Absentia - Final
Title: Absentia
Pairing: Sehun/Kai; minor!(Sehun/Tao, Kai/Luhan, Sehun/Kris); slight!Sehun/Yixing
Rating: R
Summary: Sehun wishes to see the future. He unknowingly jumps in time and loses five years in the past. Slowly, he realizes, he didn't only lose time. He lost a lot.
A/N: Squint to see my other two favorite pairings! Thank you!
Luhan had always been the patient one, the understanding one, the loving one. A year ago, he was just a silent, cheerful man who would always greet his customers with a bright smile behind his desk. Luhan used to be a bookstore keeper in the biggest book shop in the city. Most of the people who come to the store know him for his kindness, generosity to share his knowledge of the books that he knows by heart, and his recommendations for everyone. He's also famous for being able to give little summaries of the stories of each book, hence people would gladly come up to him, ask him and be thrilled to read the book after hearing Luhan's small review. Most especially, although Luhan wouldn't want to admit it, people like him for his pretty young face too. It's one factor why his customers like coming back to see him.
It was that previous year when Luhan first saw Kai. He knew he was new to the store, else he should have seen him before. The first time wasn't too eventful. Kai came in, looked around shelves and stopped at the magazine rack before leaving after 5 minutes of just staring. Luhan bid him goodbye but the other just walked past the door without even giving him a slight nod. The next day, he was back at the store. And the next day after that. The fifth time Luhan saw him consecutively in a week, he was more than intrigued. Kai stood in front of the magazine rack, staring at the same magazine of the same issue. He had an unreadable expression which made Luhan more interested. Usually, he knows what his customers like just by reading their faces. So he tried.
"Why don't you just buy it?" Luhan chirped in happily beside Kai, a friendly smile in place.
Kai just stared at the magazine cover without looking at the person talking to him. Diamaunt Magazine, it read. It was another of that special edition, and on the cover is the editor-in-chief himself, Oh Sehun. Behind him is a huge number of models all in black and white.
"A dollar and twenty five cents." Kai spoke.
"Excuse me?" Luhan inquired with a kind smile.
"That's the price difference with the shop I used to buy from. It had closed permanently recently." Kai shrugged, his eyes still glued on the cover.
The smile on Luhan's face brightened.
"This is the special edition, sir. How much would you want to get it for then?"
That's the first time Kai looked at the speaker. He was surprised to see doe-like eyes in a young face smiling brightly at him. The person in front of him extended a hand.
"Luhan, sir. The owner and the guy behind the desk," Luhan pointed at the desk near the entrance, "of this store."
Kai wasn't really listening, he was easily drawn into those captivating gentle eyes.
"Would I get it for the price I prefer then?" He asked with his deep voice and it echoed in his head how Luhan's and his voice differ in octaves.
"I'm sorry but no." The shop owner and keeper, as what he said, slightly shook his head in a cute manner.
"Then I'm not getting it." Kai answered. Luhan thought otherwise. He saw the look on Kai's face, and the moment he said he's not getting it, the more he looked as if it's all he wanted. However, Kai didn't take his words back.
"If that's your choice, mister." Luhan stepped back and proceeded to his desk. He watched Kai stand in front of the rack for a minute longer before he turned to leave too. There was a little change when he reached the door though. Kai glanced at him and Luhan waved cheerily. For a second, Kai's heart skipped a beat, but he ignored it and left the store without turning back, the image of the Diamaunt cover lingering in his head.
The next few days, Luhan didn't see Kai anymore. He didn't even know what his name was, but he was positive of his face. Luhan's head shoots up every time the chime of the bells at the door would clang.
"Good morning." Luhan greeted a mother who entered with her cute little daughter one Friday morning. The kid smiled up at him cutely and he bent down his desk to pinch the cute girl's cheek.
The bells chimed once more and it was only when Luhan looked up did he see the face he thought he wouldn't see anymore.
"Good morning!" Luhan greeted a slightly anxious looking Kai. "Did you finally decide to buy it?"
Kai stopped at his desk, keeping his hands inside his pockets as he looked for the right word.
"Don't worry. Since you're a new customer, I'm giving it to you for free." Luhan beamed, pulling out Diamaunt's recent issue. "Sometimes, the owner gives welcome gifts."
Kai looked at him questioningly. Luhan shoved the copy in his hand, shaking the other as if congratulating him.
"Even though I don't really know your name, congratulations you won the first gift of the month."
"It's Jongin."
"Ah, Jongin-ah. Congratulations." Luhan laughed a bit. Kai ignored the way it rang in his head.
"I hope this wouldn't be the last time we'll be seeing each other though." The creases at the sides of his eyes showed while he lowered his hand.
Kai glanced at the Diamaunt magazine in his hand. The serious eyes of Oh Sehun staring blankly at him, and there, he knew he's not the same person he used to know.
"I actually came back to ask if you have anyone to go to lunch with. But," Kai paused and Luhan held his breath. "I guess I need to properly invite you to lunch now. As thanks for the gift."
Luhan only exhaled with a huge smile plastered on his face.
It was that day Luhan confirmed he liked his mysterious customer.
Luhan sat on the bed as Kai took a shower in the bathroom. It's been a year in their relationship and that memory of him coming in and out of his shop without taking anything had also been a year old. He had since then closed the shop and decided to continue with what he wanted to do the most. Write a book, in which he said Kai is his inspiration. Kai had changed so much when he met him. He smiled a lot more, talked a lot more, and cried a lot less. He could still remember how Kai had opened up to him his past, and how the person on the cover of the magazine he gave him before had torn Kai's heart apart. It made Luhan mad, for some reason, because he didn't think Kai deserved to be taken that way. But as Kai learned to forget, Luhan learned to forgive. Maybe it was fate. For Kai to find Luhan, he had to hurt first. And now they're together, happy and moving on. Luhan wanted to think that way, but there's no more fooling himself.
Luhan stood and walked to Kai's desk, the magazine still lying open on it. The picture didn't surprise him at all. Kai's arm around Sehun's waist, both of them smiling innocently at the camera. Who knew it could send a sting to somebody? Luhan found a lump on his throat and it was going to choke him soon.
Maybe it was all his fault in the first place. By stepping up and giving him that magazine that day. Maybe he shouldn't have.
Maybe it was his mistake to take interest on the person who only visited regularly to look at the face of the person he couldn't forget the most.
Maybe fate was wrong. That it had to be him. And it had to be Kai. Maybe fate mixed up the wrong people, and it had to unfortunately involve him.
Or maybe it was really fate. That he had to be there when Kai needed him. But in the end, it can't be him.
Kai emerged out of the bathroom and he came face to face with Luhan with a small smile.
"Jongin, can we talk?"
•
Wow, the Devil is back.
Sehun stared at his computer screen. He was about to close the window when a reply appeared.
I heard The Devil has amnesia.
He could read the chat messages circulating in the office. Sehun's eyes widened at the conversation taking place at the moment.
That explains the different personality lately.
Where did you get that from?
Yixing. I heard him talking to that Dr. Wu on the phone. You know, Dr. Wu? Ring a bell?
Oh that man who always comes here to visit The Devil.
The one who uses the private room in his office.
The Devil's Angel.
Who knows what they do in there?
What do you expect from The Devil?
Yixing never told us anything anymore. That traitor. He used to be the one who hates him the most. Now he's on The Devil's side.
The Devil's pet. Maybe he thinks he could get on his good side if he sticks with him this time.
If only The Devil knew what he used to say behind his back.
What if Yixing's just pretending and planning on taking revenge without telling us? I mean, he can't like The Devil instantly. He hated him.
That would be so interesting.
I definitely want to see The Devil fall.
Definitely.
The Devil. Were they all referring to him? Sehun was shaking when he saw a conversation dated back in April. It scared him more to open it when he saw Yixing's name in the conversation box.
Zhang Yixing: April 14, 2017.
The hell is The Devil asking me who I am and who he is.
What?
I don't know, he sounded so weird.
LOL Yixing, I pity you so bad.
Gtg. The Devil wants to meet up. Hopefully it's not in hell.
Sehun found tears in his eyes. The Devil? What do they mean?
He found the history of the messages. His hand clicked on random conversations.
The Devil just fired that Kim Minseok from the other department for spilling coffee on his shoe.
Wtf?
Ikr. Yixing's really mad. He's good friends with poor Minseok.
Yeah, I talked to him earlier. And he just wished The Devil an early death.
If only Mr. Jongdae didn't resign...
Yixing would have been the happiest.
No one even knows why he resigned.
The Devil's work, most probably.
Of course.
Sehun's bottom lip quivered and he closed the conversation boxes one by one, his hands shaking, and suddenly he's not feeling well.
Yixing knocked and opened the door with coffee in his hand. He beamed at Sehun but his smile faltered almost immediately when he saw the look on his face.
Sehun stood and looked his way. "Why didn't you tell me," his voice trembled.
"That the reason why we never became friends is because you loathe me."
Yixing stiffened. He blinked a few times.
"I--"
"And all these people." Sehun looked at everyone who's busy working at their own units. But he knew, at the moment, they're all talking about him.
"They all hate me." Sehun finished. The more he said it, the more it made sense. This is why everyone didn't seem to talk to him, it's why Yixing seemed nervous around him. It's exactly why Kai left him. It's why Tao left him. It's why his friends left him. It's why he himself left him.
It's because he's not Sehun anymore. He has changed. Into someone that is not him. Into, as they said it, The Devil.
Sehun came to realize what he's become. And at that point, he hated himself too.
He lost everything. He has nothing.
Sehun broke down the moment he reached the door of his flat. He curled up on the floor, as Yixing's calls to him at the office echoed in his head.
"Boss, I can explain."
But he heard nothing more as he ran down from the building to his flat. He didn't even remember how he hailed a cab, but his tears started pouring the moment his door clicked to shut.
There's no more way to fix everything. He messed up and he's messed up. Everyone hated him, and now, he learned that the person he thought he could rely on also hated him, too much.
Nothing's running in Sehun's head anymore. All his pain had come down washing him again, taking all his rationality and replacing them with guilt and hurt. His mind is clouded and he couldn't think straight. The ache eating all of him until he's wanting it again. He's wanting to take his life again.
Kai rushed to Sehun's office that day. He wiped his tears and hurried towards the Diamaunt Tower. Luhan's words repeating in his head.
"What is it?" Kai asked as he finally put his shirt on. Luhan took his hands and led him to sit on the bed. Kai did and looked up at his boyfriend curiously.
Luhan sat next to him and played with Kai's hands for a while before looking back at Kai's questioning eyes. His face fell into a frown.
"What's wrong?" Kai asked and brought a finger to Luhan's cheek. Luhan closed his eyes to savor the touch and lock it in his memory.
He slowly opened his eyes and gave him a broken smile. "You still can't forget about him."
It wasn't a question.
Kai looked down, he can't deny it. Ever since he saw Sehun again, there was no time he wasn't thinking of him.
Luhan confirmed it and it just broke his heart a few more times. He curled his hand in Kai's and their fingers intertwined. "In the book I'm writing, I adviced my readers to go for what their hearts desire. That's what I did when I gave you that magazine before." Luhan let out a gentle chuckle.
Kai tightened his clasp on Luhan's hand but Luhan only shook his head. "But there's something else that I desire the most."
"And you have your own." Luhan continued. Pain shot through Luhan's face and Kai would never forget that. But Luhan drove it away with a smile. "My heart's desire is your happiness, Jongin."
"And he is yours."
Tears formed in Kai's eyes. Luhan is setting him free, and it hurt to see him fighting his own tears just to make him feel better. But he knew the truth. What Luhan said is the truth. His heart's desire, as selfish as he seemed to be, is Sehun. And he hates how it can't be Luhan.
"Go." Luhan's voice turned a little higher. He exhaled heavily and looked into Kai's eyes. "Go." He mouthed.
Kai stared at him disbelievingly.
"Go before I change my mind, Jongin." Luhan bit his lip to stop the tears from coming. He pushed his hands lightly. "Sehun wants you back."
Tears rolled on Kai's face. He stood, gazing momentarily at that angelic face who saved him a lot of times. He would never forget that face. Kai bent down to kiss Luhan on the forehead, whispering an I'm sorry before pulling away.
Luhan smiled behind a tear.
"Don't look back." Luhan pursed his lips. "I don't want you to see me crying."
Kai balled his hands into a fist as more tears rolled down his face. He's thankful for Luhan's love. It might not be what he desired the most, but if given another chance, it's something he wouldn't waste. But it's not this chance.
"I'm sorry, Luhan." Kai whispered with his back turned. Luhan only nodded even if he couldn't see him now.
"Thank you." And Kai walked away. It was only then that he realized he was running to where the person he truly loves is.
All Kai saw was Yixing in Sehun's office. Yixing stood up and walked to him worriedly.
"Kim Jongin." Yixing sounded alarmed.
"Where's Sehun? I need to talk to him."
Yixing looked at him guiltily. "I don't think boss is okay right now. I don't know where he went, he won't answer the phone. But he must have gone home."
"What's his adress?" Kai asked hurriedly.
Yixing took a pen and wrote it on a memo pad. He handed it to Kai but he held Kai by the wrist before he could leave.
"My boss is not okay." It was the first time Yixing called him his boss sincerely. "It's all my fault. Please, please tell him I'm sorry."
Kai nodded and Yixing felt a bit relieved. He watched Kai's back turn around the corner. Maybe he did hate his boss too much before. But it's not false that he had forgotten about that hate. Like he thought, he had taken a liking to him now. He hoped he's not too late.
Sehun promised he will never do that again. He promised Kris, he promised Tao, and he promised himself. He can't hurt himself again. He hung his head low in between his legs, his back arched against the door, his chest tightening at every breath he took and his tears gushing out endlessly draining every energy he had left.
Sehun hasn't really gotten over his state of depression. It has always been there.
Sehun took his phone out as it started ringing again. He didn't answer any of Yixing's calls. He was afraid to hear what he's going to say. He was sure, this time, that he did something wrong before. He did something to Yixing and to everyone else. And he couldn't believe that this new Sehun had ruined a lot of relationships and had made a lot of enemies as well. Those hate letters he received in his office, those fake smiles his employees gave him every morning, that nervous look Yixing cast on him before, all of those were rooted to the same reason, Sehun made himself hated by everybody else.
When Sehun looked up at his phone screen, he was surprised to not see Yixing's name on the caller id. Instead, his heart beat slowed down.
Kai
Sehun hesitated, but his heart acted on instinct. He pressed answer.
"I'm outside your door." He heard Kai, panting, from the receiver.
Sehun stood weakly and opened his door to reveal a panting Kai. His eyes fell on Sehun's distressed state and he could almost hear his chest tighten.
Kai earnestly pulled Sehun into the tightest biggest hug he had wanted to give him ever since they met again. The younger broke down and hugged back, letting all his anxieties go because he knows, he'll be okay in his arms.
Kai closed his eyes and tightened the hug more, enveloping Sehun with his long warm arms. "It's okay, I'm here."
Sehun cried as much as he could, the dark clouds slowly fading away, the heavy force of gravity pulling at him slowly letting go of him, the strong pressure crushing his heart slowly releasing him, and Sehun's mind was clearing. As if he finally found the remedy to his depression. As if he took the drug that could heal him at last. Sehun felt the warmth of the body against him. He finally understood, the only medicine he needed was Kai himself.
"You'll be okay, I promise."
The hole that started to get bigger during the past month patched itself up during that minute. And even if he did not understand any of it, he was glad he had Kai back. He only wanted Kai back.
When Sehun has calmed, after Kai looked after him and took care of him, that whole afternoon they cuddled silently together in his large bed. Kai lightly brushed his thumb over Sehun's forehead, massaging his headache away, while the other rested his tired eyes.
"Kai." Sehun whispered with his eyes closed. Kai actually thought he had fallen asleep.
"Hm?" Kai hummed, tucking Sehun in the sheets wrapped largely around them.
"I'm afraid to sleep." He muttered.
Kai watched Sehun's forehead crease. So he hugged him closer.
"I'm afraid to wake up again without you next to me."
It saddened Kai to see how it haunted Sehun so much.
"You won't. I'll be here until you get tired of me."
Sehun opened his eyes, his vision blurred at first until he can see Kai's face clearly, a gentle gaze looking down at him.
For a whole minute they stared at each other, one arm of Kai wrapped securely around Sehun's waist, as he slightly hovered above him, their faces a few inches away from each other. All their emotions played out in their eyes as they held each other's gaze and as if their eyes did all the talking, Kai lowered his head and kissed Sehun's lips.
They fought for dominance when Sehun gained back his energy. Kai locked the younger's body in between his knees and supported his weight through his arms in each side of Sehun's face. Kai kissed him firmly and strongly like he had never kissed him before. Sehun's arms wrapped tightly on his nape and pulled Kai closer to him like he could never get enough of him. Their tongues danced in a rhythm in accordance to their heartbeats, their lips connecting and disconnecting in a frenzied manner, the sound of wet licks and kisses echoed rhythmically as they pushed and pulled at each other. Sehun pushed himself up by his elbows and circled his one arm on Kai's shoulders to hold him in front of him. Kai straddled his lap and lapped up at the reddening flesh just above Sehun's collarbone. He bit on it and Sehun gasped, gripping his shirt from the back and dragging it down just as Kai dragged his skin with his lips. Kai trailed the kiss upwards to his jawline, tracing the slightly protruding bone to his ear and blew warm breath on the shell of his ear, before pulling at it with his teeth. Sehun groaned at the contact and dug his hand on his shoulder.
Kai pushed Sehun back down to the bed and swiflty pulled his top off of him. Kai followed by unbuttoning his own and throwing away the piece of fabric to the side of the bed. He pinned Sehun down with his bare upper body. His skin gleaming against the warmth of another skin.
"Who's this K?" Apparently, he saw the notes stuck on his refrigerator door.
"Some guy." Sehun answered half-heartedly.
Kai bit him a bit hard.
"You make me mad." He growled in a low voice. Obviously, some of the notes were too disturbing.
Sehun moaned.
"I'm sorry." Sehun touched Kai on the cheek, drawing circles on it that tickled Kai lightly.
Kai put his knee in between Sehun's legs and lightly grazed it on Sehun and they both anticipated the friction in their jeans.
Sehun pushed himself back, his palm against Kai's chest and Kai stopped halfway to kissing him again.
"Really, I'm sorry. About Tao." Sehun paused to look sincerely at Kai's eyes. The other pursed his lips and looked back at him affectionately. "And everything. I'm sorry Kai. If I could just take back all that happen--"
Kai kissed him forcefully, pushing him down again and grabbing his hand away from his chest, wrapping it around his back.
"I'll hear the apology tomorrow." He bit his chin.
"What about Luhan?" It took all of Sehun's courage to ask that. He was scared of the answer, the heavens would know how much it scared him, but he has to know.
Kai paused just above his face. A remorseful expression passed his face for a second.
"He let me go."
Sehun pressed his hand on his chest again with surprised eyes.
"He knows. He knows how I really feel and he'd rather let me go than keep me while I love another." Kai looked away because he didn't want to cry in front of Sehun.
Sehun touched his face comfortingly, his heart swelling with pain for Luhan and joy for himself.
"I'm sorry for Luhan." Sehun buried his head on the crook of Kai's neck and gently kissed him there.
Kai composed himself and looked directly in Sehun's eyes.
"Can we talk later?" Kai asked impatiently.
A spark flashed in Sehun's eyes so he pulled Kai to him. They let the bed creak wildly under them.
It's the way that Kai's hand curves in his that Sehun probably missed the most. Or it's the way their eyes connect every single time. It could also be how his body is built to fit Kai's body perfectly. Or it might even be how his lips work on his that blew his mind away. Sehun listed down the things he missed about Kai the moment he woke up from their harmonious sleep due to their make up session the previous night. He almost had a heart attack when he opened his eyes, thinking it was all a dream. But the soreness down there and the sticky skin all over his body confirmed it all really happened.
Sehun closed his eyes and thought of more. He definitely missed Kai's gentle touches whenever they do it. The way he replaces each bites with loving kisses, the way he massages the skin he probably caused a bruise on for gripping him too hard, and the way he savors every thrust to give them both time to adjust. A smile spread across Sehun's face.
Kai mumbled things to him last night. He wasn't sure if it was just because of the high or it was really his feelings. Nevertheless, the way he said "I love you Sehun" made his heart jump in happiness and all his nerves were awaken. Therefore, Sehun decided, it was the way Kai says "I love you Sehun" that he missed the most.
The day stretched out as Sehun sat on the couch, cuddled by Kai, and he explained everything to him. Everything. From all the things he discovered about himself for the past 4 years of being apart, to him now who has amnesia and is back to being the Sehun Kai knows. There were painful parts for Kai, most of them involved Sehun's relationship with people including Kris, and others where he just wondered if leaving Sehun that night 4 years ago was the right thing to do after hearing what Sehun went through. But he knew it was right. It was the hardest and most challenging way, but it still led him back to Sehun in the end. Kai still stood by his realization though, if he ever had the second chance to live another life with Luhan, he would. But he doesn't deserve Luhan, he never would.
The only thing that bothered Sehun at the moment is his life at work. How would he be able to face his employees? How evil did he become during his depression stage? Was it too much? Too much that even Yixing, the guy he never thought would break a rule, wished him death once? How is he gonna start again when he knows there's nothing to start with in the first place? When he knows that there's nothing to rebuild. Everything was already too broken. It all spun in Sehun's head until he received that one text from Yixing.
Yixing left a message.
This is Zhang Yixing, sir. I'm sorry.
Please hear my story.
I was the one who installed the virus into your system in the hopes of bringing you down and destroying everything you've worked hard for. It's been long planned and I thought I was going to win against you this time. But I changed my mind in the middle of it because I realized all the smiles you gave me were real at the time. I didn't believe you could turn into someone so different in one day, but you could. You're not the Sehun I despise so much anymore. You actually cared for the company, for your staff, and for me. Remember when you asked me why I was never your friend? It's because I gave up on being one. You hated me for some reason, and I hated you for that reason. You did so many things in the past that made me hate you so much, but here I am suddenly liking you in just a few days because I realized, deep inside of me, I have always been wanting to be your friend. I just never really had a chance. I tried to stop the virus, but I was too late. I was able to stop it from infecting the most secured files but I wasn't able to fully stop the virus to spread. It backfired on me somehow and now I may not have been able to destroy your efforts, but I destroyed our friendship.
Please come back to the office. If you made me change my mind about you that fast, me who used to hate you, I'm sure you can change everyone else's in the office as well. That's how much I believe in you. You're a great person. And I was too blind to see that after all those years. I'm glad you're the new you now. Come back, sir. I would understand if you end my services right at this moment, but Diamaunt needs you. They'd never have a person like you ever again.
I'm sorry, sir, that I wasn't professional enough. Please come back.
Sincerely yours,
Zhang Yixing.
Sehun thought of the lost years. If within those years he had only caused everyone pain, who is he to be forgiven that easily? He knew that he couldn't make it feel right if it's wrong. Everything was wrong. Everything. Tao, Yixing, his staff, Kris, Luhan, Kai, and himself. He already gave them too much pain.
Who is he to deserve all of their sacrifices?
He's just Sehun.
37 days later.
Sehun sat calmly on his reserved seat. It had Huang Family written at the back of the theatre seat, just as the two empty seats at both his sides had. He rested his arms on the arms of the comfy chair, anticipating the entrance of his bestfriend in his biggest, yet, musical performance. The lights dimmed and the curtains started to spread out. An arm lightly brushed against his right and he looked sideways to see the man who had promised to stay with him forever, unless he fired him, take his seat, looking beautiful and gorgeous at the same time with a plain white polo and golden hair.
"I thought you were going to bail." Sehun scoffed at his doctor who only leaned comfortably on his chair before raising an eyebrow.
"I haven't been to a musical yet." Kris just shrugged and looked around the slightly dark room, looking for a familiar face but failed to find any. "If this isn't worth it, you're going to have to give me something in return. You could have invited someone other than me."
"What's worth what? Tao's a really good actor, you'll see." Sehun whispered back as a voice boomed in the theatre and there went the narrator. "Besides, what else is there do you need from me? I've given you everything."
Kris smirked and gave him one of that x-ray vision stares. "Not everything." He cocked an eyebrow.
"I don't mean that." Sehun punched him lightly and then he stopped when the curtains opened to reveal a part of the cast, including Tao.
"Oh~" Kris muttered.
"Shh. Tao's out." Sehun silenced the guy beside him and focused on his shining bestfriend. The other seat beside him left empty.
Tao did a really great performance. Once again, he was the star of the night. His smile was different from the ordinary ones he sees every day. His smiles that day meant something more. Sehun knew Tao wasn't telling him something. He isn't hiding it yet he isn't saying anything about it either. But Sehun knew anyway. He's Tao's bestfriend after all.
Tao likes the other main actor in his musical. The way he looked at him, the way he talked about him in front of Sehun, and just the way Tao's smiles are always special when he's there. Sehun knew Tao secretly liked his co-actor, a short guy with a powerful voice, a great smile and very long feminish fingers. That's the guy next to Tao right now.
Tao looked at the direction where Sehun and Kris were and he gave them a huge smile. Sehun applauded harder and gave his friend a proud thumbs up. Tao was swelling with pride. And right now he couldn't have felt any happier. Sehun has moved on. He has moved on. They're both living their lives happily now. And somehow, he must have not found the happiness he was searching for from Sehun, but he found it now in the guy beside him. And he's sure this time, he'll be able to speak up.
The crowd applauded when Tao's character was introduced before the closing of the curtain and Tao did a huge bow while the audience gave him a standing ovation. Sehun pulled Kris up and they cheered for Tao louder.
Kris bent down to whisper something in his ear.
"So Yixing didn't really show up." He gestured to the empty seat labeled with Huang Family.
"He informed me earlier. He said he couldn't leave due to some paperwork he still hasn't done and that he's sorry." Sehun answered him with no problem.
"Looks like it's hard to be a junior editor-in-chief."
"Yixing's a really hard-working man." Sehun patted Kris' arm. Just a few days ago, Sehun appointed Yixing as the junior editor-in-chief and promoted him. He understood why Yixing had done those things to him in the past. If Yixing had forgiven him, why can't he? In fact, his reliable secretary didn't only become a secretary to him. He had been an honest friend as well.
Kris just nodded and they moved through the crowd to congratulate Tao. The audience were leaving while the main actors also left the stage. For a while, Kris and Sehun waited near the door to the backstage. Tao must be taking a few short interviews before he could go.
The door opened and both Sehun and Kris turned their heads to its direction. Two guys approached them with a smile. Sehun smiled widely at them.
A hand slipped in to grab his and their fingers intertwined. He hung his camera around his neck and pecked Sehun on his cheek.
"How did it go?" Sehun asked both him and Tao.
"Tao's a natural, as always." Kai swayed their entwined hands at his side. "I think I took most of his pictures. I hope that doesn't make the company mad."
"Tao's the star anyway. They'd want all those pictures of him." Sehun beamed proudly and looked at Tao who only scratched the back of his head.
"Kris said you did well." Sehun remarked looking from Kris to Tao.
"Congratulations, man." Kris fist-pumped with Tao.
"Thanks."
Kai encircled his arm around Sehun's waist. "Shall we go?"
Tao stopped for a moment. "Actually, I think I'm gonna stay behind. I need to talk to someone." Tao gestured to the backstage with his thumb. Sehun knew which someone it was.
"Alright. Good luck, Tao!" Sehun hugged his bestfriend. "And congratulations!"
Tao only looked at him with his face flushed. He's sure Sehun found out. He waved at them and disappeared behind the door.
Kris coughed beside them.
"I'm gonna get going too."
"Aren't you gonna have dinner with us? My treat since you did accompany me today." Sehun urged him. Kai gave him a warm welcoming smile but Kris shook his head and refused.
"Nah it's okay. I'm going somewhere else too."
Sehun pouted. "Okay. Thanks Kris!" He gave him a hug too.
"I'll see you tomorrow? For the check up." Kris reminded him before setting off to the exit. Sehun just waved at him.
"You still haven't recovered any memory at all?" Kai took his hand again and they walked together to the exit.
Sehun shook his head. He looked up at Kai's eyes when they reached the breezy road outside the theatre.
"Actually, I don't think I want to remember any of it anymore." He confessed. "I'd like it to stay this way. Kris said it depends on my head. If I still want it back or if I just want to forget them completely."
"What is it then?"
"I wish to forget about them. I want us to start again."
Kai looked up at the stars.
"What?" Sehun asked curiously.
"I'm just making sure there are no falling stars this time. I don't want any more faulty wishes coming true." He laughed.
Sehun gazed at Kai's face.
Kai's hands found Sehun's face and he cupped it in between his palms. "Let's just keep forgetting then."
Sehun nodded.
"I love you, Sehun."
Kai didn't take his eyes off of him. They stared at each other.
"All I wish is for us, all of us, the people important to us and the people we hurt in the process, to be happy until the end. I hope we can all find our true happiness."
Kai said it with much sincerity and suddenly, there were tears in Sehun's eyes.
"As for me, I know you're my very own happiness. And I wish we'll make it together til the end."
Sehun bit on his lip to control his tears.
"I love you too, Kai. I know we can make it together."
Kai pulled Sehun for a soft sweet kiss. Little did they know, falling stars started to appear above them in the night sky. All their wishes heard.
Kris was walking back home when he unconsciously stopped by a little book shop. He was too engulfed in his thoughts about Sehun's condition that he didn't notice where he was heading. He didn't intend to heal his amnesia. After all, he thought the amnesia helped Sehun get his life back.
He glimpsed at the closing book shop. The owner placed the CLOSED sign on the door before turning around to head home.
Kris didn't believe in love at first sight.
Science told him nothing is real until you see it with your own eyes. And now Kris finally concluded. There really is love at first sight.
The book shop owner glanced at him and bowed a little as a sign of politeness before walking ahead. His curly yellowish brown hair and young face rooted Kris to his spot.
He found it. He found love at first sight in the person of the owner of those doe-like eyes.
Questions? Violent reactions?
I made a little "playlist" regarding the story, so if you want to further understand the feelings between the characters, see the list?
Lastly, thank you so much! ;______;