Catching Back Your Love - 1/5
Title: Catching Back Your Love
Chapter: 1/5
You might want to read the Prologue.
Genre: Angst, Romance
Rating: PG-13 (slight cursing)
Pairing: 2min, OnTae, friendship!MinKey, OnKey
Disclaimer: I OWN THEM. I mean, only the story. T_T
A/N: This is a 5 chapter-ed fic (not counting prologue). I have had this idea in mind for quite some time and I finally managed to write it down yesterday. Oh and btw, no Taemin did not commit suicide. (:
Summary: The Taemin that transfers back to the city is not the same Taemin who used to be Minho's best friend for life.
******
C H A P T E R O N E
It has been two years since Taemin disappeared.
Minho had been pretty hard on himself. After the fateful night where Taemin called him up and said nothing but ‘sorry’, he fell asleep with an uneasy, creepy feeling lingering in his heart. He had told himself to go to the Lee’s first thing in the morning, but what greeted him when he reached there scarred him for life.
The front door was not even closed - the door was broken in half. The house was in a mess. It was as if an airplane had crashed on it or some sort. The furniture were upside down - some broken, shreds of glass and porcelain everywhere, but that was not what caught Minho’s eyes.
Taemin’s cell phone was in the middle of the living room, the screen broken - as if someone had stepped on it. Fear started building up in Minho’s chest as he scanned the house - no sign of living person around.
Praying that this was all a nightmare, Minho hurriedly check the whole house - Taemin’s bedroom, his parents’ bedroom and the bathrooms. All the rooms were the same - wrecked, messy, and torn - and there was no sign of anyone anywhere. The house was deserted.
Minho stepped into Taemin’s bedroom, his heart thumping hard, tears building in his eyes. He was scared and worried - what had happened? Is Taemin okay? Is he alive? - All sorts of thoughts were running through his mind. But most of all he was regretting that he had not spoken to Taemin before last night - and how much of a difference would it make if he did not attempt to avoid the younger boy.
Instinctively, he started searching for something - anything - a letter perhaps - around the room. After few hours, his search was fruitless and Minho - not wanting to give up - finally dialed the police.
“You look weird with your face all scrunched up like that.”
Minho snapped out of his train of thoughts as he glared at the boy who just slumped down at the seat opposite of his.
“Yah, Key, I never said that the seat was vacant.”
“Oh please, if I’m not around who do you think will sit and eat lunch with you?”
“I have other friends too, you know.”
“So do I.”
“Whatever.”
Minho stirred his soup slowly. There was no point in arguing with Key because Key is a diva and he never loses an argument. They both had become very close friends ever since their freshman year (last year), and although their personalities were opposite of each other, Minho never wanted Key to change because he loves Key’s company like that.
“I heard there’s a transfer student.” Key initiated a conversation. Minho was still playing with his food. “He is transferring as a sophomore, but he’s younger than us by 2 years. Nicole said she saw the boy at the general office and the Principal was talking to him about some kind of scholarship. He must be a genius to skip a year and get it.”
“Hm.” Minho responded. “By the way, Key…”
“Yes?”
“Why are you telling me this?”
Key rolled his eyes. “If it weren’t because of me, you will be an anti-social brat who knows no one and nothing about the whole school and believe me, you’ll thank me ten years down the road when we’re having a college reunion and everyone starts greeting you because you are Choi Minho, the Kim Kibum’s best friend.”
“… Right.”
They continued to bicker throughout lunch. It was always like that - Key and Minho arguing over nothing at all - but they both enjoyed the moment very much. After their lunch they bid their farewell (“You tall freak” “Pink freak” “YAH”) and went to their own classes.
Minho was reading through his notes when Mr. Kang - his lecturer - stepped into the laboratory with someone tailing him. He was pretty much uninterested until he heard the teacher saying something about the boy introducing himself as a new student in front of everyone.
“I’m Lee Taemin. Nice to meet you.”
Minho felt everything froze around him as he shifted his gaze up to observe the new boy. His heart skipped a beat.
The new student was tall - shorter than Minho but still tall. He has a long auburn hair touching his shoulder, which was tied into a ponytail. He wore black skinny jeans with a baby blue t-shirt. His eyes were dark brown and his lips were pink and kissable - and Minho thinks that this person - this familiar looking yet distant Taemin - is beautiful.
Whispers were heard all over the room and the girls were giggling while the boys made whistling sound. Minho still couldn’t find his breath, and as the lecturer pointed to Taemin to sit at the empty seat behind Minho, Minho’s eyes finally met Taemin’s.
Taemin’s face had shown no emotion and he did not seem to care much about his new classmates. He adjusted his sling bag and walked casually over towards Minho’s direction. Minho’s mind was racing - this person looks so much like Taemin - is he Taemin - why is he suddenly back in town - is this the same Taemin - but as Minho waited for any signs that Taemin recognizes him at all, he was met with disappointment.
Taemin strolled passed him without even glancing at him. Minho clenched his fists as he heard a dragging sound of a chair from behind him. His heart throbbed painfully, and he doesn’t know why.
Three hours passed just like that but to Minho it was the longest three hours he had ever had in his life. His lab partner, Jonghyun, had asked him if he was all right for the sixth time already, and now he wasn’t even bothered to reply.
Once the bell rang, Minho turned to Taemin to start a conversation - “hey, do you remember me? Why did you leave? How have you been? Why didn’t you contact me?” - but before he managed to do so, Taemin had already left the laboratory.
Packing up his stuffs in hurry (“Yah, what’s your problem? Chill.” Jonghyun chuckled), Minho ran out of the room to go after Taemin with his bag not fully zipped.
“Taemin! Taemin!” Minho called as he saw the younger boy walking not far ahead from him. “Wait up!”
Taemin stopped in his track and turned around, his face still emotionless.
“D-Do you…” Minho gulped. “Do you remember me?”
Taemin put his hands into his pockets.
“No.”
Minho’s heart shattered as he watched the younger boy walked away.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
“The transfer student is so freaking hot!”
Minho rolled his eyes at the excited Key who was babbling in front of him while eating a sandwich.
“No talking when eating.” Minho grumbled as he munched on his muffin.
“Shut up and let me fan-boy my moment away.” Key pouted. “And the transfer student - Lee Taemin - is a hot stuff. He dances like God and he looks like a Goddess and he is perfect.”
“I didn’t know you’re gay, Key.”
“Oh I’m not, I just know how to appreciate beauty and beautiful people.” Key smirked. “Unlike you, my boy, who emits ugly and ugliness all around the place.”
“F*ck you.”
“No thanks.”
Minho sighed as Key continued to worship Taemin. If Minho hadn’t known Taemin before, he was sure he would interestedly join in the conversation. But that Taemin was - is - his best friend, the one he had rejected and disappeared for two whole years without any trace.
His heart felt funny at the thought of Taemin. He was dying to know what had happened to Taemin back then - why was he all different now and why didn’t he remember who Minho is. Perhaps this was Taemin’s revenge because Minho hurt his feelings. But Taemin would never do that… At least the Taemin Minho knew wouldn’t.
“And his legs are downright sexy.”
“You sound like a perverted pedophile.”
“He’s a year or two younger than us, excuse you.” Key hissed.
“Anyway, I’ll talk to you later.” Minho got up. “Have fun stalking Taemin.”
Minho headed to the college dorm - his break was until another hour and a short nap would do wonders. As he arrived on the fifth floor - where his unit was - his eyes caught the glimpse of a familiar silhouette.
It was ironic that no matter how long had passed or how much he had changed, Taemin’s shadow was like a permanent tattoo on Minho’s mind. The tall boy’s legs moved without his brain’s command and started to follow - stalk - creep - behind Taemin.
Taemin did not notice that someone was tailing behind him. In fact, Taemin did not seem to care about whoever or whatever was surrounding him - the boy just continued walking, his face cold. He walked to the other end of the corridor - opposite direction of Minho’s unit - and then finally stopped in front of unit 510.
Taemin knocked the door and Minho gasped quietly as a boy looking slightly older than Minho opened up.
“Taemin?” The boy greeted, surprised. “Don’t you have class?”
Taemin mumbled something - Minho could not catch it as he was standing in quite a distance. He noticed the older boy’s features soften at what Taemin said.
They conversed for a while before Taemin took a step forward and hugged the older boy - burying his face into the man’s chest. The older man wrapped his arms around Taemin’s body possessively and pecked Taemin’s temple before pulling - half carrying - him into his unit.
Minho was still nailed to his spot with his mouth gaping like a fish even after the door has closed.
What was that?
Taemin was in someone else’s embrace.
What the heck?
“Dude, you’re blocking the way!”
Minho snapped out of it and stammered an apology to a few guys who glared at him frustrated. Minho then quickly headed back to his own unit - 501.
Sitting on his bed, Minho glanced at the framed picture resting on the small table. It was taken two years ago during a carnival - Minho's arm around Taemin's shoulder while the younger boy was happily holding a cotton candy - Minho's treat. Taemin had a mushroom hair back then, but his features - his eyes were the same. Except that right now the eyes of Taemin who just transferred did not have any glint of happiness in them.
The scene of Taemin hugging an unknown person - man - replayed in his brain, and Minho grimaced at the aching in his heart.
Minho sighed at the thought of how if Taemin hadn’t left - if Minho hadn’t rejected him - that man holding Taemin in his arms could have been Minho.
Chapter: 1/5
You might want to read the Prologue.
Genre: Angst, Romance
Rating: PG-13 (slight cursing)
Pairing: 2min, OnTae, friendship!MinKey, OnKey
Disclaimer: I OWN THEM. I mean, only the story. T_T
A/N: This is a 5 chapter-ed fic (not counting prologue). I have had this idea in mind for quite some time and I finally managed to write it down yesterday. Oh and btw, no Taemin did not commit suicide. (:
Summary: The Taemin that transfers back to the city is not the same Taemin who used to be Minho's best friend for life.
******
C H A P T E R O N E
It has been two years since Taemin disappeared.
Minho had been pretty hard on himself. After the fateful night where Taemin called him up and said nothing but ‘sorry’, he fell asleep with an uneasy, creepy feeling lingering in his heart. He had told himself to go to the Lee’s first thing in the morning, but what greeted him when he reached there scarred him for life.
The front door was not even closed - the door was broken in half. The house was in a mess. It was as if an airplane had crashed on it or some sort. The furniture were upside down - some broken, shreds of glass and porcelain everywhere, but that was not what caught Minho’s eyes.
Taemin’s cell phone was in the middle of the living room, the screen broken - as if someone had stepped on it. Fear started building up in Minho’s chest as he scanned the house - no sign of living person around.
Praying that this was all a nightmare, Minho hurriedly check the whole house - Taemin’s bedroom, his parents’ bedroom and the bathrooms. All the rooms were the same - wrecked, messy, and torn - and there was no sign of anyone anywhere. The house was deserted.
Minho stepped into Taemin’s bedroom, his heart thumping hard, tears building in his eyes. He was scared and worried - what had happened? Is Taemin okay? Is he alive? - All sorts of thoughts were running through his mind. But most of all he was regretting that he had not spoken to Taemin before last night - and how much of a difference would it make if he did not attempt to avoid the younger boy.
Instinctively, he started searching for something - anything - a letter perhaps - around the room. After few hours, his search was fruitless and Minho - not wanting to give up - finally dialed the police.
“You look weird with your face all scrunched up like that.”
Minho snapped out of his train of thoughts as he glared at the boy who just slumped down at the seat opposite of his.
“Yah, Key, I never said that the seat was vacant.”
“Oh please, if I’m not around who do you think will sit and eat lunch with you?”
“I have other friends too, you know.”
“So do I.”
“Whatever.”
Minho stirred his soup slowly. There was no point in arguing with Key because Key is a diva and he never loses an argument. They both had become very close friends ever since their freshman year (last year), and although their personalities were opposite of each other, Minho never wanted Key to change because he loves Key’s company like that.
“I heard there’s a transfer student.” Key initiated a conversation. Minho was still playing with his food. “He is transferring as a sophomore, but he’s younger than us by 2 years. Nicole said she saw the boy at the general office and the Principal was talking to him about some kind of scholarship. He must be a genius to skip a year and get it.”
“Hm.” Minho responded. “By the way, Key…”
“Yes?”
“Why are you telling me this?”
Key rolled his eyes. “If it weren’t because of me, you will be an anti-social brat who knows no one and nothing about the whole school and believe me, you’ll thank me ten years down the road when we’re having a college reunion and everyone starts greeting you because you are Choi Minho, the Kim Kibum’s best friend.”
“… Right.”
They continued to bicker throughout lunch. It was always like that - Key and Minho arguing over nothing at all - but they both enjoyed the moment very much. After their lunch they bid their farewell (“You tall freak” “Pink freak” “YAH”) and went to their own classes.
Minho was reading through his notes when Mr. Kang - his lecturer - stepped into the laboratory with someone tailing him. He was pretty much uninterested until he heard the teacher saying something about the boy introducing himself as a new student in front of everyone.
“I’m Lee Taemin. Nice to meet you.”
Minho felt everything froze around him as he shifted his gaze up to observe the new boy. His heart skipped a beat.
The new student was tall - shorter than Minho but still tall. He has a long auburn hair touching his shoulder, which was tied into a ponytail. He wore black skinny jeans with a baby blue t-shirt. His eyes were dark brown and his lips were pink and kissable - and Minho thinks that this person - this familiar looking yet distant Taemin - is beautiful.
Whispers were heard all over the room and the girls were giggling while the boys made whistling sound. Minho still couldn’t find his breath, and as the lecturer pointed to Taemin to sit at the empty seat behind Minho, Minho’s eyes finally met Taemin’s.
Taemin’s face had shown no emotion and he did not seem to care much about his new classmates. He adjusted his sling bag and walked casually over towards Minho’s direction. Minho’s mind was racing - this person looks so much like Taemin - is he Taemin - why is he suddenly back in town - is this the same Taemin - but as Minho waited for any signs that Taemin recognizes him at all, he was met with disappointment.
Taemin strolled passed him without even glancing at him. Minho clenched his fists as he heard a dragging sound of a chair from behind him. His heart throbbed painfully, and he doesn’t know why.
Three hours passed just like that but to Minho it was the longest three hours he had ever had in his life. His lab partner, Jonghyun, had asked him if he was all right for the sixth time already, and now he wasn’t even bothered to reply.
Once the bell rang, Minho turned to Taemin to start a conversation - “hey, do you remember me? Why did you leave? How have you been? Why didn’t you contact me?” - but before he managed to do so, Taemin had already left the laboratory.
Packing up his stuffs in hurry (“Yah, what’s your problem? Chill.” Jonghyun chuckled), Minho ran out of the room to go after Taemin with his bag not fully zipped.
“Taemin! Taemin!” Minho called as he saw the younger boy walking not far ahead from him. “Wait up!”
Taemin stopped in his track and turned around, his face still emotionless.
“D-Do you…” Minho gulped. “Do you remember me?”
Taemin put his hands into his pockets.
“No.”
Minho’s heart shattered as he watched the younger boy walked away.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
“The transfer student is so freaking hot!”
Minho rolled his eyes at the excited Key who was babbling in front of him while eating a sandwich.
“No talking when eating.” Minho grumbled as he munched on his muffin.
“Shut up and let me fan-boy my moment away.” Key pouted. “And the transfer student - Lee Taemin - is a hot stuff. He dances like God and he looks like a Goddess and he is perfect.”
“I didn’t know you’re gay, Key.”
“Oh I’m not, I just know how to appreciate beauty and beautiful people.” Key smirked. “Unlike you, my boy, who emits ugly and ugliness all around the place.”
“F*ck you.”
“No thanks.”
Minho sighed as Key continued to worship Taemin. If Minho hadn’t known Taemin before, he was sure he would interestedly join in the conversation. But that Taemin was - is - his best friend, the one he had rejected and disappeared for two whole years without any trace.
His heart felt funny at the thought of Taemin. He was dying to know what had happened to Taemin back then - why was he all different now and why didn’t he remember who Minho is. Perhaps this was Taemin’s revenge because Minho hurt his feelings. But Taemin would never do that… At least the Taemin Minho knew wouldn’t.
“And his legs are downright sexy.”
“You sound like a perverted pedophile.”
“He’s a year or two younger than us, excuse you.” Key hissed.
“Anyway, I’ll talk to you later.” Minho got up. “Have fun stalking Taemin.”
Minho headed to the college dorm - his break was until another hour and a short nap would do wonders. As he arrived on the fifth floor - where his unit was - his eyes caught the glimpse of a familiar silhouette.
It was ironic that no matter how long had passed or how much he had changed, Taemin’s shadow was like a permanent tattoo on Minho’s mind. The tall boy’s legs moved without his brain’s command and started to follow - stalk - creep - behind Taemin.
Taemin did not notice that someone was tailing behind him. In fact, Taemin did not seem to care about whoever or whatever was surrounding him - the boy just continued walking, his face cold. He walked to the other end of the corridor - opposite direction of Minho’s unit - and then finally stopped in front of unit 510.
Taemin knocked the door and Minho gasped quietly as a boy looking slightly older than Minho opened up.
“Taemin?” The boy greeted, surprised. “Don’t you have class?”
Taemin mumbled something - Minho could not catch it as he was standing in quite a distance. He noticed the older boy’s features soften at what Taemin said.
They conversed for a while before Taemin took a step forward and hugged the older boy - burying his face into the man’s chest. The older man wrapped his arms around Taemin’s body possessively and pecked Taemin’s temple before pulling - half carrying - him into his unit.
Minho was still nailed to his spot with his mouth gaping like a fish even after the door has closed.
What was that?
Taemin was in someone else’s embrace.
What the heck?
“Dude, you’re blocking the way!”
Minho snapped out of it and stammered an apology to a few guys who glared at him frustrated. Minho then quickly headed back to his own unit - 501.
Sitting on his bed, Minho glanced at the framed picture resting on the small table. It was taken two years ago during a carnival - Minho's arm around Taemin's shoulder while the younger boy was happily holding a cotton candy - Minho's treat. Taemin had a mushroom hair back then, but his features - his eyes were the same. Except that right now the eyes of Taemin who just transferred did not have any glint of happiness in them.
The scene of Taemin hugging an unknown person - man - replayed in his brain, and Minho grimaced at the aching in his heart.
Minho sighed at the thought of how if Taemin hadn’t left - if Minho hadn’t rejected him - that man holding Taemin in his arms could have been Minho.