comes to prove him wrong. Not only did a genie magically appear, it also gave him five rule-free wishes. A genie named Lee Sungmin.
As the thought crosses his mind, he jolts up and recalls that as he ran off to the rooftop is a burst of emotion, he had left Sungmin. As if a rush went throughout his system, he hurriedly made his way towards the field only to see it void of presence. He looked around and still, he couldn’t find him.
“Lee Sungmin!” He shouted at the top of his lungs. He didn’t care that the rain was starting to pour even harder. “Lee Sungmin! You stupid genie! If you can hear me, answer me!”
Suddenly, he felt arms encircling around his waist. It was Sungmin. “Kyuhyun-ah, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to cause you trouble. I- Don’t leave me again, I was so scared…”
“It’s not your fault.”
“But-”
“Aren’t you supposed to be the genie here?” Kyuhyun teased.
“I am.”
“Then stop blaming yourself. I’m actually a bit thankful that I had been suspended from the team for some time, it’s giving me some time for myself.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am.”
“Promise me something first, Kyuhyun. While I’m still here… please, don’t leave me alone like that again.”
“Promise.”
“Do you want to wish for anything?”
“No, I’d save that for later. Let’s… let’s just go home, we’re soaked wet.”
He didn’t know what was happening to himself. Was he actually happy that he was suspended as he said to Sungmin? Why was he suddenly acting like that, to someone who he have met for only a day? Somehow he’s beginning to doubt the fact that Sungmin couldn’t do magic on his own because he couldn’t help but feel that the genie cast a spell on him, that made him… likeable. Whatever it was, he doesn’t know whether he found it good or bad - it was a conflicting ordeal inside of him.
Anyways, he still had four wishes to go.
///
It had been a routine for the two, Sungmin and Kyuhyun would alternate their chores with the former doing mostly of the cooking since the latter wasn’t skilled in the culinary department. Sungmin made it a point to slowly teach Kyuhyun how to cook, saying that he had learn all the skills he had from his mother whom he was separated with when he was sent to be a genie.
As days passed by, so does their friendship strengthen. Kyuhyun started becoming more open to Sungmin, even sharing with him stories about his family and his personal life. Sungmin appreciated the openness, believing that it takes them a step closer into being less of a genie and his client and more of friends.
“I come from a broken family.” Kyuhyun, who was looking out at his window, said to Sungmin once in a sunny day.
“A broken family?” Sungmin was lying down on Kyuhyun’s bed, staring at white ceiling. He turned to his right to look at Kyuhyun who was entertaining himself with the view of the outside world.
“That’s right. My father and my mother live apart, something about differences, they say. My older sister has a family of her own now but still, it doesn’t change the fact that we are a broken family. Also, it’s kind of part of the reason why I live by myself.”
“Differences? But if they truly loved each other then they should’ve made things work out, right?”
“That’s the problem - things didn’t work out. They were… let’s just say that they not meant to be with each other after all.”
“Not meant to be? Kyuhyun, I might not be one to talk but there’s no such thing as ‘meant to be’.”
“Maybe there isn’t, maybe there is, who knows?”
“Do you want your parents to be together again?” Sungmin asked in hesitation. “I can sense that you’re hurting.”
“Do I? Maybe I do.” Kyuhyun tore his eyes off of the window and looked at Sungmin, showing a slightly tear-stricken face. He hung his head low. “Maybe I do want to see them back together again, to be the same when we were young.”
“Then wish for it.” Unbeknownst to Kyuhyun, while he had his head low, Sungmin made his way towards him. He raised his head up to see Sungmin smiling down at him, before the latter enveloped him in a hug. All the suppressed tears from the pain of having his family separate were released.
His second wish was spent for bringing back together his parents. Although he would’ve wanted them to reconcile on their own, he preferred it this way - it was less painful.
Whenever Kyuhyun was sad, Sungmin would be there to comfort him. Whenever Kyuhyun was happy, Sungmin was there to support him and further cheer him on.
“It doesn’t need magic to comfort you or cheer you up, it kind of makes me feel useful.” Sungmin whispered. “It makes me happy to know that I’m able to do something to help.”
“Your kindness alone is magic itself. And you’re not useless, if you were then what am I? You’ve done so much already while I’m my usual self, I envy you.”
“What’s there to envy? You basically have all the opportunities laid down before you, you just have to know what to take while I’m a genie, on a job.” He trailed off.
“So you still consider this as a job?” Kyuhyun’s tone suddenly became stoic and serious, which worried Sungmin. “Maybe I should use up the three wishes I have left. Then, you’d get your freedom.”
“N-no, that’s not it! And, even if you use up all your wishes, I’m not going to be free.” Sungmin sighed. “I’m just going to be sucked back into that bottle of wine, to find another person to discover me. The cycle will go on.”
Sungmin paused and looked back at Kyuhyun with a dejected expression. “Do you want me to go that bad?”
“No. I want you to stay. That is, if you’re still willing to put up with me.”
The big smile that dawned Sungmin’s face after was unexplainable - even Kyuhyun himself felt elated, seeing the latter smile.
What have started out as a mere contract between a genie and his client has developed into something much more. However, both were not aware of what that certain something was. Time will dictate when and hopefully it wouldn’t be too late then.
///
In the span of the two months that have passed since then, Kyuhyun had managed to use off two of the last three wishes he had left. He contemplated on whether he would use the fourth wish but at that moment, he really needed money to support himself and Sungmin. Asking help from his parents wasn’t an option; although they were together again thanks to him, his relationship with them still isn’t resolved. Call it pride but Kyuhyun just couldn’t dare ask for help and show weakness when it comes to them.
And so, for his fourth wish, he asked for enough money for the two of them.
Another month has passed and Sungmin wonders why Kyuhyun hadn’t made another wish. Then it all came down to him that the next wish the man would make would be his final wish - the one after fulfilled will bring Sungmin back to where he came from. The final wish would end their contract for good, cutting all ties between the two of them.
It was the middle of the night and Sungmin was still up, sitting on the floor, deep in the thought. It was his first time being a genie, he had no prior experiences of being one which was why he was a having a hard time with himself. There was no rule that said a genie could not be attached to his client, yes, but Sungmin was sure that whatever he was feeling was only one-sided. He looked back at Kyuhyun whose face was being illuminated by the moonlight. He went closer and brushed his bangs off of his face gently, making sure that the latter doesn’t wake up.
“You know what, as much as how selfish this sounds, I don’t want to leave you..” He whispered. He observed Kyuhyun’s features and his steady breathing before turning back and looking up at the ceiling while sighing.
“Then don’t.” He whipped his head back and saw Kyuhyun sitting on his bed, eyes focused at him. “If you don’t want to leave me then don’t, I wouldn’t mind keeping you forever because..” He stood up and went towards Sungmin.
“Because?”
“Because I think I..” Before he could even finish what he was saying, he stumbled and fell on Sungmin and went unconscious.
Sungmin didn’t know what he would do the moment Kyuhyun fell on his arms. He brought his face up and noticed his face was pale, and was startled when he saw on his hands strands of hair.
“Kyuhyun!? Kyuhyun wake up!” He shouted as he tried to shake Kyuhyun awake yet his efforts were futile. He tried checking if he was still breathing and to his relief, he was yet that didn’t lessen his worries. He laid down Kyuhyun on the floor and frantically search for the latter’s mobile phone and when he did, he tried searching for the emergency number. It was a good thing that Kyuhyun had taught him how to use it, if not he would’ve felt helpless by now. There were a lot of things that he was thankful for and one of those was Kyuhyun; now the thought of losing him haunts him and he doesn’t know what to do.
While he was waiting for help to come, he opened the doors to Kyuhyun’s home so that the medics could access him easily. It was those times when he wished that normal people could see him as well but no, they couldn’t and that was his disadvantage at the moment. Whilst waiting, he spotted a brown envelope on top of the drawer beside Kyuhyun’s bed and driven by his curiosity, he reached for it and read through its contents. At the same time the medics arrived at the scene and put Kyuhyun’s unconscious body on stretcher. He followed them to the ambulance, piece of paper still in hand.
A mix of emotions was swirling inside of him as of the moment - worry, sadness, fright and most of all shock. He hadn’t expected anything like that to happen at all, especially at such time. Things come when you least expect it, they say. That was when he started understanding why Kyuhyun wished for his legs to never feel pain and why every single month, there would be a day when the latter would excuse himself from Sungmin, saying that he had important business to attend to. All this time, he was suffering through an illness and he didn’t even tell it to him. He didn’t know what to feel, he wished he had the power to cure Kyuhyun willingly but he couldn’t for his magic only works when his client asks for something - only when his client wishes for it.
///
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Sungmin demanded as he faced Kyuhyun who was lying down on a hospital bed. Night has passed and it was another day. Kyuhyun finally woke up. The doctor spoke to him about his condition and told him that it was getting worse and if he didn’t go on operation soon, he might not survive. Of course, Sungmin witnessed all of that and couldn’t help but tear up as he heard the doctor speak.
“Tell you what?” Kyuhyun asked before turning slightly away, as if to avoid Sungmin’s gaze.
“This, Kyuhyun, all of this!”
“I… I didn’t want to worry you.”
“Don’t you know how awful I felt, Kyuhyun? You didn’t tell me this when we swore that we wouldn’t keep secrets from one another! Why? Why didn’t you tell me that you were dying? Is this because of your so-called pride again?”
“It’s not.”
“Then what is it?”
“I just thought that it would be better to die suddenly than having you worry all the time. I’ve been such a burden to you.”
Sungmin reached out for Kyuhyun’s hand and clasped their hands together. “You think I’d be happy knowing that while you were suffering, I’m on a false light, thinking that you were okay all along? Then suddenly you’d go leave me? That’s selfish, Kyu.”
“I know. I’m sorry, Ming.”
“Oh, you should be. I didn’t know what to do last night, I was frantic.”
“I’m sorry, I-” He was cut off when Sungmin silenced him with his index finger. He looked up and saw Sungmin telling him to stop.
“If you’re really sorry then do me a favor.”
“Anything, just say it!” Kyuhyun tightened his grip on Sungmin’s hand. “I’ll do what I can..”
“Really? Then wish for yourself to get better from this disease. You have one wish left, right? Use it.” Kyuhyun could feel Sungmin’s grip loosening as he spoke.
“What!? But that would mean-”
“I know what you’re thinking but there’s no other way.”
“I can’t do that, Sungmin. I don’t want to lose you. I’d rather die than lose you. Please, don’t make this hard for me.”
“You think I’m not hurting? Have you ever thought how I would feel if you die? I’d rather be separated from you than watch you die knowing that I couldn’t do anything to save you.”
“No, I could still take an operation.”
“That doesn’t guarantee anything!”
“It wouldn’t hurt to try would it?”
“Kyuhyun…”
“You said I could wish for anything right? No rules?” He watched as the genie who was already tear-stricken nodded. “Yes, absolutely anything.”
“Then I wish to spend the rest of my life with you and let the odds decide on my fate.”
“You serious? That’s-”
“A wish is a wish, Ming. Your job as my genie is to grant my wishes. So do it.” He looked up and saw a flash of doubt in Sungmin’s eyes. He reached up to remove the tear on his face and caressed it. “Trust me, everything will be alright.”
Sungmin removed the tears on his eyes with the back of his hand before holding Kyuhyun’s and concentrating on fulfilling his wish. He looked back and asked for reassurance. “Are you sure? This is your final wish.”
“I’m certain.”
Sungmin closed his eyes and concentrated. Not too long after, a blinding light engulfs the scene.
///
Kyuhyun opens his eyes to see his mother, head lying down on his hospital bed while clutching his hand and on the other side of the room, his father was seated on the sofa, snoring. It had been so long since he has seen them that suddenly, an emotion of longing builds up in him. The sudden shift in his position woke up his mother.
“Kyuhyun, you’re finally awake.” She stood up and hugged her son.
“H-How long have I been out?” He asked.
“It’s been a week since your surgery, we thought you wouldn’t go back into consciousness anymore. I’m so happy.”
“I had surgery?”
“Bone marrow transplant, specifically. Why didn’t you tell us that you were suffering from cancer? If it hadn’t been because of your friend, we wouldn’t have known…”
“My friend?”
“Yes, he called us and informed us of your situation. I’m greatly thankful for the young lad except I never caught his name.” She twisted her lips in slight annoyance.
“What the… But I’ve never told anyone about my condition.” Kyuhyun furrowed his brows in confusion, thinking of who may have told his parents about his condition.
Their conversation was interrupted when suddenly, the door opened. Kyuhyun didn’t even bother to look, assuming that it was just a nurse was just going in for a check-up. One of the reasons Kyuhyun hated the hospital.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Cho, we’ll just give the patient his daily supplement.” Kyuhyun could’ve sworn that he has heard that voice before however, he couldn’t point his finger at who it may be.
“Oh, okay. Now Kyuhyun, be a good boy, this injection won’t hurt.” His mother said to cheer him on however it gave him the opposite effect; embarrassment. He turned away and extended his arm, still no looking at the nurse.
The nurse rolled up his sleeves and cleansed his arm with alcohol. “Now this is going to hurt a bit but you’ll manage… Kyu.”
He jerked at the sound of his name, as if he was recalling something or someone important. He looked up and came face to face with someone he knew, someone he had spent the past few months of his life with, someone who had become a big part of his life. Yet, he couldn’t be too sure. Sungmin after all, was a genie, and in front of him was a human being.
Still, that didn’t stop him from reaching out to him. “Sungmin… is that you?”
The person bit his lips and broke out into a big grin before nodding. Kyuhyun could see the tears that were brimming on his eyes which looked like he had been holding them for a while.
“The one and only.”
Even though he was still feeling weak, he gave all his energy to sit up and reached for the other man, hugging him by the waist. “I thought I had lost you.”
“You wish for it, didn’t you? Now I’m going to be here as much as you like.”
“How many wishes do I have left?” Kyuhyun looked up to him with a small smirk on the side of his mouth.
“Countless.” He whispered before giving Kyuhyun a soft kiss on the lips.
A/N: So... how long have I been gone? I know I promised an update but it seems that I wasn't able to do it due to some problems. You can throw rocks at me now. /goes into hiding 8) Hahaha, anyways, I hope you enjoyed this oneshot. Although I'm not sure if it suits your tastes, I just hope that you'll like it. Do tell me what you think ;D God bless!
PS: I'll try my best to do an update before my 15th birthday which is at April 9 (this Saturday!) :D
kitariii | pg | romance, slight!drama, fluff
kyuhyun / genie!sungmin
A man who thought his life had less meaning after finding out that he has a critical disease tries to drown his sorrows in wine. However, instead of tasty wine, out comes a genie who gives him five rule-free wishes. When he could wish for absolutely anything, what would he choose?
“Excuse me, Mr. Cho, is there something wrong?” The voice of his professor startled Kyuhyun, making him realize that the two of them weren’t alone in this room. In fact, there were a number of students who have witnessed his sudden outburst - he would’ve told him that someone was bothering him (namely, Sungmin) but then he remembered that no one could see the latter but him.
“Nothing’s wrong, sir. I’m sorry for the disturbance.” As he apologized, his eyes narrowed to a glare directed towards the person beside him. The other man simply avoided his gaze while muttering a small, “Sorry, Kyu.”
After his last class, Kyuhyun made his way towards the soccer field for the practices.
“You stay over there and watch.” Kyuhyun turned to Sungmin and swerves him gently aside to which the latter complies.
“Okay.” He gave Kyuhyun a nod before holding up both his hands for a thumbs-up.
“Kyuhyun-ah!” His attention was diverted when somebody called out for him. He looked behind him to see their team captain making his way towards him with a soccer ball in hand.
“Glad to see you’re doing well now!” He gave the ball to Kyuhyun and patted his shoulders before telling him what to do. “Practice is starting, let’s have a quick demonstration. Kyuhyun, you pitch the ball.”
“Okay.”
Kyuhyun held the ball on his hands as he waited for the other members of the team to line up, dribbling and playing around with it. He turned back to look at Sungmin who was standing around two meters away from him, observing the vast space of the fields where people gathered for their extra-curricular activities. He watched as the oblivious man gawks at the homerun a certain student over at the baseball area hit, he couldn’t help but smile at the small action.
“Kyuhyun, let’s start!”
Kyuhyun positioned himself before letting the soccer ball on his hand roll on the ground for the first in line to kick. The player lunged forward before kicking the ball with so much force that it got off course and deviated to another direction. His eyes dilate when he realized that the ball was headed towards Sungmin’s direction.
“Sungmin!” He felt adrenaline rush through him and without thinking, he left his spot and ran over to Sungmin, knocking him off so that the ball wouldn’t hit him. Before he was about to fall on Sungmin on the ground, he was able to stabilize himself with his arms. He looks down before him and sees Sungmin staring at him with a shocked expression.
“Hey, you alright?”
“Uh-”
“Kyuhyun! Are you alright? Is it your leg again? You shouldn’t have attempted to catch the ball!” He stumbled on his back side and saw their team captain jogging towards him and offered him a hand.
“No, no it’s okay really.” He rejected the hand and went up by himself.
Sungmin on the other hand was still fazed. He hadn’t expected Kyuhyun to go running up to him like that. He watched as Kyuhyun talked with another man, the former looking a little glum. He wondered if it was his fault that Kyuhyun’s mood had suddenly changed which made him feel the need to apologize… yet again. He stood up and slowly approached him, only to be held back.
“Kyuhyun, you can’t be stubborn!” The authorizing voice of the other man as he scolded Kyuhyun sent chills down Sungmin’s spine. He observed as Kyuhyun tried to avoid the look the other man was giving him.
“I-I still want to practice. My legs doesn’t even hurt anymore!”
“Who are you fooling? Kyuhyun, you’re one of our most valuable players in the team - I can’t risk losing you. So even if it’s against your will, I’m cutting you off practice for a week to heal your leg. That’s it.” Kyuhyun watched the captain’s retreating back before running off to a different direction, leaving Sungmin behind.
“Kyuhyun, wait!” He tried to catch up to the latter but to no avail, he found himself lost in the abyss called school.
///
Not long after, it started raining so hard that students who were practicing on the field had to stop and look for quarters to stay whilst the raining was pouring. Kyuhyun, on the other hand, was on the school rooftop, slumped over the fence. Even when the droplets of rain have started drenching him, he still made no effort to look for somewhere to shield himself from the rian.
He looked up at the sky and thought about all the things that were bothering him - his disease, his temporary suspension of practice and moreover the unexpected appearance of a genie of all things! He had been a child who believed in such however, he was older now and he didn’t believe that such existed. Of course, when he thought he was right, something always comes to prove him wrong. Not only did a genie magically appear, it also gave him five rule-free wishes. A genie named Lee Sungmin.
As the thought crosses his mind, he jolts up and recalls that as he ran off to the rooftop is a burst of emotion, he had left Sungmin. As if a rush went throughout his system, he hurriedly made his way towards the field only to see it void of presence. He looked around and still, he couldn’t find him.
“Lee Sungmin!” He shouted at the top of his lungs. He didn’t care that the rain was starting to pour even harder. “Lee Sungmin! You stupid genie! If you can hear me, answer me!”
Suddenly, he felt arms encircling around his waist. It was Sungmin. “Kyuhyun-ah, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to cause you trouble. I- Don’t leave me again, I was so scared…”
“It’s not your fault.”
“But-”
“Aren’t you supposed to be the genie here?” Kyuhyun teased.
“I am.”
“Then stop blaming yourself. I’m actually a bit thankful that I had been suspended from the team for some time, it’s giving me some time for myself.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am.”
“Promise me something first, Kyuhyun. While I’m still here… please, don’t leave me alone like that again.”
“Promise.”
“Do you want to wish for anything?”
“No, I’d save that for later. Let’s… let’s just go home, we’re soaked wet.”
He didn’t know what was happening to himself. Was he actually happy that he was suspended as he said to Sungmin? Why was he suddenly acting like that, to someone who he have met for only a day? Somehow he’s beginning to doubt the fact that Sungmin couldn’t do magic on his own because he couldn’t help but feel that the genie cast a spell on him, that made him… likeable. Whatever it was, he doesn’t know whether he found it good or bad - it was a conflicting ordeal inside of him.
Anyways, he still had four wishes to go.
///
It had been a routine for the two, Sungmin and Kyuhyun would alternate their chores with the former doing mostly of the cooking since the latter wasn’t skilled in the culinary department. Sungmin made it a point to slowly teach Kyuhyun how to cook, saying that he had learn all the skills he had from his mother whom he was separated with when he was sent to be a genie.
As days passed by, so does their friendship strengthen. Kyuhyun started becoming more open to Sungmin, even sharing with him stories about his family and his personal life. Sungmin appreciated the openness, believing that it takes them a step closer into being less of a genie and his client and more of friends.
“I come from a broken family.” Kyuhyun, who was looking out at his window, said to Sungmin once in a sunny day.
“A broken family?” Sungmin was lying down on Kyuhyun’s bed, staring at white ceiling. He turned to his right to look at Kyuhyun who was entertaining himself with the view of the outside world.
“That’s right. My father and my mother live apart, something about differences, they say. My older sister has a family of her own now but still, it doesn’t change the fact that we are a broken family. Also, it’s kind of part of the reason why I live by myself.”
“Differences? But if they truly loved each other then they should’ve made things work out, right?”
“That’s the problem - things didn’t work out. They were… let’s just say that they not meant to be with each other after all.”
“Not meant to be? Kyuhyun, I might not be one to talk but there’s no such thing as ‘meant to be’.”
“Maybe there isn’t, maybe there is, who knows?”
“Do you want your parents to be together again?” Sungmin asked in hesitation. “I can sense that you’re hurting.”
“Do I? Maybe I do.” Kyuhyun tore his eyes off of the window and looked at Sungmin, showing a slightly tear-stricken face. He hung his head low. “Maybe I do want to see them back together again, to be the same when we were young.”
“Then wish for it.” Unbeknownst to Kyuhyun, while he had his head low, Sungmin made his way towards him. He raised his head up to see Sungmin smiling down at him, before the latter enveloped him in a hug. All the suppressed tears from the pain of having his family separate were released.
His second wish was spent for bringing back together his parents. Although he would’ve wanted them to reconcile on their own, he preferred it this way - it was less painful.
Whenever Kyuhyun was sad, Sungmin would be there to comfort him. Whenever Kyuhyun was happy, Sungmin was there to support him and further cheer him on.
“It doesn’t need magic to comfort you or cheer you up, it kind of makes me feel useful.” Sungmin whispered. “It makes me happy to know that I’m able to do something to help.”
“Your kindness alone is magic itself. And you’re not useless, if you were then what am I? You’ve done so much already while I’m my usual self, I envy you.”
“What’s there to envy? You basically have all the opportunities laid down before you, you just have to know what to take while I’m a genie, on a job.” He trailed off.
“So you still consider this as a job?” Kyuhyun’s tone suddenly became stoic and serious, which worried Sungmin. “Maybe I should use up the three wishes I have left. Then, you’d get your freedom.”
“N-no, that’s not it! And, even if you use up all your wishes, I’m not going to be free.” Sungmin sighed. “I’m just going to be sucked back into that bottle of wine, to find another person to discover me. The cycle will go on.”
Sungmin paused and looked back at Kyuhyun with a dejected expression. “Do you want me to go that bad?”
“No. I want you to stay. That is, if you’re still willing to put up with me.”
The big smile that dawned Sungmin’s face after was unexplainable - even Kyuhyun himself felt elated, seeing the latter smile.
What have started out as a mere contract between a genie and his client has developed into something much more. However, both were not aware of what that certain something was. Time will dictate when and hopefully it wouldn’t be too late then.
///
In the span of the two months that have passed since then, Kyuhyun had managed to use off two of the last three wishes he had left. He contemplated on whether he would use the fourth wish but at that moment, he really needed money to support himself and Sungmin. Asking help from his parents wasn’t an option; although they were together again thanks to him, his relationship with them still isn’t resolved. Call it pride but Kyuhyun just couldn’t dare ask for help and show weakness when it comes to them.
And so, for his fourth wish, he asked for enough money for the two of them.
Another month has passed and Sungmin wonders why Kyuhyun hadn’t made another wish. Then it all came down to him that the next wish the man would make would be his final wish - the one after fulfilled will bring Sungmin back to where he came from. The final wish would end their contract for good, cutting all ties between the two of them.
It was the middle of the night and Sungmin was still up, sitting on the floor, deep in the thought. It was his first time being a genie, he had no prior experiences of being one which was why he was a having a hard time with himself. There was no rule that said a genie could not be attached to his client, yes, but Sungmin was sure that whatever he was feeling was only one-sided. He looked back at Kyuhyun whose face was being illuminated by the moonlight. He went closer and brushed his bangs off of his face gently, making sure that the latter doesn’t wake up.
“You know what, as much as how selfish this sounds, I don’t want to leave you..” He whispered. He observed Kyuhyun’s features and his steady breathing before turning back and looking up at the ceiling while sighing.
“Then don’t.” He whipped his head back and saw Kyuhyun sitting on his bed, eyes focused at him. “If you don’t want to leave me then don’t, I wouldn’t mind keeping you forever because..” He stood up and went towards Sungmin.
“Because?”
“Because I think I..” Before he could even finish what he was saying, he stumbled and fell on Sungmin and went unconscious.
Sungmin didn’t know what he would do the moment Kyuhyun fell on his arms. He brought his face up and noticed his face was pale, and was startled when he saw on his hands strands of hair.
“Kyuhyun!? Kyuhyun wake up!” He shouted as he tried to shake Kyuhyun awake yet his efforts were futile. He tried checking if he was still breathing and to his relief, he was yet that didn’t lessen his worries. He laid down Kyuhyun on the floor and frantically search for the latter’s mobile phone and when he did, he tried searching for the emergency number. It was a good thing that Kyuhyun had taught him how to use it, if not he would’ve felt helpless by now. There were a lot of things that he was thankful for and one of those was Kyuhyun; now the thought of losing him haunts him and he doesn’t know what to do.
While he was waiting for help to come, he opened the doors to Kyuhyun’s home so that the medics could access him easily. It was those times when he wished that normal people could see him as well but no, they couldn’t and that was his disadvantage at the moment. Whilst waiting, he spotted a brown envelope on top of the drawer beside Kyuhyun’s bed and driven by his curiosity, he reached for it and read through its contents. At the same time the medics arrived at the scene and put Kyuhyun’s unconscious body on stretcher. He followed them to the ambulance, piece of paper still in hand.
A mix of emotions was swirling inside of him as of the moment - worry, sadness, fright and most of all shock. He hadn’t expected anything like that to happen at all, especially at such time. Things come when you least expect it, they say. That was when he started understanding why Kyuhyun wished for his legs to never feel pain and why every single month, there would be a day when the latter would excuse himself from Sungmin, saying that he had important business to attend to. All this time, he was suffering through an illness and he didn’t even tell it to him. He didn’t know what to feel, he wished he had the power to cure Kyuhyun willingly but he couldn’t for his magic only works when his client asks for something - only when his client wishes for it.
///
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Sungmin demanded as he faced Kyuhyun who was lying down on a hospital bed. Night has passed and it was another day. Kyuhyun finally woke up. The doctor spoke to him about his condition and told him that it was getting worse and if he didn’t go on operation soon, he might not survive. Of course, Sungmin witnessed all of that and couldn’t help but tear up as he heard the doctor speak.
“Tell you what?” Kyuhyun asked before turning slightly away, as if to avoid Sungmin’s gaze.
“This, Kyuhyun, all of this!”
“I… I didn’t want to worry you.”
“Don’t you know how awful I felt, Kyuhyun? You didn’t tell me this when we swore that we wouldn’t keep secrets from one another! Why? Why didn’t you tell me that you were dying? Is this because of your so-called pride again?”
“It’s not.”
“Then what is it?”
“I just thought that it would be better to die suddenly than having you worry all the time. I’ve been such a burden to you.”
Sungmin reached out for Kyuhyun’s hand and clasped their hands together. “You think I’d be happy knowing that while you were suffering, I’m on a false light, thinking that you were okay all along? Then suddenly you’d go leave me? That’s selfish, Kyu.”
“I know. I’m sorry, Ming.”
“Oh, you should be. I didn’t know what to do last night, I was frantic.”
“I’m sorry, I-” He was cut off when Sungmin silenced him with his index finger. He looked up and saw Sungmin telling him to stop.
“If you’re really sorry then do me a favor.”
“Anything, just say it!” Kyuhyun tightened his grip on Sungmin’s hand. “I’ll do what I can..”
“Really? Then wish for yourself to get better from this disease. You have one wish left, right? Use it.” Kyuhyun could feel Sungmin’s grip loosening as he spoke.
“What!? But that would mean-”
“I know what you’re thinking but there’s no other way.”
“I can’t do that, Sungmin. I don’t want to lose you. I’d rather die than lose you. Please, don’t make this hard for me.”
“You think I’m not hurting? Have you ever thought how I would feel if you die? I’d rather be separated from you than watch you die knowing that I couldn’t do anything to save you.”
“No, I could still take an operation.”
“That doesn’t guarantee anything!”
“It wouldn’t hurt to try would it?”
“Kyuhyun…”
“You said I could wish for anything right? No rules?” He watched as the genie who was already tear-stricken nodded. “Yes, absolutely anything.”
“Then I wish to spend the rest of my life with you and let the odds decide on my fate.”
“You serious? That’s-”
“A wish is a wish, Ming. Your job as my genie is to grant my wishes. So do it.” He looked up and saw a flash of doubt in Sungmin’s eyes. He reached up to remove the tear on his face and caressed it. “Trust me, everything will be alright.”
Sungmin removed the tears on his eyes with the back of his hand before holding Kyuhyun’s and concentrating on fulfilling his wish. He looked back and asked for reassurance. “Are you sure? This is your final wish.”
“I’m certain.”
Sungmin closed his eyes and concentrated. Not too long after, a blinding light engulfs the scene.
///
Kyuhyun opens his eyes to see his mother, head lying down on his hospital bed while clutching his hand and on the other side of the room, his father was seated on the sofa, snoring. It had been so long since he has seen them that suddenly, an emotion of longing builds up in him. The sudden shift in his position woke up his mother.
“Kyuhyun, you’re finally awake.” She stood up and hugged her son.
“H-How long have I been out?” He asked.
“It’s been a week since your surgery, we thought you wouldn’t go back into consciousness anymore. I’m so happy.”
“I had surgery?”
“Bone marrow transplant, specifically. Why didn’t you tell us that you were suffering from cancer? If it hadn’t been because of your friend, we wouldn’t have known…”
“My friend?”
“Yes, he called us and informed us of your situation. I’m greatly thankful for the young lad except I never caught his name.” She twisted her lips in slight annoyance.
“What the… But I’ve never told anyone about my condition.” Kyuhyun furrowed his brows in confusion, thinking of who may have told his parents about his condition.
Their conversation was interrupted when suddenly, the door opened. Kyuhyun didn’t even bother to look, assuming that it was just a nurse was just going in for a check-up. One of the reasons Kyuhyun hated the hospital.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Cho, we’ll just give the patient his daily supplement.” Kyuhyun could’ve sworn that he has heard that voice before however, he couldn’t point his finger at who it may be.
“Oh, okay. Now Kyuhyun, be a good boy, this injection won’t hurt.” His mother said to cheer him on however it gave him the opposite effect; embarrassment. He turned away and extended his arm, still no looking at the nurse.
The nurse rolled up his sleeves and cleansed his arm with alcohol. “Now this is going to hurt a bit but you’ll manage… Kyu.”
He jerked at the sound of his name, as if he was recalling something or someone important. He looked up and came face to face with someone he knew, someone he had spent the past few months of his life with, someone who had become a big part of his life. Yet, he couldn’t be too sure. Sungmin after all, was a genie, and in front of him was a human being.
Still, that didn’t stop him from reaching out to him. “Sungmin… is that you?”
The person bit his lips and broke out into a big grin before nodding. Kyuhyun could see the tears that were brimming on his eyes which looked like he had been holding them for a while.
“The one and only.”
Even though he was still feeling weak, he gave all his energy to sit up and reached for the other man, hugging him by the waist. “I thought I had lost you.”
“You wish for it, didn’t you? Now I’m going to be here as much as you like.”
“How many wishes do I have left?” Kyuhyun looked up to him with a small smirk on the side of his mouth.
“Countless.” He whispered before giving Kyuhyun a soft kiss on the lips.
A/N: So... how long have I been gone? I know I promised an update but it seems that I wasn't able to do it due to some problems. You can throw rocks at me now. /goes into hiding 8) Hahaha, anyways, I hope you enjoyed this oneshot. Although I'm not sure if it suits your tastes, I just hope that you'll like it. Do tell me what you think ;D God bless!
PS: I'll try my best to do an update before my 15th birthday which is at April 9 (this Saturday!) :D