[fic] Sungmin/Henry: Saline, G
Title: Saline
Author: pinefir
Pairing: Sungmin/Henry
Genre: Drama
Words: 2700+words
Warning: Set in the President!AU, used the names of characters!
Rating: G
Disclaimer: I do not own Sungmin, or Super Junior. I wish I owned President though, it’s such a nice drama. AND OMFG. HENRY IS NOT IN THE DRAMA OKAY. He’s just in this fic
Summary: Sungmin likes to know that he’s surviving.
Authors Note: OMG you all need to watch president. NEGL, i watched it for sungmin but omg the story is great and perfect. And i legit feel sorry for sungmin's character because no one's ever there for sungmin. he goes through the pain alone and AUGH. HE'S SUCH A GOOD ACTOR. my heart breaks when sungmin cries.
Sungmin keeps a jar of tears.
No, he actually doesn’t, but that’s what he tells Henry when the Canadian comes over for a project.
“Oh,” Henry says and he puts down the jar of “tears” back on Sungmin’s desktop.
“Are you going to stand there or are we going to start on our project?” Sungmin snaps from the doorway. Henry jumps in surprise and turns to look at him.
“I’m sorry, hyung,” Henry replies and he shuffles out of Sungmin’s room, following the elder out. Henry wonders where they are going. They pass by rooms and hallways filled with pictures of Sungmin’s family. All were taken professionally, he thinks, it must be the perk of living in a political family, all pictures were done as if they were all posing for a campaign. Henry suddenly feels very small compared to his classmate. Here he was, standing in the house were most politics major would kill to be in. He was lucky he got partnered with Jang Iljun’s son for their campaign analysis project; that would only mean that he’s going to be in the thick of it and he can’t help but feel excited because of this.
“Oh, Sungmin-ah, you’re home,” a girl suddenly appears in front of them. A smile breaks out on Sungmin’s face and Henry wonders who this could be. “Is this your friend?”
“Ahh, noona!” Sungmin says as he hugs the girl. “You caught us! I was hoping I could sneak him in.”
“Sneak who in?” a guy, a good head taller than Sungmin (and someone who looks like an old version of Sungmin too, Henry noted) came , snapping a picture of the two hugging people.
“This,” Sungmin says, as he extracts himself from the girl and comes to Henry’s side. “is my classmate, Henry. He’s here for a project,” he smiles at him. “That is my Inhyung-noona, and that is Mingi-hyung.”
“Hello,” Henry bows. “I’m Henry, it’s nice to meet you.”
“A project?” Mingi asked. “What for?”
“We’re doing campaign analysis,” Sungmin asks. “We were partnered.”
“Campaign analysis?” Inhyung echoes. “then, it’s just like Yu-PDnim here. Is it safe to assume that we’ll be seeing Henry-ssi around now?”
“Ahh, don’t think too much of this,” Sungmin brushes them off. “We’ll be finished with this project as soon as possible.”
___
Because Sungmin is Jang Iljun’s son, he has access to all the campaign materials of his father. When Sungmin took out videos of his father making his speeches, Henry can’t help but feel amazed. He remembers watching political debates through the tv and seeing footages , but all of them were from third person point of views. What Sungmin was holding right now were first-hand, real-time campaign materials. He looks at Sungmin selecting which video to watch first and wonders, if they grow old, would Sungmin grow up to be a politician like his father? Would he remember him and them being partners?
“Henry-ssi, take down notes, we’re going to watch this,” Sungmin says as he pops in the cd into the player, effectively interrupting Henry’s thoughts.
“Are you sure we can watch this?” Henry asks as he sits down on the chair opposite Sungmin. “I mean, this is your father’s materials.”
“What do you take me for? Someone naive?” Sungmin snidely asks, a complete 180 degree turn from his cheery self. “I’ve asked permission from Ms. Oh, and Inhyung-noona. I wouldn’t let a small project like this ruin my father’s image.”
Henry was taken-aback. “I didn’t mean it that way,” Henry said, trying to apologize.
“Never mind,”Sungmin brushes him off. “Just take down notes. I don’t want you to come unprepared for tomorrow’s debate.”
___
Their project wasn’t something that can be made in one night’s time, not that they would even attempt to put their project off for a later date, but this only meant them putting in hours together for this project. It was some sort of a pre-thesis requirement for all politics major, to write a comprehensive analysis of campaigns, after all, their professor reasoned, that a good politician need to be a good analyst. Henry, just like his classmates, were excited as hell to get paired up with Sungmin. Everyone wanted to be paired up with him because Sungmin was in the thick of it, being the son of a presidential candidate. He hoped that by this project, they would get closer, be friends at the least, not just mere classmates. But then, 2 months into their project, Henry thinks that friendship is out of the question.
“Henry-ssi,” Sungmin calls out and Henry cringes because he still cannot believe that they have yet to drop the honorific.
“Yes, Sungmin-ssi?”
“Is this what you really think?” Sungmin asks, Henry’s speech in his hands. “Do you really think that my father did the wrong thing in exposing his son for the scandal he caused?”
Oh, that. Henry thinks. That was all over the news. Back when Sungmin’s father had low approval ratings and Sungmin was a hair’s width close to getting sued for libel when he exposed false accounts about Kim Gyeongmo.
“I, I,” Henry started. “I think it was out of line, I’m sure you only did it for-“
Sungmin slammed the paper on the desk. “Henry-ssi, we won’t win tomorrow’s panel if we present your opinion.”
Henry looked down.
“And if you’re only doing this to get on my good side,” Sungmin says. “Then, you disgust me.”
“Sungmin-sshi,” Henry attempts to defend himself.
“I don’t need pity, not from you, not from my father, not from anyone else. Please, for our sake. Get it straight, Henry-ssi. I don’t want to have to work with you any longer that what I planned.”
And then Henry doesn’t bother trying anymore. Because he was being honest when he did think it was oversight for Sungmin’s father’s part, he didn’t write it to become Sungmin’s friend.
___
It was awkward for Henry knowing that he made Sungmin upset. But what was even more awkward for him was the fact that Sungmin was pretending to be okay with him in the classroom and in front of other people when he knew for a fact that he wasn’t okay with him at all. They always work in silence, with Henry writing his speech and handing them to Sungmin for his approval and Sungmin nodding at him when he’s satisfied. It was routine. They’d go late into the night working like that, and it was boring. It was very boring, them sitting in Sungmin’s room, reading newspaper clippings, internet articles, and even twitter replies. Their only excitment came from when--, no, now that Henry thought of it, there was never anybody to visit Sungmin and interrupt their study sessions.
But to every routine, there is that single thing that would break it, giving way to excitement and surprises.
“JANG SUNGMIN,” a voice was heard outside from their room, Henry assumed it to be Sungmin’s father.
Sungmin stood up, calling back a “Yes , appa,” before leaving the room. Henry felt compelled to follow him, intrigued at why his father would be calling him. He knew it was a breach of privacy, but sue him for being interested. He’s never seen Sungmin in a filial setting, he would not let this opportunity to get to know more about his partner pass.
When he arrived at the stairs, a safe distance from where Sungmin and his father stood, he was surprised to see Sungmin staring head on at his father.
“I didn’t do it,” Sungmin said with conviction. “I did not do it.”
A slap.
His father just slapped Sungmin, and Henry can’t help but widen his eyes in surprise. How, how can he hurt his son like that? Sungmin’s head snaps to the side with the force of the slap and Henry scrambles to get out of his sight.
“Do you think I’d believe you?” Jang Iljun said, voice laced with disappointment. “You’ve done this once. What assurance would you give me that you wouldn’t have done it again?”
Sungmin doesn’t speak and from where Henry sits, crouched, he could see his partner starting to tear up.
“Don’t lie to me. The reporter knows you.”
Sungmin smirks, and Henry becomes a little too scared for him, before turning to look at his father. “And so if it was me,” he starts shakily. “You could always come out and publicly apologize right?”
“Don’t you know how much this will cost us?” his father starts.
“I know. I know. I know how much this costs you. So do you still think I did it?” Sungmin says. “I’ve made that mistake once, do you think I would make it again? Maybe it’s not me who’s to blame this time. Maybe it’s you. It’s you who made the mistake this time! But of course you can’t admit it,” he says and Henry can see Sungmin’s mother, Professor Jo, try her best to restrain his father and hit Sungmin again.
“Maybe, you overlooked a flaw in your perfect plan and now it blows up right in your face. But no, Jang Iljun is perfect. He can’t be mistaken. So he blames it on his son.”
“Sungmin,” his mother starts, willing to stop Sungmin.
“I know,” Sungmin says. “The first thing I’ll do tomorrow is retract the bribe I never gave, and apologize publicly for something I never did,” he finishes and he turns around wiping the bitter tears that dropped.
Henry was fixed on his spot. He managed to stand up though, but he was too late because Sungmin just stopped in his steps.
“Henry,” he said with tearful eyes.
___
Henry didn’t know how to leave. No, he actually didn’t know if he wanted to leave. He just sat there staring at Sungmin’s sleeping figure. Thinking of what he just witnessed.
“I’m sorry,” Sungmin suddenly speaks, and Henry is quick to come to his side. “I’m sorry I ever treated you like shit.”
“Sungmin-ssi,” Henry says. “You’re awake,” and he helps Sungmin sit up.
Sungmin smiles at him weakly, and he can’t help but feel a bit broken-hearted at the sight. The Sungmin-hyung he admires the most looks so sad and disappointed. Henry wonders if he had never noticed these things about him. Sungmin always had a solemn air about him, but maybe these seriousness and solemnity was only because he couldn’t be himself. Because if Sungmin tried to be himself; it might ruin his father’s image.
“Don’t worry about the report,” Henry says, he feels as if he needs to break the silence. “I’ve done it the way you wanted it to be done.”
Sungmin shakes his head. “You’re unbelievable. You’re not gonna be a good politician if you always take orders from others.”
Henry feels offended, but he lets it go. It wasn’t the first time that Sungmin has spoken to him harshly.
“It’s in my principles, to obey the seniors first,” he reasons, brushing off Sungmin’s critic.
“Then you’re also stupid,” Sungmin says. Henry looks at anywhere but him, fine, let him be the foolish one.
And then there was silence, but Sungmin breaks it off by reaching for the jar next to his bed, his action catching Henry’s attention.
“You’ve asked what this is for, right?” Sungmin says, inspecting the jar.
“Your jar of tears?” Henry asks him, recalling the first time they met and smiling at how stupid he must have sounded.
Sungmin smiled, a genuine smile and to Henry it was short of perfection.
“Yeah my jar of tears,” Sungmin echoed. “Did you honestly believe that?”
Henry shrugs. “They say it’s the sanest ones who have the insane antics,” he says with a chuckle.
Sungmin starts laughing, and Henry can’t help himself but laugh along too. Sungmin suddenly opens the jar and conjures up a water bottle from nowhere. He puts a bottle-cap’s worth of liquid into the jar.
“I can see the headlines tomorrow,” Henry jokes. “JANG SUNGMIN FAKES THE TEARS JAR.”
Sungmin just snorts at him and punches him playfully. “As if I’d cry my tears out into a fucking jar,” Sungmin says. “This,” he holds out another cap full of liquid and tips it into the jar. “Is for everytime I cried.”
“You must be crybaby then,” Henry quips, eyeing the jar that was almost full.
“Everytime I cried,” Sungmin starts, swirling the jar a bit and Henry can see small crystals in it. “I pour water with salt here. Just a reminder that I would always cry everytime I’m hurt. But that’s all I’m gonna do, cry.”
“I won’t cry anymore when I fill this,” he says, and he starts pouring the content of the bottle into the jar. “I won’t cry after this.”
___
You can say that it was the turning point for their relationship. Ever since that night where Sungmin revealed himself to be so much of a person and not an unfeeling, insensitive one, Henry can’t help but feel a bit more attached to Sungmin. He wasn’t attracted, it just sounded so wrong in his head. He was just attached, he was concerned for Sungmin and he cared for him. That’s just about it. Just like how he sees Mingi-hyung comfort Inhyung-noona everytime there was a large blow to Jang Iljun’s standing. Henry was like that to Sungmin. Henry would be the one to squeeze Sungmin’s hands in between classes whenever news against Sungmin’s father comes up. He would be the one to take the brunt of all Sungmin’s anger at all the stupid critters who think his father is not good enough. He would be everything just to make Sungmin feel better.
___
“I thought you’ve stopped crying,” Henry says as he hands the sobbing Sungmin a cup of coffee. It is days before the election and with the combined assassination and slash-funds controversy, Sungmin is in a wreck. “Or have you got a new tears jar without telling me?” he says as he sits himself beside Sungmin who have yet to stop crying.
“Come on, don’t cry now,” Henry cooed, adjusting Sungmin so that his head would fall on his shoulder. Sungmin accepted the offer gratefully and clung to him, crying and ruining his shirt.
“Father, they said father might not make it,” he sobbed unashamedly into Henry’s shirt. “I was so stupid.”
Henry brought up a hand to Sungmin’s back, rubbing him gently. “Sssh, nothing is your fault,” he whispers to him as he kisses Sungmin on top of his head. He’s used to this, used to comforting Sungmin, used to being the one that Sungmin can lean on. In the two and a half months they’ve been working together, Henry knew that Sungmin was still a son, still young to be hurt and to be depended on. He needed someone to b strong for him, and Henry , he himself believed that he was the best for that part.
“Sungmin, hyung, hyung,” Henry said calling out his name as he lifted Sungmin’s face so that he can see him properly. “Stop crying.”
“I don’t like it when you cry okay,” Henry says, wiping the tears off Sungmin’s face while Sungmin sniffs.
“I thought you’ve stopped crying. That’s why we broke you jar of tears right, because you didn’t want to cry anymore? Jang Sungmin, you’re a strong man. I’ll let this instance pass, okay?” Sungmin nods. “But, only if you cry on my shoulder. I’ll only let you cry if you cry on me. You have me, hyung.”
And Sungmin nods, brokenly but gratefully, because Henry is there for him.
___
Sungmin and Henry are not in a relationship. No, what they have is not a relationship. They can’t name it, they can’t brand it, but it’s something that good that they wouldn’t want to tarnish it by trying to come up with how they’d call themselves.
They didn’t start off in good terms, but they opened up to each other, and they still are opening up.
They’re not in love, at least, that’s what they like to think.
But just like the jar of tears, this will become full and bring about something new.
They just didn’t know when.
But for now, Sungmin is glad he doesn’t have to pour saline solution in jar anymore, because someone, Henry, is there to hold his hand and comfort him.
Author: pinefir
Pairing: Sungmin/Henry
Genre: Drama
Words: 2700+words
Warning: Set in the President!AU, used the names of characters!
Rating: G
Disclaimer: I do not own Sungmin, or Super Junior. I wish I owned President though, it’s such a nice drama. AND OMFG. HENRY IS NOT IN THE DRAMA OKAY. He’s just in this fic
Summary: Sungmin likes to know that he’s surviving.
Authors Note: OMG you all need to watch president. NEGL, i watched it for sungmin but omg the story is great and perfect. And i legit feel sorry for sungmin's character because no one's ever there for sungmin. he goes through the pain alone and AUGH. HE'S SUCH A GOOD ACTOR. my heart breaks when sungmin cries.
Sungmin keeps a jar of tears.
No, he actually doesn’t, but that’s what he tells Henry when the Canadian comes over for a project.
“Oh,” Henry says and he puts down the jar of “tears” back on Sungmin’s desktop.
“Are you going to stand there or are we going to start on our project?” Sungmin snaps from the doorway. Henry jumps in surprise and turns to look at him.
“I’m sorry, hyung,” Henry replies and he shuffles out of Sungmin’s room, following the elder out. Henry wonders where they are going. They pass by rooms and hallways filled with pictures of Sungmin’s family. All were taken professionally, he thinks, it must be the perk of living in a political family, all pictures were done as if they were all posing for a campaign. Henry suddenly feels very small compared to his classmate. Here he was, standing in the house were most politics major would kill to be in. He was lucky he got partnered with Jang Iljun’s son for their campaign analysis project; that would only mean that he’s going to be in the thick of it and he can’t help but feel excited because of this.
“Oh, Sungmin-ah, you’re home,” a girl suddenly appears in front of them. A smile breaks out on Sungmin’s face and Henry wonders who this could be. “Is this your friend?”
“Ahh, noona!” Sungmin says as he hugs the girl. “You caught us! I was hoping I could sneak him in.”
“Sneak who in?” a guy, a good head taller than Sungmin (and someone who looks like an old version of Sungmin too, Henry noted) came , snapping a picture of the two hugging people.
“This,” Sungmin says, as he extracts himself from the girl and comes to Henry’s side. “is my classmate, Henry. He’s here for a project,” he smiles at him. “That is my Inhyung-noona, and that is Mingi-hyung.”
“Hello,” Henry bows. “I’m Henry, it’s nice to meet you.”
“A project?” Mingi asked. “What for?”
“We’re doing campaign analysis,” Sungmin asks. “We were partnered.”
“Campaign analysis?” Inhyung echoes. “then, it’s just like Yu-PDnim here. Is it safe to assume that we’ll be seeing Henry-ssi around now?”
“Ahh, don’t think too much of this,” Sungmin brushes them off. “We’ll be finished with this project as soon as possible.”
___
Because Sungmin is Jang Iljun’s son, he has access to all the campaign materials of his father. When Sungmin took out videos of his father making his speeches, Henry can’t help but feel amazed. He remembers watching political debates through the tv and seeing footages , but all of them were from third person point of views. What Sungmin was holding right now were first-hand, real-time campaign materials. He looks at Sungmin selecting which video to watch first and wonders, if they grow old, would Sungmin grow up to be a politician like his father? Would he remember him and them being partners?
“Henry-ssi, take down notes, we’re going to watch this,” Sungmin says as he pops in the cd into the player, effectively interrupting Henry’s thoughts.
“Are you sure we can watch this?” Henry asks as he sits down on the chair opposite Sungmin. “I mean, this is your father’s materials.”
“What do you take me for? Someone naive?” Sungmin snidely asks, a complete 180 degree turn from his cheery self. “I’ve asked permission from Ms. Oh, and Inhyung-noona. I wouldn’t let a small project like this ruin my father’s image.”
Henry was taken-aback. “I didn’t mean it that way,” Henry said, trying to apologize.
“Never mind,”Sungmin brushes him off. “Just take down notes. I don’t want you to come unprepared for tomorrow’s debate.”
___
Their project wasn’t something that can be made in one night’s time, not that they would even attempt to put their project off for a later date, but this only meant them putting in hours together for this project. It was some sort of a pre-thesis requirement for all politics major, to write a comprehensive analysis of campaigns, after all, their professor reasoned, that a good politician need to be a good analyst. Henry, just like his classmates, were excited as hell to get paired up with Sungmin. Everyone wanted to be paired up with him because Sungmin was in the thick of it, being the son of a presidential candidate. He hoped that by this project, they would get closer, be friends at the least, not just mere classmates. But then, 2 months into their project, Henry thinks that friendship is out of the question.
“Henry-ssi,” Sungmin calls out and Henry cringes because he still cannot believe that they have yet to drop the honorific.
“Yes, Sungmin-ssi?”
“Is this what you really think?” Sungmin asks, Henry’s speech in his hands. “Do you really think that my father did the wrong thing in exposing his son for the scandal he caused?”
Oh, that. Henry thinks. That was all over the news. Back when Sungmin’s father had low approval ratings and Sungmin was a hair’s width close to getting sued for libel when he exposed false accounts about Kim Gyeongmo.
“I, I,” Henry started. “I think it was out of line, I’m sure you only did it for-“
Sungmin slammed the paper on the desk. “Henry-ssi, we won’t win tomorrow’s panel if we present your opinion.”
Henry looked down.
“And if you’re only doing this to get on my good side,” Sungmin says. “Then, you disgust me.”
“Sungmin-sshi,” Henry attempts to defend himself.
“I don’t need pity, not from you, not from my father, not from anyone else. Please, for our sake. Get it straight, Henry-ssi. I don’t want to have to work with you any longer that what I planned.”
And then Henry doesn’t bother trying anymore. Because he was being honest when he did think it was oversight for Sungmin’s father’s part, he didn’t write it to become Sungmin’s friend.
___
It was awkward for Henry knowing that he made Sungmin upset. But what was even more awkward for him was the fact that Sungmin was pretending to be okay with him in the classroom and in front of other people when he knew for a fact that he wasn’t okay with him at all. They always work in silence, with Henry writing his speech and handing them to Sungmin for his approval and Sungmin nodding at him when he’s satisfied. It was routine. They’d go late into the night working like that, and it was boring. It was very boring, them sitting in Sungmin’s room, reading newspaper clippings, internet articles, and even twitter replies. Their only excitment came from when--, no, now that Henry thought of it, there was never anybody to visit Sungmin and interrupt their study sessions.
But to every routine, there is that single thing that would break it, giving way to excitement and surprises.
“JANG SUNGMIN,” a voice was heard outside from their room, Henry assumed it to be Sungmin’s father.
Sungmin stood up, calling back a “Yes , appa,” before leaving the room. Henry felt compelled to follow him, intrigued at why his father would be calling him. He knew it was a breach of privacy, but sue him for being interested. He’s never seen Sungmin in a filial setting, he would not let this opportunity to get to know more about his partner pass.
When he arrived at the stairs, a safe distance from where Sungmin and his father stood, he was surprised to see Sungmin staring head on at his father.
“I didn’t do it,” Sungmin said with conviction. “I did not do it.”
A slap.
His father just slapped Sungmin, and Henry can’t help but widen his eyes in surprise. How, how can he hurt his son like that? Sungmin’s head snaps to the side with the force of the slap and Henry scrambles to get out of his sight.
“Do you think I’d believe you?” Jang Iljun said, voice laced with disappointment. “You’ve done this once. What assurance would you give me that you wouldn’t have done it again?”
Sungmin doesn’t speak and from where Henry sits, crouched, he could see his partner starting to tear up.
“Don’t lie to me. The reporter knows you.”
Sungmin smirks, and Henry becomes a little too scared for him, before turning to look at his father. “And so if it was me,” he starts shakily. “You could always come out and publicly apologize right?”
“Don’t you know how much this will cost us?” his father starts.
“I know. I know. I know how much this costs you. So do you still think I did it?” Sungmin says. “I’ve made that mistake once, do you think I would make it again? Maybe it’s not me who’s to blame this time. Maybe it’s you. It’s you who made the mistake this time! But of course you can’t admit it,” he says and Henry can see Sungmin’s mother, Professor Jo, try her best to restrain his father and hit Sungmin again.
“Maybe, you overlooked a flaw in your perfect plan and now it blows up right in your face. But no, Jang Iljun is perfect. He can’t be mistaken. So he blames it on his son.”
“Sungmin,” his mother starts, willing to stop Sungmin.
“I know,” Sungmin says. “The first thing I’ll do tomorrow is retract the bribe I never gave, and apologize publicly for something I never did,” he finishes and he turns around wiping the bitter tears that dropped.
Henry was fixed on his spot. He managed to stand up though, but he was too late because Sungmin just stopped in his steps.
“Henry,” he said with tearful eyes.
___
Henry didn’t know how to leave. No, he actually didn’t know if he wanted to leave. He just sat there staring at Sungmin’s sleeping figure. Thinking of what he just witnessed.
“I’m sorry,” Sungmin suddenly speaks, and Henry is quick to come to his side. “I’m sorry I ever treated you like shit.”
“Sungmin-ssi,” Henry says. “You’re awake,” and he helps Sungmin sit up.
Sungmin smiles at him weakly, and he can’t help but feel a bit broken-hearted at the sight. The Sungmin-hyung he admires the most looks so sad and disappointed. Henry wonders if he had never noticed these things about him. Sungmin always had a solemn air about him, but maybe these seriousness and solemnity was only because he couldn’t be himself. Because if Sungmin tried to be himself; it might ruin his father’s image.
“Don’t worry about the report,” Henry says, he feels as if he needs to break the silence. “I’ve done it the way you wanted it to be done.”
Sungmin shakes his head. “You’re unbelievable. You’re not gonna be a good politician if you always take orders from others.”
Henry feels offended, but he lets it go. It wasn’t the first time that Sungmin has spoken to him harshly.
“It’s in my principles, to obey the seniors first,” he reasons, brushing off Sungmin’s critic.
“Then you’re also stupid,” Sungmin says. Henry looks at anywhere but him, fine, let him be the foolish one.
And then there was silence, but Sungmin breaks it off by reaching for the jar next to his bed, his action catching Henry’s attention.
“You’ve asked what this is for, right?” Sungmin says, inspecting the jar.
“Your jar of tears?” Henry asks him, recalling the first time they met and smiling at how stupid he must have sounded.
Sungmin smiled, a genuine smile and to Henry it was short of perfection.
“Yeah my jar of tears,” Sungmin echoed. “Did you honestly believe that?”
Henry shrugs. “They say it’s the sanest ones who have the insane antics,” he says with a chuckle.
Sungmin starts laughing, and Henry can’t help himself but laugh along too. Sungmin suddenly opens the jar and conjures up a water bottle from nowhere. He puts a bottle-cap’s worth of liquid into the jar.
“I can see the headlines tomorrow,” Henry jokes. “JANG SUNGMIN FAKES THE TEARS JAR.”
Sungmin just snorts at him and punches him playfully. “As if I’d cry my tears out into a fucking jar,” Sungmin says. “This,” he holds out another cap full of liquid and tips it into the jar. “Is for everytime I cried.”
“You must be crybaby then,” Henry quips, eyeing the jar that was almost full.
“Everytime I cried,” Sungmin starts, swirling the jar a bit and Henry can see small crystals in it. “I pour water with salt here. Just a reminder that I would always cry everytime I’m hurt. But that’s all I’m gonna do, cry.”
“I won’t cry anymore when I fill this,” he says, and he starts pouring the content of the bottle into the jar. “I won’t cry after this.”
___
You can say that it was the turning point for their relationship. Ever since that night where Sungmin revealed himself to be so much of a person and not an unfeeling, insensitive one, Henry can’t help but feel a bit more attached to Sungmin. He wasn’t attracted, it just sounded so wrong in his head. He was just attached, he was concerned for Sungmin and he cared for him. That’s just about it. Just like how he sees Mingi-hyung comfort Inhyung-noona everytime there was a large blow to Jang Iljun’s standing. Henry was like that to Sungmin. Henry would be the one to squeeze Sungmin’s hands in between classes whenever news against Sungmin’s father comes up. He would be the one to take the brunt of all Sungmin’s anger at all the stupid critters who think his father is not good enough. He would be everything just to make Sungmin feel better.
___
“I thought you’ve stopped crying,” Henry says as he hands the sobbing Sungmin a cup of coffee. It is days before the election and with the combined assassination and slash-funds controversy, Sungmin is in a wreck. “Or have you got a new tears jar without telling me?” he says as he sits himself beside Sungmin who have yet to stop crying.
“Come on, don’t cry now,” Henry cooed, adjusting Sungmin so that his head would fall on his shoulder. Sungmin accepted the offer gratefully and clung to him, crying and ruining his shirt.
“Father, they said father might not make it,” he sobbed unashamedly into Henry’s shirt. “I was so stupid.”
Henry brought up a hand to Sungmin’s back, rubbing him gently. “Sssh, nothing is your fault,” he whispers to him as he kisses Sungmin on top of his head. He’s used to this, used to comforting Sungmin, used to being the one that Sungmin can lean on. In the two and a half months they’ve been working together, Henry knew that Sungmin was still a son, still young to be hurt and to be depended on. He needed someone to b strong for him, and Henry , he himself believed that he was the best for that part.
“Sungmin, hyung, hyung,” Henry said calling out his name as he lifted Sungmin’s face so that he can see him properly. “Stop crying.”
“I don’t like it when you cry okay,” Henry says, wiping the tears off Sungmin’s face while Sungmin sniffs.
“I thought you’ve stopped crying. That’s why we broke you jar of tears right, because you didn’t want to cry anymore? Jang Sungmin, you’re a strong man. I’ll let this instance pass, okay?” Sungmin nods. “But, only if you cry on my shoulder. I’ll only let you cry if you cry on me. You have me, hyung.”
And Sungmin nods, brokenly but gratefully, because Henry is there for him.
___
Sungmin and Henry are not in a relationship. No, what they have is not a relationship. They can’t name it, they can’t brand it, but it’s something that good that they wouldn’t want to tarnish it by trying to come up with how they’d call themselves.
They didn’t start off in good terms, but they opened up to each other, and they still are opening up.
They’re not in love, at least, that’s what they like to think.
But just like the jar of tears, this will become full and bring about something new.
They just didn’t know when.
But for now, Sungmin is glad he doesn’t have to pour saline solution in jar anymore, because someone, Henry, is there to hold his hand and comfort him.