Stray Cardboard Boxes (14/14)
14
END
“Is it true?”
Geng paused and looked up from his computer. A frown marred his tan features as he looked towards the younger male, wondering what on earth had gotten everyone talking. This was the fifth time that someone had came to him, asking him if ‘it’ was true. He didn’t even know what ‘it’ was!
“Is what true?”
He looked at the younger man’s innocent features, faintly noting that Donghae had large, fish-like eyes, but in an attractive manner of course. Not the bulging, blank stares you get from actual fishes. No, it was much more attractive then that. He nodded silently to himself.
“So it’s true?”
“What’s true?” He asked in exasperation as he threw his hands in the air. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Even in his state of obliviousness, Donghae knew that the Chinese man was getting agitated. Giving the man a tight lipped smile, he disappeared, only to reappear again in his cubicle.
“That you’re dating Siwon of course. Everyone knows it.”
Geng stared. He could feel his body stiffen as he sat on his chair, eyes glued to Donghae. He swallowed thickly and looked away.
“Wha-What are you talking about?” How could anyone know? It was impossible! They were barely dating, that was all!
There was a smile plastered on Donghae’s face that Geng didn’t quite like.
He walked closer to the man until he stopped short just squeezing past Geng, now situated between the desk and Geng himself.
“You don’t have to deny it. Everyone knows. I just want to make sure.”
Geng looked at him skeptically. The gears in his brain were shifting and he couldn’t quite process what the man was saying or what his motives were. It was disturbing really. He knew the man didn’t make sense half the time with his talk of aliens, but now he wasn’t making sense because he was being smooth with Geng.
Or perhaps he just really needed some sleep.
“I-I don’t understand you. Bad Korean and all.” Geng stammered as he eyed Donghae nervously, backing away a little on his rolling chair.
That was an outright lie and both Donghae and he knew it. His Korean was not that bad, almost fluent by now.
The smile never left Donghae’s face as he drew closer to the man. “So it’s true. Too bad really, but I guess it can’t be help it.”
He felt as if the wind had knocked him out when he was embraced. Long, strong arms engulfed his form as he kept his wide eye stare at Donghae. Never mind the fact that the shorter man had planted a kiss on his lips before letting go. And never mind the fact that he had done nothing, but gawk at him stupidly.
“I like you a lot, but I guess that can’t be helped that Siwon got to you first. Well, it’s okay. Just promise me you’ll go to me if you guys break up.” He smiled his usual infectious grin at the older man before waltzing out, a beat to his steps.
Gazing in shock at where Donghae had stood, Geng touched his lips before slumping back down on his leather chair, groaning.
“So that’s why everyone’s been asking me..”
He eyed his desk in resentment. There was a box of homemade red velvet cupcakes from Ryeowook, a Gundam from Eunhyuk, and a strangely pink Pooh bear from Sungmin. He finally understood why they had given him presents with dejected looks on their faces.
The Chinese man clutched his hair and groaned.
_
Henry knew that a lot of things had happened since he had gotten back. For starters, there were no signs of Kyuhyun. That was the least of his worries though. He could recall the times when he caught Geng sighing, a faraway look in his eyes or sometimes there would be tiny tears in the corner of the man’s eyes, just threatening to fall out.
He was sure it had something to do with Kyuhyun or maybe that guy, Siwon. He didn’t quite know.
“Excuse me, can I have the bill please?” He pointed to his empty plate and watched the waitress nod and go. Taking a sip of his grape soda, he glanced down at the bill that was set down.
He had chosen a table by the window because he enjoyed watching the people come and go, noting that some were always in a hurry while others were taking their time. Henry watched, catching sight of a small girl licking her ice cream happily on one side. His eyes traveled to the right and he noticed a couple holding hands.
Hands under his chin as he propped his elbows on the table, he sighed dreamily. If only that was him. Nineteen to twenty years of his existence and he had no love whatsoever! Just as he was about to turn his gaze back to the table, he caught sight of something. It was him again.
Heart jumping for joy, he hastily slammed down a random bill on the counter before shuffling out of the restaurant.
_
Sungmin had been off work for two hours now. For those two hours, he had spent his time wandering the streets with no real destination in mind. It wasn’t like he had someplace to be, somewhere to go. The man crammed his hands into the pocket of his trousers, eyes downcast as he walked.
He knew it was inevitable. It was just a simple crush after all, an unhealthy obsession. He growled, unintentionally scaring a few teenaged girls.
He just didn’t like the fact that it was public! He didn’t want to know. It seemed more real to him now.
It was just a crush and he knew he would get over it. Normal, that’s what it was. No one would like to see their crush in the arms of another, especially not Lee Sungmin.
“Wait! Please! Wait!”
He was just about to turn the corner when he felt a grab on his shoulders. Instincts kicking in as he whirled around and slammed his attacker onto the nearest wall.
“What?! As you can see, I’m in an awfully bad mood right now. Normally, I would like to say I’m sweet and polite, but right now not so much. So if you got something to say, say it before I whip your ass to the ground. I do know martial arts.”
Too enraged, he had skipped over the fact that his attacker was no more than a mere nineteen year old. With scruffy, dark brown hair, puffy cheeks, and squinty eyes, his attacker was nothing but a kid.
The kid opened his mouth.
“I just wanted to…”
_
Henry couldn’t believe his luck! His crush had whirled around and slammed him onto the wall like nothing! He felt like he was in love.
Blushing a deep red, he shivered as the man had addressed him.
“Spit it out already.” The man said impatiently as he sighed and looked at him intently. “I’m not in a good mood, okay?”
“I..I just wanted to know..” Henry lowered his gaze to the floor, twiddling his fingers as he shuffled his feet nervously. He would glance up every now and then, catching the annoyed look. “If you wanted to go out with me!” He looked up and kept his gaze directly at Sungmin.
“I just think..Yeah..If you like to go for a cup of coffee or something.”
_
Sungmin couldn’t believe his ears. This kid was asking him out? He knew his eyes were wide and his mouth was probably open in an unattractive manner, but that didn’t matter compared to the fact that he was just asked out. Clamping said mouth shut, he let the boy go and backed away.
He opened his mouth again, ready to say no, he wasn’t interested. No sound came out. It was only then did he notice that the boy was blushing and that he was staring at the ground as if it was more interesting than him. It was kind of cute.
“You have a real nerve to ask someone like me out. I could be twice your age, you know. It’s unbecoming for a kid like you to be asking a grown man like me out on a date.”
Watching the kid squirm was really making him sick, so he did the unbelievable. Sungmin sighed and nodded.
“Okay.”
He’ll give this a shot. It couldn’t hurt anyways. The kid was sort of cute.
_
Ryeowook could smell the sweet aroma of baked goods in his oven from where he was sitting. He was at home and had left early to bake. Baking was his outlet. He needed it to cope with his demanding job and all other nonsense in his life.
It wasn’t that he was unhappy. He assured himself he was. He just wanted someone to spend his time with, to share each and every moment together, good and bad.
He exhaled a sigh, staring forlornly at the white carpet underneath his feet. A small pout had formed its way onto his lips. That Siwon was really lucky.
The buzz from the doorbell knocked him out of his thoughts. Ryeowook stood up and headed over to the door. “Coming!” Upon opening, he blinked as looked at the unexpected visitor standing right outside. “Kibum?” He swallowed as he unlocked the door and allowed the younger male in.
“I didn’t know you were coming. I didn’t know you knew my place either.”
The man pulled off his shoes before looking back. “I bummed it off Eunhyuk. Is it okay? I just wanted to talk. I don’t have anything to do; unless you do then I can leave if you want.”
Ryeowook gazed at him before shaking his head. “I don’t have anything to do and it would be nice actually. Would you like some tea?”
He couldn’t help but think that Kibum’s smile wasn’t as creepy as it used to be. He smiled back and ushered the man to sit down.
_
He really wanted to curse his luck right now. It wasn’t so bad, but Eunhyuk had really wanted to go home where his ramen was waiting. Instead, he had been persuaded to go pick up an errand for Donghae. How the fishy male had persuaded him to pick up a carton of milk, he really didn’t know.
Picking up a random carton, he stepped to the side, bumping back with another person.
“Oh, I’m sorry! You’re okay, right?” He asked as he tried his best not to gape at the taller, foreign looking man.
“Eunhyuk..My name is Eunhyuk!”
A bright, sunny smile was thrown at him and he couldn’t help but rub his eyes.
“Zhou Mi. It’s nice to meet you.”
_
The wine glass was empty and he had called it quits when he had taken a second glass. Two glasses of wine would be nothing on him, he didn’t want to be drunk in his own house. Henry wasn’t around so it wouldn’t matter anyway, but he didn’t want to burden the boy when he came back. He had gone off, something about a date.
At least someone was having fun. Geng glared at his empty wine glass on the coffee table before rolling over to face the couch that he was laying on. It was a Friday night and he would be spending it at home. It wasn’t that depressing, he normally did spend his nights home alone. He just didn’t want to be left to think.
Sighing softly to himself, the man sat up, and glanced over to the clock.
9:05.
It was only when a knock was heard on the door followed by three more did Geng pull himself out of his thoughts. Wiping his sweaty palms on his pajama pants, he walked over to the door, and reached for the door knob.
A/N: Since the beginning, I had already decided that this story would end in two directions. So with this, I present to you two different endings for Cardboard Boxes. Just choose which one you like best! And don't forget to comment. Thank you so much for reading and just to say, this is not the end of KyuHan writing for me! ;D If you catch my drift.
l-toxicated.livejournal.com/15082.html#cutid1-KYUHAN
l-toxicated.livejournal.com/15267.html#cutid1-SHIHAN