Abduction. [2/?]
name: abduction
rating: pg-13 (may change way later)
warnings: kidnapping. rape (later chapter).
pairings: soohyun / kiseop ; kevin / kibum ; more to come
summary: woo sung hyun was kidnapped at the age of seven, leaving behind his parents, older sister, and best friend kim kibum. ten years later, in kibum's senior year, he is shocked to meet a new student that goes by the name of kevin shin and resembles his childhood best friend.
With a heavy, heart wrenching sigh, Kibum stumbled thought his front door, dropping his back pack in the threshold as he walked straight to the kitchen. He was exhausted, annoyed even, from just one hour alone with the new kid. Who asked questions like, “If a person suffered from amnesia, and then was cured, would they remember that they forgot?” and, “Why does Bugs Bunny walk around the cartoon naked, but puts a bathing suit on when he goes swimming?” Kibum didn’t know, but the new kid did, and he sure was shameless in asking them.
“Maybe he was just trying to make the atmosphere less awkward…he was laughing.”
Kibum heard himself echo through the house, something that normally happened when his mother was shopping and his brother was off at college. He didn’t have a father, and after he turned ten, he pretty much forgot that a man had once said he loved his mother. It was alright though, cause after he was born, he and his brother took the profession of loving their mother enough for them to get by with happiness. That, and his mother always said that if another man came into her life, she’d have to send him through horrific trials made by her sons.
After school activities weren’t something that he immersed himself in so he always found himself sprawled out on the couch in the family room watching cartoons and trying to find ways to make his weekend go faster. At the moment, he didn’t think about the time he had to spare for the weekend, he just immersed himself in a Looney Toons marathon.
It was a quarter to five when his marathon was interrupted by a soft knock on his door. Kibum groaned in annoyance when the knocking didn’t stop-it was Friday night and a three day weekend; who the hell would be at the door? Throwing himself off the couch, Kibum vowed to find out whom and kill them…or glare extreme daggers at them and laugh internally as they cringe. He smirked to himself before opening the front door, mouth almost dropping and eyes almost popping out at the sight of Kevin, the new kid, standing in front of him. At his house. Unannounced.
“Uh…hey Kibum-Hyung.”
He couldn’t find it in himself to react.
“I know it’s a Friday night but I just looked at all my make-up work,” Kibum eyed the shoulder bag the younger one wore, “and I really need help and I heard you’re one of the smartest guys at school. I’m sorry, you look upset.”
Kibum shook his head, trying to understand what was going on, “N-No, I’m just wondering how you found my house?”
Kibum watched Kevin fidget before speaking. He couldn’t help the way he watched the boy’s hands interlock with each other over and over down by his waist and the way his brown eyes darted around before stopping on him again, “I live down the street and while we were walking in the same direction I saw you come here. I know that sounds stalkerish but it’s really unstoppable since I have to pass your house to get to mine.” Kevin chuckled nervously and Kibum wasn’t sure, but he thought he saw a faint blush.
“It’s…cool. But why are you here so late? You should’ve asked me when I was showing you around the school.” As he spoke he comfortably leaned against the door frame and crossed his arms, feeling slightly self conscience that was wearing pajamas and a black tank top, or a more vulgar name, a wife beater while Kevin was still dressed in the schools uniform.
“I forgot…and I had to help my little brother…”
“I see, well, c’mon in, no use in you standing in the dark.” Kibum moved out of the way for Kevin to pass him, closing the door when he was in. Something happened, though, something that he couldn’t explain. When Kevin passed him, the boy’s cologne wafted through his nose, stopping Kibum in his tracks. The smell was familiar but nothing that he had ever smelled from a bottle-was it just Kevin’s scent? Or was it Kibum’s imagination? Whatever it was it made him feel like a child playing across the street at the small playground in the sand pit. He saw himself and someone else, someone important to him, someone he hadn’t seen for years. This someone had a toothy grin that made his tiny face glow and such large eyes that made him look like a little girl with short, choppy hair.
“Hyung, I’ll be right back. I’m going to get us something to drink!”
“Okay, Hyunnie! Don’t take too long!”
Hyunnie? Why was he thinking about him at such an arbitrary time? Kibum jumped when a cool hand touched his arm, the chilly touch making the scene evaporate and his mind to come back, Kevin’s toothy grin weaving its way into his eye sight, almost blinding him with the amusement he showed.
“Done daydreaming?”
Kibum stared at the guiltless orbs that looked at him the same way Hyunnie use to; the smile was the same, too. But he had just met the boy and as far as Kibum knew, he never had a friend named Kevin and Hyunnie was still out somewhere, probably unaided and conjecturing where his hyung was. And still, he felt on edge that just one discrete smell had made him remember the last time he saw his best friend.
A little rickety and nerves in a panic Kibum led Kevin to the dining room table and let the boy show him what he needed help with which Kibum noticed was all four core subjects. He did see that Kevin did attempt some of the work; he even had his outline started for the English paper the class started the week before, the same paper Kibum was finished with. The math was the easiest for Kibum given that it was the same work he had finished in class prior to being called out of class.
By the time nine o’clock came around, Kevin had completed his math, science, history, and had started his paper for English-Kibum thanked the lord that the paper wasn’t due until the week of finals so Kevin wouldn’t require his help on it anytime soon. At nine, Kevin closed his notebook and slipped everything into his bag. Just as he was thanking Kibum the front door opened and closed, the sound of a woman’s heels taping on the hardwood floor as the footsteps grew closer to the dining room and kitchen until Kibum saw his mother.
The woman looked generally flabbergasted; her eyes large with curiosity as she took in Kibum standing up next to a indiscriminate boy, conscious. “Oh, Kibum, you’re not on the couch.”
Kibum frowned, narrowing his eyes when Kevin chuckled under his breath as he finished packing his books. “Mom, I don’t always lay around on the couch. I tutor now.” He moved his hand to specify the other male that was still looking down at his bag. But when Kibum cleared his throat, Kevin’s head shot up, silently giving a You mean me look. “Mom, this is Kevin; he’s new to the neighborhood. He’s professor’s Shin’s son.”
The oddest thing Kibum had ever seen was his mother at the moment she looked at Kevin. Her face paled and her eyes widened more, if that were feasible. She stared and stared, her grocery bags dropped from her hands making a loud clank sound that made her blink and shake her head, laughing when she saw Kibum and Kevin look at one another dubiously.
“It’s nice to meet you, uh…Kevin. But I didn’t know Dr. Shin had two sons.”
Kibum watched Kevin smile, blowing off the uncharacteristic ways of his mother.
“I’ve lived with my mother for the past year after they got a divorce and he and my brother moved here about the same time.”
As Kevin spoke, Kibum’s mother moved about in the kitchen behind them, making small glances to show that she was still engrossed. “I see, well it’s nice that Kibum has a new friend, or at least a new hobby. Are you staying for dinner? I know it’s late but Friday Night shopping is hard when you don’t have a muscular man running around everywhere and getting the harder things for you.”
Catching the insinuation and Kevin’s giggle, Kibum blushed, “You were gone before I got home and no, he was just leaving.” He felt Kevin flinch beside him, the younger one’s eyes staring anywhere but at him or his mother. Maybe that was a little callous but it was the truth.
“Well, Ki Bum, it’s dark and he shouldn’t be walking around here so late, anything could happen to him.”
“I think my dad would like it better if I stay here instead of going home alone.”
“Then it’s settled, Kibum give him your phone and let him tell his father. Another thing, get out so I can cook.”
Sighing and grabbing Kevin’s wrist, Kibum trudged out of the room towards the family room, pulling the younger one with him. “Geez, I just met you today and I’ve already spent more time with you then my own friends.”
“You’re the one that said you were tutoring me…”
Kibum could hear the hilarity in the boy’s tenor, almost glaring when he dropped Kevin’s bony wrist and handed him his cell phone. “Make it quick, I need to get back to being lazy.” He tapped his foot with his hand held out during Kevin’s phone call, completely ignoring everything he asked, the only thing he noticed was the bright smile on the kid’s face when said I love you and bye. That face… “That was a long phone call. What did he say?” He took his phone back, eyeing the screen at the ten notifications for new text messages.
Kevin beamed. He was such a happy high school student. “He said it was fine, I’ll just have to be home in the morning to watch my brother.”
“Uh-huh.”
Before dinner Kibum found some sweat pants and a t-shirt that wouldn’t consume Kevin’s small frame too much; showed him where the shower was and let him take it from there; and in the mean time he figured out that the only place the other could sleep was in his bed with him. After the younger’s shower, he walked downstairs, engulfed by Kibum’s clothes just enough to make him look like…a child.
Dinner came quicker than Kibum had expected, taking him away from his Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. His mother didn’t stay long, adding to her anomalous behavior, but she stayed long enough to see Kevin in his clothes, stare, and say a prayer before running off with the excuse that she had to video call Hyung Jun. Kevin didn’t seem to notice anything out of the ordinary, but he wasn’t a long term friend either. He ate wordlessly, smiling and throwing out the occasional compliment on the food. When they were through, Kibum showed him upstairs to his room.
“Sorry, it’s a little cramped.” Kibum scratched the side of his forehead, reflexively biting his lip and grinding his teeth. “I’d let you stay in my brother’s room but after he left we fixed the space up to be a workout room.”
Kevin shrugged his shoulders, walking around and taking a glimpse at anything and everything; he seemed exceedingly fascinated. “It’s fine. Your room isn’t cramped; you just have a lot of interests. Wow! You have a keyboard, a laptop, and a travel recording studio. I guess you’re really into music, huh?” Kibum raised one shoulder and let it drop. “I am, too. That’s the only thing I’m really into.”
“Music is a good thing to indulge yourself in. Can we talk about sleeping arrangements? Are you alright with sharing a bed? If not, I don’t mind sleeping on the flo-”
“Is this you? You were so young and cute.” It wasn’t everyday someone interrupted him when he was speaking, but Keivn did, and not just by talking, but also by grabbing the picture frame next to his computer and turning it towards him, practically spazzing over it. “And this kid here is cute, too; is it a girl?”
The frame encased an old picture that Kibum rarely glanced at or thought about. The picture was of a younger him and his best friend, Sung Hyun, or Hyunnie, sitting outside in the sand box. It was the only thing he really had of his childhood friend, the only thing that kept him searching for a boy that looked like him and would come to him calling him hyung and wanting to play. Even now as he stood there in his room with Kevin holding his dear photograph, he still believed Hyunnie would be coming home soon.
“It’s my best friend; he left when we were young and I haven’t heard anything from him since. Nothing important.”
Kevin stared at him, Kibum scarcely noticing the chewing of the inside of his cheek, frowning a little as he sat the frame back down, the supple thud of the frame hitting the hard surface barely perceptible. “Sorry. And I don’t mind sharing a bed; I wouldn’t want to throw you out to the wolves. Besides, it’s your house. I’m the one intruding.”
It wasn’t weird sleeping with someone, particularly a male, for Kibum; the eerie part came in the core of the hours of darkness when the other male, the other male being Kevin, scooted closer and cuddled him like a stuffed bear. It was quite sudden and the movement woke Kibum from his light hibernation. Since he was young he’s had many friends share a bed with him, his friend Hoon being the main one, and not once could he remember someone cuddling him. Not recently anyways.
Shaking off the feeling of déjà vu, Kibum let unconsciousness consume him once more, taking refuge in the soft hair that tickled his chin, the small hands that wrapped around his forearm, and the clothed legs the brushed his.
He dreamt of a boy with girly features; big, round brown eyes; a baby face; choppy brunette hair; and a child’s voice that was as smooth as silk. The boy was close to him, always giving him pet names and begging him to play House or go out to the playground with him. They were closer than most young friends, doing everything together, even asking to go into pre-school together; they held hands when they were together, ignoring other students and teachers that would question them. Night time was also spent with one another. The boy would curl himself next to the older one, small hand circling the other’s forearm, legs intertwining to make the sleeping arrangement more bearable and comfortable. Their parents never scolded them for always being together because the first time they did, the younger one had pitched a fit and ran away to the park and hid in the slide where his best friend found him minutes later and talked him into going back home, both making a promise to never be separated.
Kibum rose when the bright sun hit his face, body instantly remember remnants of his dream and the fact that someone had been sleeping next to him. He looked to his side, feeling and seeing that Kevin’s presence was now gone, and flopped back down on his pillow, pulling the thick covers over his face to block the sun. He had probably slept longer than usual, but he found himself to still be tired and drained. Sooner than he had expected, he closed his eyes and fell back to sleep, this time his mind blank and relaxed.
Kevin skipped towards his house, the bright sun guiding him like a stairway to heaven; his friend Eli would probably laugh at that metaphor, but after a restless night at a stranger’s house and waking up to find himself snuggled against that same stranger, Kevin needed the cheesiness. He had on no account, as far as he could remember, snuggled or cuddled with anyone other than his baby brother, and that was never his choice.
“Maybe it was that dream…”
He spoke to himself softly, not wanting to draw attention from the neighbors that were out getting mail or walking their animals. Still remembering a few parts of his dream, Kevin flinched. It had to have just been a dream because Kevin couldn’t recall being a child. The only thing he remembered was the flames that had taken his family’s home before his parent’s divorce. In the midst of the fire, Kevin’s father had said that he had fallen and hit his head, causing him to have selective amnesia. It had taken months, almost a full year, for Kevin to get comfortable with his family again.
He remembered the doctors asking him over and over what was his name. Sung Hyun, at least that what he had thought at the time, and according to his parents, he had at least remembered that much. He didn’t know his age, where he loved, who his parents were, or even how the fire had started. Apparently he had caused it by plugging something in the wrong way and it caused an electrical fire. Kevin didn’t remember, so he never asked anymore questions until after his brother was born: where did all of his photos go? He remembered he had cried and said that they had gotten mad at him and thrown them out. His mother had soothed and cooed him, telling him that they had all burned up in the fire, but now they would make new memories.
Keivn smiled to himself. Even with his parents being divorced and his father having full custody over both him and his brother, he still felt like he apart of a wonderful family. They still go together for holidays and birthdays, even the occasional weekend so Dongho would have fond memories of all of them together.
“Kebin! Kebin!”
Kevin’s name rang through the front door before he had even walked up the steps. The door flew opened, a smiling father catching it before the swinging device could do damage to the wall, and out ran a little, round faced boy, arms out stretched and a smile that swallowed his entire face. The boy flung himself into Kevin’s awaiting arms, small giggles eliciting from both of them.
“You look exhausted, Kev.”
With Dongho attached to his side, Kevin climbed the three steps and walked through the door, allowing his father to close it after him. He sat the five year old on his feet let him run off to play and turned to the professor, “Hey, Dad. I’m fine, just a restless night.” Kevin scrunched his eyes together at his father’s appearance. The man was barely in his mid-thirties, good looking, and could wear a suit better than anyone Kevin knew. “Where are you going to anyways? It’s not very often that you ask me to watch Dongho on Saturdays.”
The older man laughed nervously, “I’m just going to see an old friend. I haven’t seen him since college and I’d like to get updated on him.”
“Uh huh. Sure it isn’t a date?”
A blushed slowly stained his father’s cheek, nervous laughter starting to bellow from the man’s lips, “Gees, Kev, you know I won’t date until Dongho is older. Now, Eli called and wanted to speak with you. Maybe I should get you a cell phone… Your friend calls way too much for him to live in another city and go to a different school.”
Kevin chortled before waving his father off and bidding him farewell and good luck. With Dongho playing in the living room, Kevin called Eli, already knowing why he had called. He probably wanted to know about his first day and wanted to hangout at the mall because there would be somewhere for Dongho to play.
“So, you just stayed the night at a random guy’s house?”
“Pretty much.” Inclining on the couch and eyeing his five year older brother, Kevin sighed at Eli’s question. They were already on the subject of that Kibum guy.
“Wow. You move quick. I bet soon he’ll replace.”
“I doubt it. He’s a little closed off and snippy.”
“Oh, then never mind. Enough about Mr. Stranger, I wanna know about the school.”
“Well, not much to say. A lot of people. Too many teachers that know my dad. Terrible food. Nothing much.”
“Kevvy, you know I mean about girls. Are there any cute girls?”
“Eli…” Kevin lowered his voice, pursing his lips even though his friend couldn’t see him. “You know I like guys and think that girls are too annoying to deal with.”
“Yeah, but you can still-oh that reminds me, one: why are complaining about cuddling with a guy? Two: Jiyong called looking for you; said that he missed your gorgeous body and sensual-”
“Eli! Shh! My brother can hear you! And I don’t know what Jiyong wants, I broke up with him a week before I found out I was leaving.”
“He’s kinda creepy, Kev. He says that you two were just on a break, whatever that is. Anyways, I miss you. My house is lonely without you screaming at me for beating you on the Xbox. Come back. Come live with me; I’ll pay your rent.”
“Where would I sleep?”
“In my closet, of course.”
“Jerk…”
“Hey, you miss me, too. What are you doing today? Wanna hangout at the mall?”
“I’ll have Dongho with me.”
“That’s fine, I kinda miss the munchkin.”
“Alright. We’ll see you there. Wanna feed us?”
“What? Just because my dad gives me money you think I have enough to feed the three of us and possibly buy ice cream?”
“Yep.”
“Good, cause it’s true. Bye, Kev. See you there.”
“See ya!”
Kevin hung up, smiling and shaking his head. His best friend was silly but he wouldn’t know what he’d be doing right now if he hadn’t met the taekwondo king of his former school.
“Kebin, we go see Eywi?”Dongho stared hopefully up at him, hand tugging at his sleeve and tongue sticking out in hopeful concentration.
“Yeah, we go see Eywi.”
rating: pg-13 (may change way later)
warnings: kidnapping. rape (later chapter).
pairings: soohyun / kiseop ; kevin / kibum ; more to come
summary: woo sung hyun was kidnapped at the age of seven, leaving behind his parents, older sister, and best friend kim kibum. ten years later, in kibum's senior year, he is shocked to meet a new student that goes by the name of kevin shin and resembles his childhood best friend.
With a heavy, heart wrenching sigh, Kibum stumbled thought his front door, dropping his back pack in the threshold as he walked straight to the kitchen. He was exhausted, annoyed even, from just one hour alone with the new kid. Who asked questions like, “If a person suffered from amnesia, and then was cured, would they remember that they forgot?” and, “Why does Bugs Bunny walk around the cartoon naked, but puts a bathing suit on when he goes swimming?” Kibum didn’t know, but the new kid did, and he sure was shameless in asking them.
“Maybe he was just trying to make the atmosphere less awkward…he was laughing.”
Kibum heard himself echo through the house, something that normally happened when his mother was shopping and his brother was off at college. He didn’t have a father, and after he turned ten, he pretty much forgot that a man had once said he loved his mother. It was alright though, cause after he was born, he and his brother took the profession of loving their mother enough for them to get by with happiness. That, and his mother always said that if another man came into her life, she’d have to send him through horrific trials made by her sons.
After school activities weren’t something that he immersed himself in so he always found himself sprawled out on the couch in the family room watching cartoons and trying to find ways to make his weekend go faster. At the moment, he didn’t think about the time he had to spare for the weekend, he just immersed himself in a Looney Toons marathon.
It was a quarter to five when his marathon was interrupted by a soft knock on his door. Kibum groaned in annoyance when the knocking didn’t stop-it was Friday night and a three day weekend; who the hell would be at the door? Throwing himself off the couch, Kibum vowed to find out whom and kill them…or glare extreme daggers at them and laugh internally as they cringe. He smirked to himself before opening the front door, mouth almost dropping and eyes almost popping out at the sight of Kevin, the new kid, standing in front of him. At his house. Unannounced.
“Uh…hey Kibum-Hyung.”
He couldn’t find it in himself to react.
“I know it’s a Friday night but I just looked at all my make-up work,” Kibum eyed the shoulder bag the younger one wore, “and I really need help and I heard you’re one of the smartest guys at school. I’m sorry, you look upset.”
Kibum shook his head, trying to understand what was going on, “N-No, I’m just wondering how you found my house?”
Kibum watched Kevin fidget before speaking. He couldn’t help the way he watched the boy’s hands interlock with each other over and over down by his waist and the way his brown eyes darted around before stopping on him again, “I live down the street and while we were walking in the same direction I saw you come here. I know that sounds stalkerish but it’s really unstoppable since I have to pass your house to get to mine.” Kevin chuckled nervously and Kibum wasn’t sure, but he thought he saw a faint blush.
“It’s…cool. But why are you here so late? You should’ve asked me when I was showing you around the school.” As he spoke he comfortably leaned against the door frame and crossed his arms, feeling slightly self conscience that was wearing pajamas and a black tank top, or a more vulgar name, a wife beater while Kevin was still dressed in the schools uniform.
“I forgot…and I had to help my little brother…”
“I see, well, c’mon in, no use in you standing in the dark.” Kibum moved out of the way for Kevin to pass him, closing the door when he was in. Something happened, though, something that he couldn’t explain. When Kevin passed him, the boy’s cologne wafted through his nose, stopping Kibum in his tracks. The smell was familiar but nothing that he had ever smelled from a bottle-was it just Kevin’s scent? Or was it Kibum’s imagination? Whatever it was it made him feel like a child playing across the street at the small playground in the sand pit. He saw himself and someone else, someone important to him, someone he hadn’t seen for years. This someone had a toothy grin that made his tiny face glow and such large eyes that made him look like a little girl with short, choppy hair.
“Hyung, I’ll be right back. I’m going to get us something to drink!”
“Okay, Hyunnie! Don’t take too long!”
Hyunnie? Why was he thinking about him at such an arbitrary time? Kibum jumped when a cool hand touched his arm, the chilly touch making the scene evaporate and his mind to come back, Kevin’s toothy grin weaving its way into his eye sight, almost blinding him with the amusement he showed.
“Done daydreaming?”
Kibum stared at the guiltless orbs that looked at him the same way Hyunnie use to; the smile was the same, too. But he had just met the boy and as far as Kibum knew, he never had a friend named Kevin and Hyunnie was still out somewhere, probably unaided and conjecturing where his hyung was. And still, he felt on edge that just one discrete smell had made him remember the last time he saw his best friend.
A little rickety and nerves in a panic Kibum led Kevin to the dining room table and let the boy show him what he needed help with which Kibum noticed was all four core subjects. He did see that Kevin did attempt some of the work; he even had his outline started for the English paper the class started the week before, the same paper Kibum was finished with. The math was the easiest for Kibum given that it was the same work he had finished in class prior to being called out of class.
By the time nine o’clock came around, Kevin had completed his math, science, history, and had started his paper for English-Kibum thanked the lord that the paper wasn’t due until the week of finals so Kevin wouldn’t require his help on it anytime soon. At nine, Kevin closed his notebook and slipped everything into his bag. Just as he was thanking Kibum the front door opened and closed, the sound of a woman’s heels taping on the hardwood floor as the footsteps grew closer to the dining room and kitchen until Kibum saw his mother.
The woman looked generally flabbergasted; her eyes large with curiosity as she took in Kibum standing up next to a indiscriminate boy, conscious. “Oh, Kibum, you’re not on the couch.”
Kibum frowned, narrowing his eyes when Kevin chuckled under his breath as he finished packing his books. “Mom, I don’t always lay around on the couch. I tutor now.” He moved his hand to specify the other male that was still looking down at his bag. But when Kibum cleared his throat, Kevin’s head shot up, silently giving a You mean me look. “Mom, this is Kevin; he’s new to the neighborhood. He’s professor’s Shin’s son.”
The oddest thing Kibum had ever seen was his mother at the moment she looked at Kevin. Her face paled and her eyes widened more, if that were feasible. She stared and stared, her grocery bags dropped from her hands making a loud clank sound that made her blink and shake her head, laughing when she saw Kibum and Kevin look at one another dubiously.
“It’s nice to meet you, uh…Kevin. But I didn’t know Dr. Shin had two sons.”
Kibum watched Kevin smile, blowing off the uncharacteristic ways of his mother.
“I’ve lived with my mother for the past year after they got a divorce and he and my brother moved here about the same time.”
As Kevin spoke, Kibum’s mother moved about in the kitchen behind them, making small glances to show that she was still engrossed. “I see, well it’s nice that Kibum has a new friend, or at least a new hobby. Are you staying for dinner? I know it’s late but Friday Night shopping is hard when you don’t have a muscular man running around everywhere and getting the harder things for you.”
Catching the insinuation and Kevin’s giggle, Kibum blushed, “You were gone before I got home and no, he was just leaving.” He felt Kevin flinch beside him, the younger one’s eyes staring anywhere but at him or his mother. Maybe that was a little callous but it was the truth.
“Well, Ki Bum, it’s dark and he shouldn’t be walking around here so late, anything could happen to him.”
“I think my dad would like it better if I stay here instead of going home alone.”
“Then it’s settled, Kibum give him your phone and let him tell his father. Another thing, get out so I can cook.”
Sighing and grabbing Kevin’s wrist, Kibum trudged out of the room towards the family room, pulling the younger one with him. “Geez, I just met you today and I’ve already spent more time with you then my own friends.”
“You’re the one that said you were tutoring me…”
Kibum could hear the hilarity in the boy’s tenor, almost glaring when he dropped Kevin’s bony wrist and handed him his cell phone. “Make it quick, I need to get back to being lazy.” He tapped his foot with his hand held out during Kevin’s phone call, completely ignoring everything he asked, the only thing he noticed was the bright smile on the kid’s face when said I love you and bye. That face… “That was a long phone call. What did he say?” He took his phone back, eyeing the screen at the ten notifications for new text messages.
Kevin beamed. He was such a happy high school student. “He said it was fine, I’ll just have to be home in the morning to watch my brother.”
“Uh-huh.”
Before dinner Kibum found some sweat pants and a t-shirt that wouldn’t consume Kevin’s small frame too much; showed him where the shower was and let him take it from there; and in the mean time he figured out that the only place the other could sleep was in his bed with him. After the younger’s shower, he walked downstairs, engulfed by Kibum’s clothes just enough to make him look like…a child.
Dinner came quicker than Kibum had expected, taking him away from his Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. His mother didn’t stay long, adding to her anomalous behavior, but she stayed long enough to see Kevin in his clothes, stare, and say a prayer before running off with the excuse that she had to video call Hyung Jun. Kevin didn’t seem to notice anything out of the ordinary, but he wasn’t a long term friend either. He ate wordlessly, smiling and throwing out the occasional compliment on the food. When they were through, Kibum showed him upstairs to his room.
“Sorry, it’s a little cramped.” Kibum scratched the side of his forehead, reflexively biting his lip and grinding his teeth. “I’d let you stay in my brother’s room but after he left we fixed the space up to be a workout room.”
Kevin shrugged his shoulders, walking around and taking a glimpse at anything and everything; he seemed exceedingly fascinated. “It’s fine. Your room isn’t cramped; you just have a lot of interests. Wow! You have a keyboard, a laptop, and a travel recording studio. I guess you’re really into music, huh?” Kibum raised one shoulder and let it drop. “I am, too. That’s the only thing I’m really into.”
“Music is a good thing to indulge yourself in. Can we talk about sleeping arrangements? Are you alright with sharing a bed? If not, I don’t mind sleeping on the flo-”
“Is this you? You were so young and cute.” It wasn’t everyday someone interrupted him when he was speaking, but Keivn did, and not just by talking, but also by grabbing the picture frame next to his computer and turning it towards him, practically spazzing over it. “And this kid here is cute, too; is it a girl?”
The frame encased an old picture that Kibum rarely glanced at or thought about. The picture was of a younger him and his best friend, Sung Hyun, or Hyunnie, sitting outside in the sand box. It was the only thing he really had of his childhood friend, the only thing that kept him searching for a boy that looked like him and would come to him calling him hyung and wanting to play. Even now as he stood there in his room with Kevin holding his dear photograph, he still believed Hyunnie would be coming home soon.
“It’s my best friend; he left when we were young and I haven’t heard anything from him since. Nothing important.”
Kevin stared at him, Kibum scarcely noticing the chewing of the inside of his cheek, frowning a little as he sat the frame back down, the supple thud of the frame hitting the hard surface barely perceptible. “Sorry. And I don’t mind sharing a bed; I wouldn’t want to throw you out to the wolves. Besides, it’s your house. I’m the one intruding.”
It wasn’t weird sleeping with someone, particularly a male, for Kibum; the eerie part came in the core of the hours of darkness when the other male, the other male being Kevin, scooted closer and cuddled him like a stuffed bear. It was quite sudden and the movement woke Kibum from his light hibernation. Since he was young he’s had many friends share a bed with him, his friend Hoon being the main one, and not once could he remember someone cuddling him. Not recently anyways.
Shaking off the feeling of déjà vu, Kibum let unconsciousness consume him once more, taking refuge in the soft hair that tickled his chin, the small hands that wrapped around his forearm, and the clothed legs the brushed his.
He dreamt of a boy with girly features; big, round brown eyes; a baby face; choppy brunette hair; and a child’s voice that was as smooth as silk. The boy was close to him, always giving him pet names and begging him to play House or go out to the playground with him. They were closer than most young friends, doing everything together, even asking to go into pre-school together; they held hands when they were together, ignoring other students and teachers that would question them. Night time was also spent with one another. The boy would curl himself next to the older one, small hand circling the other’s forearm, legs intertwining to make the sleeping arrangement more bearable and comfortable. Their parents never scolded them for always being together because the first time they did, the younger one had pitched a fit and ran away to the park and hid in the slide where his best friend found him minutes later and talked him into going back home, both making a promise to never be separated.
Kibum rose when the bright sun hit his face, body instantly remember remnants of his dream and the fact that someone had been sleeping next to him. He looked to his side, feeling and seeing that Kevin’s presence was now gone, and flopped back down on his pillow, pulling the thick covers over his face to block the sun. He had probably slept longer than usual, but he found himself to still be tired and drained. Sooner than he had expected, he closed his eyes and fell back to sleep, this time his mind blank and relaxed.
Kevin skipped towards his house, the bright sun guiding him like a stairway to heaven; his friend Eli would probably laugh at that metaphor, but after a restless night at a stranger’s house and waking up to find himself snuggled against that same stranger, Kevin needed the cheesiness. He had on no account, as far as he could remember, snuggled or cuddled with anyone other than his baby brother, and that was never his choice.
“Maybe it was that dream…”
He spoke to himself softly, not wanting to draw attention from the neighbors that were out getting mail or walking their animals. Still remembering a few parts of his dream, Kevin flinched. It had to have just been a dream because Kevin couldn’t recall being a child. The only thing he remembered was the flames that had taken his family’s home before his parent’s divorce. In the midst of the fire, Kevin’s father had said that he had fallen and hit his head, causing him to have selective amnesia. It had taken months, almost a full year, for Kevin to get comfortable with his family again.
He remembered the doctors asking him over and over what was his name. Sung Hyun, at least that what he had thought at the time, and according to his parents, he had at least remembered that much. He didn’t know his age, where he loved, who his parents were, or even how the fire had started. Apparently he had caused it by plugging something in the wrong way and it caused an electrical fire. Kevin didn’t remember, so he never asked anymore questions until after his brother was born: where did all of his photos go? He remembered he had cried and said that they had gotten mad at him and thrown them out. His mother had soothed and cooed him, telling him that they had all burned up in the fire, but now they would make new memories.
Keivn smiled to himself. Even with his parents being divorced and his father having full custody over both him and his brother, he still felt like he apart of a wonderful family. They still go together for holidays and birthdays, even the occasional weekend so Dongho would have fond memories of all of them together.
“Kebin! Kebin!”
Kevin’s name rang through the front door before he had even walked up the steps. The door flew opened, a smiling father catching it before the swinging device could do damage to the wall, and out ran a little, round faced boy, arms out stretched and a smile that swallowed his entire face. The boy flung himself into Kevin’s awaiting arms, small giggles eliciting from both of them.
“You look exhausted, Kev.”
With Dongho attached to his side, Kevin climbed the three steps and walked through the door, allowing his father to close it after him. He sat the five year old on his feet let him run off to play and turned to the professor, “Hey, Dad. I’m fine, just a restless night.” Kevin scrunched his eyes together at his father’s appearance. The man was barely in his mid-thirties, good looking, and could wear a suit better than anyone Kevin knew. “Where are you going to anyways? It’s not very often that you ask me to watch Dongho on Saturdays.”
The older man laughed nervously, “I’m just going to see an old friend. I haven’t seen him since college and I’d like to get updated on him.”
“Uh huh. Sure it isn’t a date?”
A blushed slowly stained his father’s cheek, nervous laughter starting to bellow from the man’s lips, “Gees, Kev, you know I won’t date until Dongho is older. Now, Eli called and wanted to speak with you. Maybe I should get you a cell phone… Your friend calls way too much for him to live in another city and go to a different school.”
Kevin chortled before waving his father off and bidding him farewell and good luck. With Dongho playing in the living room, Kevin called Eli, already knowing why he had called. He probably wanted to know about his first day and wanted to hangout at the mall because there would be somewhere for Dongho to play.
“So, you just stayed the night at a random guy’s house?”
“Pretty much.” Inclining on the couch and eyeing his five year older brother, Kevin sighed at Eli’s question. They were already on the subject of that Kibum guy.
“Wow. You move quick. I bet soon he’ll replace.”
“I doubt it. He’s a little closed off and snippy.”
“Oh, then never mind. Enough about Mr. Stranger, I wanna know about the school.”
“Well, not much to say. A lot of people. Too many teachers that know my dad. Terrible food. Nothing much.”
“Kevvy, you know I mean about girls. Are there any cute girls?”
“Eli…” Kevin lowered his voice, pursing his lips even though his friend couldn’t see him. “You know I like guys and think that girls are too annoying to deal with.”
“Yeah, but you can still-oh that reminds me, one: why are complaining about cuddling with a guy? Two: Jiyong called looking for you; said that he missed your gorgeous body and sensual-”
“Eli! Shh! My brother can hear you! And I don’t know what Jiyong wants, I broke up with him a week before I found out I was leaving.”
“He’s kinda creepy, Kev. He says that you two were just on a break, whatever that is. Anyways, I miss you. My house is lonely without you screaming at me for beating you on the Xbox. Come back. Come live with me; I’ll pay your rent.”
“Where would I sleep?”
“In my closet, of course.”
“Jerk…”
“Hey, you miss me, too. What are you doing today? Wanna hangout at the mall?”
“I’ll have Dongho with me.”
“That’s fine, I kinda miss the munchkin.”
“Alright. We’ll see you there. Wanna feed us?”
“What? Just because my dad gives me money you think I have enough to feed the three of us and possibly buy ice cream?”
“Yep.”
“Good, cause it’s true. Bye, Kev. See you there.”
“See ya!”
Kevin hung up, smiling and shaking his head. His best friend was silly but he wouldn’t know what he’d be doing right now if he hadn’t met the taekwondo king of his former school.
“Kebin, we go see Eywi?”Dongho stared hopefully up at him, hand tugging at his sleeve and tongue sticking out in hopeful concentration.
“Yeah, we go see Eywi.”