Two Worlds: Chapter 12
“Why do you want to meet me?” Hyukjae asked. Kyuhyun was still nervous, but he managed to sound confident anyway, “I need to talk to you about Sungmin.” Hyukjae let out a sarcastic laugh, “After twenty years? You weren't even there for his funeral!” Kyuhyun flinched, and thought to himself, “He did know me..”
“There's a lot you don't know...”
Kyuhyun stood in front of Hyukjae's house. He was trembling bad enough that he didn't think he had the nerve to even knock on the door. His fear was only greatened when the door flew opened and out pranced a male, shorter than him, with dark brown hair. “Hi. Hyuk saw you through the window in the kitchen. You've been out here for like five minutes, so why don't you come in?” Kyuhyun's face flushed a little, “S-sorry. I'm Cho Kyuhyun.” The short male smiled, “I am Lee Donghae! Nice to meet you!” He sang cheerfully.
The happiness radiating from the stranger made Kyuhyun a little less nervous as he followed him through the gate, up the stairs, and into the house. Donghae closed the door behind them and led him through a hall into the kitchen. There was another male, sitting at the table, and Kyuhyun assumed he was Lee Hyukjae. “Hello, Kyuhyun,” the male said, setting his cup down.
“Have a seat!” Donghae sang again. Kyuhyun sat down across from Hyukjae. His nervousness returned tenfold, as he realized he wasn't sure what he wanted to ask or say.
“Why did Sungmin commit suicide?” He blurted out. Hyukjae's eyes narrowed at him, and he stared in silence for a moment before saying, “I don't know.” Kyuhyun sighed. Hyukjae was studying him. “How old are you, Kyuhyun?”
“I'm sixteen.” Kyuhyun said, staring at the table. Hyukjae inhaled sharply, and said “Impossible. How could you only be sixteen. That would mean you weren't alive when-”
“I wasn't.” Kyuhyun stated, before Hyukjae could finish. Kyuhyun could practically feel Hyukjae's frustration and confusion. “I don't understand it, but when the rain comes, I can see him. Sungmin, I mean. When the rain is gone, though, so is he. I don't know what to do, and I don't know why I came here, but for some reason, I felt like you could help me.”
Hyukjae let out a sarcastic laugh, “You expect me to believe that?” Kyuhyun sighed, “How do you explain that Sungmin knew me twenty years ago, before I was alive?” Hyukjae fell silent. “Where is Sungmin, then. It's raining.” Kyuhyun nodded, “It is raining, but I was afraid to bring him. He might go into shock.” Hyukjae hummed, and began to fiddle with his fingers. “You know, when I was 18, Sungmin told me that he liked me more than a friend. Our friendship wasn't the same after that. I let it get in the way. I wasn't prepared for someone to tell me, 'Hey, I'm gay and I like you.' I shunned him, but one day, he came to me crying, saying that 'Kyuhyun is gone, I can't find him.' I looked all over the place with him, but I had no idea what you looked like. I'd never heard of you either. Sungmin was so heartbroken though, that I didn't stop looking until he gave up. I had never seen him so lifeless.”
Kyuhyun kept swallowing at a lump in his throat as Hyukjae told the story. “A whole year went by, and every day his eyes became deader. He really was in love, and the one person he loved didn't even exist yet?” Hyukjae ended with a question. Kyuhyun rubbed his temples, “I can't figure it out Hyukjae. I've been raking my brain everyday, even when I am with him. I don't know what to do. It's impossible that I am seeing someone almost daily, who technically isn't alive anymore. It's impossible that what I am doing affects what happened twenty years ago. I don't understand. I'm scared. Sungmin might die again, and I don't know how to stop it.”
Hyukjae's eyebrows shot up, and he stared wide-eyed at Kyuhyun. “You loved, I mean love him don't you?” Kyuhyun nodded mutely. Hyukjae groaned and sunk into his chair. “I just don't see how this makes sense.” Kyuhyun stood from his chair. “May we drive past his house?” Hyukjae nodded, standing up as well. “Donghae,” he called out, and the brown haired male hopped into the kitchen. “Yes, Hyukkie?” Hyukjae smiled a little at the man, and Kyuhyun wondered if they were together. “We are going to take a drive.” Donghae smiled back, Be careful then!”
Hyukjae started his car, and looked to Kyuhyun. “Which way?” Kyuhyun stared back at him, dumbfounded, “Uhm...the same house you knew him in?” Hyukjae slapped a hand to his forehead and chuckled, despite still being freaked out over the whole situation. “Right, yeah.” Kyuhyun smiled a little to himself. Someone else would finally be able to see what he does.
They slowed down as they rounded the corner to the block Sungmin's house was on. Kyuhyun wasn't sure if it was his presence, but Hyukjae definitely saw the house looking new. His eyes as wide as they could possibly be, he turned to Kyuhyun, unable to speak. “That's....Impossible,” he finally stated, struggling to get the words out. Kyuhyun nodded, “I know.”
Just as Hyukjae turned to ogle more at the house, the door opened, and out stomped Sungmin. He was clad in a pink raincoat, and rain boots, and held an umbrella over his head. He looked up at the strange car he saw next to his house, and his face fell when he met eye to eye with Kyuhyun.