[Fic] The Happiest Days for Patzmelody01;PG13
The Happiest Days...
Couple: MinKey/Broken!MinKey, cheating/bff!JongKey, side!JongYu, MinhoxYuri (blegh...)
Genre: AU, Romance, Angst, Family
Rated: PG13
Summary: Kibum had lost everything four years ago, when he had stupidly turned his own self-doubting into a simple action he would regret for the rest of his life. He lost everything...including his husband....
What if there was a way for life to rewind? What if there was a way to start over on a relationship right from the first meeting? What if there was a way to forget every hurt, and to say everything that was left unsaid? What if you were given the chance to love and cherish him forever the way you should have? What if it’s already too late?...
Prompt by Patzmelody01 (I love this prompt, I hope I didn’t ruin it)
A/N: For Patzmelody01 because I tortured her so much with Remember Me!?!, haha. I hope you like it, and it makes you happy, not only hate me even more. xP
Pervious Chapters
The sound of Jonghyun’s “jolly” laughter resounding on the other line of the telephone, almost made Kibum regret calling his best friend up as soon as he got back from his first day of work, as he told him of all the mistakes he had made throughout the day.
“Shut up already, Jonghyun! I wouldn’t have told you if I knew you’d laugh like this. Aish! What kind of best friend are you? It’s not funny. I’m hanging up.” Kibum grumbled jokingly, as Jonghyun continued laughing on the other line.
Upon hearing Kibum’s threat, Jonghyun immediately stopped his laughter and cleared his throat the best he could, sitting up a little on his spot on the couch. “A-ah, wait, no. Don’t hang up yet. I’ll stop laughing. Honestly, tell me about your first day at work there. Aside from driving the wrong way down a one-way street, mistaking a co-worker for a man when she was in fact a woman, and getting lost on your way back to the hotel--how was your day? Are you adjusting well? Have you met anyone interesting?” He finally asked, calming his laughter to act as the “best friend” character.
Kibum let out a little breath as he pondered over whether or not to tell Jonghyun about his dream about Minho or not, but decided against it at the last moment. There was no reason to talk about it to Jonghyun. Jonghyun might be a romantic, but wasn’t a genius in terms of finding deeper meanings, and besides, it didn’t even matter. It was just a dream. Just a dream about missing his lover, and nothing more. Or, even, perhaps it classified as a nightmare, but all-in-all it wasn’t real, and there was nothing he could do about it. So, instead he took a breath and thought back on his day.
“Alright, look, you can’t laugh at me, but there is something and someone interesting I met today...” Kibum started after a moment, forcing his thoughts away from his dream of Minho to focus back on the task ahead, pausing for a brief moment before hearing an interested hum on the other line from his friend. “There’s this....boy...you see,” Kibum started uneasily, a little unsure of how to explain the strange, yet incredibly sweet boy he had met that day.
At this, Jonghyun had to gnaw his lips to keep back from laughing out loud again (failing as Kibum head him chuckle). “Oh? This sounds promising. And here I thought that Almighty Key had become some sort of Minho-nun, promising never to love another man than Minho...” He muttered playfully, until he head the loud tap of Kibum attempting to punch him through the phone-line like that.
“It’s not like that, Pabo! He’s not like that. He’s a student! Idiot...” Kibum snapped quickly, as he realized what Jonghyun had been implying. “The reason why I'm hesitating is because I’ve been pondering over what I can do to help him ever since the moment I first met him. Aish, he’s right. You really are Hyung’s Pabo.” He muttered angrily.
Jonghyun let out a quiet and bored sigh as he heard his oh-so-very interesting thought of Kibum finding some local Hawaiian love, and was forced to cancel it out in order to focus on work. Since when was the Almighty Key so boring when it came to hot love affairs? Before Minho, he had once been the king of them.
“Aish! You’re no fun anymore Kibum. Here I thought I would be getting some juicy story on some hot gossip or something. Not just more work...” He muttered stubbornly, getting a tired sigh on the other line from Kibum.
“Jonghyun, I already told you I never wanted the be the center of gossip again. That kind of attention is not at all rewarding. What’s rewarding is knowing that you’ve made a difference in someone’s life; which is what I’m trying to do. Now shut up and help me already.” Was the blunt reply from the younger man on the other line.
Jonghyun held his breath with boredom but agreed to be silent and help his friend out. As much as he was still interested in the young, immature lifestyle, he had to hand it to Kibum for turning everything around, and he didn’t want to be the reason for Kibum’s downfall--again.
“Aish, okay, right, student. Making a difference in someone’s life. Okay. What about the student? Why are you so set on helping him? Is his English really that bad? Because if that’s the case, calling me really isn’t going to help you.” He joked, painfully honestly, after a moment.
Kibum half smiled before glancing down at the paperwork for the next day’s (his first official day) classwork. “That’s not it. You see, he’s a Korean exchange student who’s family has faced a few hard times since they moved here. His English is really limited, and I think he’s falling a little behind in his classes because of it. The principal told me that he gets bullied a lot, especially from the other boys. I think it’s because he’s pretty feminine and a little oblivious to the world around him. He’s really sweet and adorable, but he doesn’t have any friends at school. I want to make a difference for him.” He explained the best he could, as he doodled little pictures onto his notebook as he spoke.
Jonghyun was silent for a moment, before Kibum could hear his soft, almost doting laugh on the other line. “Sweet, beautiful, oblivious, slightly feminine, and misunderstood high school boy who gets bullied by the other boys for being different...” His high-school best friend muttered softly on the other line. “Does he have styled black hair, glasses, wear too skinny of jeans and keeps a secret crush on the rookie soccer team’s MVP?” He asked fondly, after a moment.
Kibum held his breath as he glanced down at the papers lied out on the table under him, staring at the last year’s yearbook, at the small picture of the bright smile Lee Taemin had painted over his face, hair just a bit too perfect for a boy, clothes stylish and well-picked out. A soft sigh left his lips as he remembered having a yearbook photo nearly identical.
“Alright...perhaps he does remind me of myself in high school, happy? Maybe when I saw the way he was so isolated in school because of his differences, it reminded of the way I was before you and Minho both transferred to my school. Maybe the sad gleam in his eyes when he spoke about not having any friends reminded me of the way I used to hide the pain I felt too. But, Jjong, that’s only more of a reason. All of the more of a reason. I want to change things for him. Jonghyun, this boy is still different than I was. He’s still kind and loving, even though he’s constantly hurting. He hasn’t tried to change himself to what everyone else wants him to be. And I want to show him that he doesn’t have to. I want to change it for him. I want him to acknowledge himself for being wonderful the way he is, and for him not to do what I did. He has a pure, innocent heart, Jjong. I want for the day when someone learns to truly love him for it, for him never to lose that person.....like I did.” He spoke honestly, voice slow and soft, and Jonghyun could hear his honest emotions through it all.
Jonghyun made a soft noise on the other line before being quiet for a moment, then finally speaking. “You want to do for him what was done for you by Minho, don’t you?” He asked softly, after a moment.
Kibum glanced back down, slowly running his fingers over the words he had accidentally written down on on his notebook. The name he had accidentally written down.
민호. 최민호. 민호야, 너무 그리워...
“Minho. Choi Minho. Minho-yah, I really miss you...”
“I do...” He muttered honestly, quietly, as his eyes glanced down sorrowfully down at the name he had written, and realized how much he really did miss Minho at that time. “I want to do this, not only for him, not only for myself, but for Minho too.” He answered truthfully.
Jonghyun let out a slightly agitated sigh on the other line as he heard the pain still contained in his best friend’s voice as he spoke of his lost lover, and glared at the wall as he slumped back into his couch unhappily.
“Damn it, Kibum. I wish I could just find Minho already and force that little jerk back to you already. I know you made a mistakes earlier in your marriage, and your biggest was freaking my mistake more than yours, but you’ve changed so much for him. You’ve changed into such a freaking beautiful person for him, and I know, no matter how much you deny it, you loved him more than anything else in this world! It’s so aggravating, knowing that you still love him more than ever, and knowing that he probably loves you still as well, but you two just being too stubborn to get back together. You two are only hurting yourselves and each other by staying apart like this. I just...wish I could do something...” He growled unhappily, guilt spreading through his chest more rapidly than wildfire. Seeing his best friend hurting so much because of something he had more or less caused made him feel like the worst human being in the entire world.
Kibum sighed softly, feeling the want to shed tears, but forced them back as he stared down at the name he had written so many times on that small piece of paper. “No, Jjongie, it’s not your fault, okay? It’s.....better, this way. I’m...glad for him to have left me in order to allow himself to live a fair life without someone taking advantage of his kindness. To live for himself, not for anyone else. I’m happier knowing that, you know.” He answered quietly, though the tone of his voice was less than convincing.
At this, Jonghyun could only sigh softly, knowing he couldn’t and wouldn’t try to convince Kibum of anything other. He knew it was impossible to convince Minho to go back to Kibum, and it was only up to Minho to decide whether or not he would. All he could do was try to be nicer to his best friend and try to comfort him.
“He would be proud of you, Bummie-yah.” He finally said quietly, staring down at his fingers as he heard Kibum sniff a little, knowing the younger was trying to compose himself again.
“How...do you think he is, Jjongie? Do...you think he’s doing alright? Do you think he’s happy with his new life? Do you think he’s been treated fairly at last?” Kibum found himself asking quietly, after a moment. He hadn’t meant to, but he couldn’t help it now. It had been playing on his mind constantly since his dream the first night he had arrived in Hawaii, and he was dying to get some reassurance. For someone to help convince him that staying out of the other man’s life forever was indeed the right thing for him to do.
“He is. I’m sure. Just like you’ve changed, I’m positive that he’s changed and won’t let anyone take advantage of him anymore. Don’t worry about him, Bummie. Though I already know, no matter how happy he is now...he misses you just as much as you miss him. I can promise you that.” Jonghyun answered quietly, smiling comfortingly, even though he knew his friend couldn’t see it.
Kibum allowed for a small smile to come onto his lips as well as he glanced down and tried to make himself strong again, knowing he had to keep working hard for Minho. “Heh...thanks, Jjongie.” He said quietly.
~*~
The smile that lit the little boy’s face took up half of his head as he glanced out the window of his mother’s office building, pushing past the stuffy blinds, letting out a happy noise as he spotted his most favorite person in the entire world.
“Appaaa~!!” Yoogeun sang happily, as he quickly ran from the window towards the office door, as his father opened the door and without a single word, smiled just as wide as the boy and took his baby into his arms.
“Yoogeun-ah!” The good appa said happily, as he set his bags on the ground and didn’t hesitate to lift his little boy and bounce him playfully in his arms, throwing him into the air, then catching him with strong, sturdy arms to support him with, causing for the little boy to scream with happiness.
Suddenly, however, there was a feminine, strict voice from inside the office that stopped both father and son from their happy playing. “Shh, boys, Eomma is working. Be quiet in the office.” A familiar voice said quietly, from behind her desk, as she rubbed her temples slowly before glancing back at her laptop.
At the familiar sound of his mother’s scolding, Yoogeun pouted quietly, but his father only smiled lightly at him and reached into his bag, pulling out a little carton of chocolate milk and a cookie, handing it to the now excited boy before messing his hair then standing back up, taking his other bags in his hands as he walked slowly towards the desk.
The woman behind the desk didn’t even glance up from her laptop that she was typing crazily away on, until her husband was already standing behind her, a light, yet shiny and beautiful silver necklace was placed softly around her neck, her quiet husband smiling charmingly as he fastened it for her.
Upon feeling the cold silver chain sitting lightly against the exposed skin on her chest, the woman stopped her continuous typing on her computer and glanced up slowly, utterly surprised and confused as to why there was suddenly a beautiful necklace around her neck, as she took the small, shiny pendent from it’s hanging place a little above her collarbones.
“Minho-yah? Yeobo, what is this?” She asked, her voice light as she glanced over her shoulder from the pendent back towards her quiet yet charming husband.
Minho only gave her a soft smile as he knelt down next to her, looking into her eyes before taking a minute to admire his wife in her new necklace. “Happy fifth anniversary, Yuri. I love you.” Prince Charming said lightly, as he leaned forwards and left a small kiss on her forehead.
Yuri stopped completely as she heard her husband’s words, her eyes going wide. Anniversary? Their anniversary? Shit, was that today? That’s right, it is on February fourth. Did she really forget? A soft, reassuring smile fell onto her lips as she faked her composure in front of her husband and simply leaned forwards again, kissing his lips lightly.
“You remembered.” She said lightly as she pulled away (flat out ignoring Yoogeun’s whining about being gross behind her), looking back at her husband’s face, feeling just a little guilty she had completely forgotten. Isn’t the man the one who’s supposed to forget these things? That’s what she gets for having a husband like Minho though.
Minho only replied to this with a warm smile as he continued to squat down so that he was at her level and could hold her hands. “Of course I remembered. I haven’t once forgotten from the moment you first told me.” He said charmingly.
Yuri, at this, could only sigh lightly. How was she supposed to respond to this? If anyone, Minho was the one with an excuse to forget that date, not her. How was she supposed to reply back to him without him finding out? All she could do was silence him again with another kiss on the lips.
This, however, produced a disgusted groan from the baby standing behind them as Yoogeun set down his chocolate mil for long enough to whine and complain again. “Ewww! Appaaaa, stop being yucky with Eomma!!! Let’s go home, let’s go home! I’ve been practicing my soccer at kindergarten! I wanna show you, Coach-Appa! C’mon, c’mon!” The little boy squealed quickly, grabbing his daddy’s first three fingers (his hand was still too small to grasp his dad’s full hand) and began yanking him towards the door again.
Minho smiled fondly at his son before glancing back up at his wife. “What time are you going to be home tonight? I could make you dinner at home if you’re too tired to go out after work.” He offered kindly, making his wife frown slowly, guilt spreading over her face.
“Ohh, Minho-yah...I promised my boss I would help him file paperwork after my normal hours today, and have an appointment with a client that I need to show one of the apartments we have near Bay Front to at six tonight. There was no other time he could go look at it before then, and we really need to make a sell. I can’t be home any sooner than eight....oh, Yeobo, I feel so terrible.” She whined quietly, sticking out her lips in a ridiculous little pout.
Minho stayed quiet for a long moment as he glanced down at his shoes, nodding slowly before raising his gaze back towards his wife, giving her an understanding smile. “Don’t worry about it, Yuri. I understand. You work so hard....I’ll try harder to find a sturdier job as quickly as I can. Don’t work yourself too much, and eat the food I brought for you, I left it on your desk. I’ll see you when you get home. Don’t worry, I have Yoogeun-ah to play with, so I won’t feel lonely.” He said happily after a moment, hoisting his little son up into his arms as he spoke of him, causing for the boy to squeal with happiness.
Yuri only smiled apologetically and saw her husband and son off kindly, before turning back and heading into her office again to get back to her work.
~*~
Kibum tried not to seem distant as he sat down next to the happy blonde boy at his side, listening to the kid talk all about what a fun time he had had when he went to the beach the other day. He knew Taemin needed to have someone to talk to about whatever he wanted to, but he couldn’t help himself from thinking back to the conversation about the kid he had had with Jonghyun the night prior.
“You want to keep him from getting bullied anymore, right? Then do what I did when I made friends with you and found out that you were getting bullied.” Jonghyun suggested casually.
“Do what you did? Kim Jonghyun, you skipped science so that you could barge into my PE class and beat the shit out of every boy in the shower room. I’m a teacher, do you really think that’s something I can do?” Kibum responded dryly.
“Good point......”
“Help me out here, Jjong.”
“Okay, look, here’s a better idea. Do what I did, but just keep your head about it. How did I find out that the kids in your PE class were harassing you? I asked you. So just take it that far. Ask the kid who’s bullying him, and then try to work it out from there.” Jonghyun finally answered after a moment.
At this suggestion, Kibum smiled lightly. “For being a Pabo, you’re pretty smart sometimes, Jjongie. I guess that’s what you get for dating a professor....”
“WE’RE NOT DATING!”
Kibum sighed softly as he stared down at the water glistening in the bright afternoon’s sunshine as he sat on the bleachers by the pool next to Taemin during lunch for the second day in a row. Jonghyun was right. (How often does this happen?) He was just nervous about asking Taemin about it. He hated seeing the smile off the normally happy boy’s face, and was scared of making the kid sad again. But, then again, there was only one way of fixing Taemin’s bullying problems, and he could not do that unless he knew exactly what kind of problems the kid was facing.
“Hey.....Taeminnie, can I ask you a kind of weird question? Is that okay?” Kibum finally spoke quietly, after thinking over his words, turning to face the curious eyes that were now staring at him.
“A weird question? What kind of question, Hyung? You can ask me anything you want, but what kind of weird question?” The happy, innocent child asked happily as he swung his legs back and forwards through the space between his seat and the floor, which he could not reach.
Kibum didn’t advert his gaze from the kid, but took a breath and softened a little as he figured he should just tell the kid the truth. He was a junior in high school after all, and as cute and innocent as he seemed, he couldn’t always have things sugar-coated for him.
“Mr. Dirks told me that you get bullied at lot at school by the other boys....can....you tell my why?” Kibum asked quietly, trying his best to keep his facial expressions and posture soft as he spoke.
Taemin’s large smile quickly shrunk down to a small, and semi sorrowful expression as the kid turned his gaze down to the cement below them. “Not everyone’s as nice as you, Hyung...” Was all that he said quietly, as his eyes flashed sadly.
Kibum nipped his bottom lip lightly as he saw how he had upset the younger boy, and set a gentle hand on his lithe little back. “I want to see if I can help you out, Taemin-ah. I know I’m just your English tutor, but you see; we’re a lot alike. I was bullied a lot by the other boys in my classes when I was your age, too. I think if I know what’s happening to you, I can try to help you out so you won’t get bullied anymore.” He explained empathetically, making the little kid next to him let out a heavy breath.
Taemin turned his gaze away from Kibum again and smiled a fake smile that almost broke Kibum’s heart. “I’m alright, Key-Hyung. It’s nothing that serious, and it’s not that bad anymore. You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be okay.” He said quietly, though his voice was missing it’s normal bouncy tone, and sounded plain and stale as the kid refused to make eye-contact.
Kibum furrowed his eyebrows and frowned heavily as he heard the younger’s answer before trying his best to be calm again, starting to draw little comforting circles onto Taemin’s back, trying to make him relax his shoulders.
“Don’t make things up, Taemin-ah. Look, I know that it’s hard. I know it’s hard and no fun to talk to anyone about getting bullied. I know because I was just like you when I was a kid. I used to be ashamed of the fact that I was getting bullied and teased by the boys in my PE class, that I never told my parents or halmeoni, and therefore had to stay through most of high school alone. It was not until I finally found someone who was actually stupidly blunt enough to force it out of me that I finally told anyone. And after I told him, he helped me confront my bullies, and they stopped. Please, Taemin-ah, let me help you.” He spoke softly, smiling lightly as he noticed the way Taemin stopped tensing when he heard his words.
With one last heavy sigh, Taemin finally broke a little and frowned heavily, staring at Kibum’s hand on his shoulder.
“They make fun of me because they say that I look like a girl. They also laugh because I can’t lift weights like they do during PE. And, they take advantage of the fact I don’t speak English very well, and always get me to say bad things in English to our teachers and get sent to the principal’s office because of them. I haven’t told anyone yet, because I didn’t think it would stop it. They haven’t done anything to physically hurt me, except for send me into the girl’s shower rooms during PE, and I was attacked by the girls...” He answered quietly, as he played nervously with his fingers.
Kibum swallowed heavily as he heard the kid’s words and began drawing little circles on his back again. “Thank you for telling me, Taeminnie-yah. I’ll help you. I know that I can, because seven years ago....the same exact things were happening to me. I can help you with your English, and will help you stand up to the kids in your PE class. Thank you for telling me. I know it’s not a good feeling to admit such things, but it’s important. Just because they haven’t physically harmed you, doesn’t mean that their words don’t hurt. Words can hurt you Taeminnie, and if you don’t tell someone about it, it will only continue to hurt you. But, know this: I’m always here. I’ll always be here for you, Taeminnie. You can tell me anything, and I’ll never judge you. I promise you.” He said softly, pushing the hair out of the child’s face as Taemin stared up at him with teary eyes.
“H-hyung....th-thank you. I don’t feel like you’re my teacher...the way you take care of me, it’s almost like you’re my eomma. Eomma, gomawo...” The boy sniffed quietly, as he reached arms around Kibum’s neck, as Kibum happily took him and squeezed him tightly. It was true, now he realized it was more than just wanting to help him. He had already started to feel motherly feelings towards the kid.
“C’mon, Taeminnie. The bell just rang. We need to get to class before you’re tardy.” He cooed softly into the kid’s honey blonde hair, as he squeezed his shoulders before walking slowly back towards the large yellow buildings of the school again.
~*~
“Eomma~~” Taemin whined loudly, as the detention bell rang loudly through the nearly empty school, vibrating through the old buildings, into the open windows of BB202. “It’s already 4:00pm. School ended at 1:20 today!! Why do I have to stay so late just to practice writing the names of the states?? Even the kids in detention have left already! Eomma! You’re the worst!” The kid whined loudly, as Kibum tried his best to ignore him as he tried again to teach Taemin that the letter “L” faced towards the right.
“You forgot Louisiana again, Taemin-ah. Say it again after me. Louisiana. Leo-i-shi-a-na.” Kibum explained, poking up his glasses as he busily began writing out the pronunciation of the state in Hangul. “러-이-시-아-나.”
Taemin promptly ignored his teacher’s attempts of teaching, as he pouted out his lips and began rubbing his little stomach unhappily. “Omooooo~eomma, I’m hungry! Key-eomma, I’m really hungry! I didn’t even eat lunch today because I was studying with you! I’m really hungry! What kind of Eomma are you? you won’t even let me eat! Eomma is cruel!” The kid whined loudly (yes, he had called Kibum “eomma” all day since the first recess and Kibum couldn’t see him stopping any time in the near future).
Kibum sighed lightly as he got up slowly from his place sitting on the table Taemin was stationed at and took his glasses off of his nose, glancing out the windows at the darkening sky. “Aish, alright. I suppose it is getting late. Call your Appa and tell him that your teacher held you late.” He said quietly, finding that time had slipped by a lot faster than he had thought.
Taemin giggled with his feat as he stuffed his pencils into his Keroro decorated pencil case, but didn’t make any intentions to reach for the small cellphone in his pocket, simply continuing to pack away his things. “No need. Appa left yesterday.” He said plainly, though his bright eyes once again seemed distant.
Kibum paused all his actions as he heard the boy’s response and glanced over his shoulder at the kid again slowly. “What? Left for where?” He asked quietly, though he only felt dread raise in his throat as the kid simply shrugged at his question.
“Dunno. He does this sometimes. Especially when money is really limited. He’ll just pack up his stuff for a week or more at a time and disappear for a while, leaving me and Eomeoni to take care of ourselves for a little while until he comes back. Sometimes he brings money back with him though, and he always does come back, so we trust him when he disappears. Besides, Eomeoni never stays at home when he leaves, so no one’s expecting me to come back home yet.” The child responded easily, ignoring the concerned and shocked expressions painting over Kibum’s face.
Kibum gnawed his bottom lip to keep his emotions in check, and not to curse at the irresponsible parents leaving their beautiful, innocent and completely naive boy home alone all the time (it sounded as if this happens often), and took in a deep breath. “Then...what about food? Do you have enough food at home to be able to eat wholesome meals when you’re by yourself!?” He asked quickly, motherly instincts kicking back in (since when does a family-less, twenty-four year old man start having motherly instincts?), as he quickly walked back towards the boy.
Taemin glanced down slowly and rubbed his little stomach as it growled almost on cue. “Well, normally Ajeossi--my landlord’s husband--helps feed me when my parents leave, but he worked late yesterday and couldn’t help....” He muttered honestly, eyes looking guilty like he didn’t even like to tell Kibum the pitiful truth.
Kibum couldn’t resist anymore and quickly got up from his spot, walking over to the boy, throwing his backpack over his shoulder and grabbing the boy’s thin wrist wordlessly, yanking him towards the classroom door. “C’mon, you’re coming with me right now. Where’s an asian market in Hilo? I’m making you kimchi and bulgogi. Better yet, I’ll make some Bi Bim Bap too, you need carbs.” He stated bluntly, not leaving any room for Taemin to complain or even question his words.
~*~
The appetizing smell of slowly cooking meat and frying vegetables led Minho slowly through the long hallway of the strange, yet somehow familiar house, his mind or memory not knowing where he was going, but his feet leading him as if he had walked that way a million times before in his life. He didn’t know how, but he seemed to know exactly what doors to open or what direction to turn through the modernized, yet beautiful house, until he finally reached the room he had been led to.
He entered the kitchen, and stopped immediately, the moment that he had stepped into the bright and fragrant room. On a large, wooden table sat two bowls with long, wooden chopsticks laid out across their rims, surrounded by a few trays of gorgeous looking side dishes of kimchi, pa jun, egg omelet, dongchimi, and rice set out in a large bowl. The whole room, though slightly chilly, as if it was late in winter, was emanating delicious and hardy scents of Minho’s favorite foods that he hadn’t tasted since he was last in Korea. Though he hadn’t never remembered knowing such a room, scent, or feeling, he couldn’t stop himself from suddenly feeling at home, feeling like he was exactly where he belonged again.
Suddenly, however, something in the back of the kitchen moved as the sound of meat frying in sauce in a hot pan caught Minho’s attention away from all of the side dishes set out on the table. As his eyes slowly moved up towards the silhouette of the person’s figure in front of him, Minho felt his breath hitch slightly in his throat, eyes slowly traveling up the thin back of the one standing at the stove. The figure’s legs and back were slim, wearing a comfortable grey sweater and a pair of plain, but formfitting white jeans, a white apron tied around the thin waist as the figure moved to stir the cooking sugogi. At first, Minho stayed silent, expecting for the figure to turn around, and for him to glance upon Yuri, his wife, judging on how his arms suddenly ached to wrap themselves around the thin waist in front of him. However, as he stared closer at the figure, and his eyes slowly moved up to the soft, short, light brown hair that rested softly on the back of the figure’s neck, and the broad, masculine looking shoulders of the one in front of him, his breathing becoming even more difficult.
Slowly, as if sensing Minho’s presence, yet not at all surprised, the beautiful man that stood in front of him slowly turned around; a pure, porcelain and chaste face was turned towards him, smooth, seamless white skin stretched as if sculpted over high cheekbones, sparkling, lively black eyes staring at him happily as a soft smile fell over his plump lips.
“Minho-yah,” The man said lightly, as his eyes met with Minho’s, his voice soft and familiar, saying Minho’s name so naturally as if Minho had somehow had the sound of it imprinted in his heart.
Minho couldn’t do anything, couldn’t say anything, simply stayed still as the beautiful, smaller man made his way over towards him slowly, lightly, his walk so graceful as if he was floating over to him, until they were finally face-to-face. That beautiful face--he knew it. He knew it from somewhere. He knew it, there was no doubt in his mind. Though he couldn’t find a name to it, a time, a past or a memory. All he knew was that he knew this man, knew every little detail of his face, every tone of his voice, every touch of his body.
Minho didn’t know when or how, but the next thing he knew, his arms had shakily set themselves around the beautiful one’s waist, as if it was almost instinct to do so, but scared and uneasily as if he wasn’t supposed to allow himself to do so. His breath was now just in uneasy pants, sending puffs of wind against the other man’s soft, brown hair, as the smaller brought himself closer against Minho’s body, a soft, pale, yet strangely delicate hand placing itself softly on his cheek as the beautiful one turned sorrowful eyes up to him.
Minho found himself swallowing heavily as those lively, sparkling, dark eyes turned up to him, now shaky, small gathering tears gleaming in their corners, just so full of guilt and sorrow that it nearly broke Minho’s trembling heart. His face seemed to say so much, though he continued to be wordless for a long minute as he simply stared up into Minho’s eyes apologetically.
Finally the words came, weak, quiet, deep and raw with honesty. Words that made Minho’s heart wrench harshly.
“Minho-yah, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
The tears spilled, and Minho’s hand moved automatically to wipe them away, trembling slightly as he made contact withe the soft, warm skin of the other’s beautiful face.
“Don’t cry....” Minho found himself whispering quietly, as he slowly pushed tears off of the beautiful man’s face, finding the movements of his own thumbs softening into gentle caresses on the other’s face.
The beautiful one slowed himself enough to take a breath before looking at Minho again, eyes still raw with emotion, but this time, though still guilty and regretful, a new expression is painted within them.
“...I love you.”
The words were sudden, and yet not unexpected, yet it still forces Minho to try to deal with the sudden sharp aching that his heart sends spearing through his entire body. As if the words were both oxygen and poison, one giving him life, and the other killing him slowly.
“I love you, Minho. I love you--I love you so much. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! I--” The beautiful man’s pleads slowly slipped into whispers, as Minho found them both moving closer to each other, so close that their noses bump, and they can taste each other’s breath, lips slowly, yet familiarly moving against---
--“APPA!”
Minho jumps at the shout, and the next thing he knows, he is laying across his and his wife’s shared bed, his adorable son sitting next to him, staring at him with curious eyes, and he finds that the entire experience had just been a dream. Another dream, like the others of the strange man he had before in his past, and yet, for the first time he had seen the beautiful one’s face.
“Appa, you fell asleep again! It’s already dark outside, and I’m really, really hungry!!” Yoogeun whined quietly at his side, sticking out his plump, little lips in a pout as he continues to stare at his newly awakened daddy.
Minho let out a quiet sigh as he sat up a little on the bed, having the guilt of dreaming of another’s love rather than his wife’s again, and tried his best not to think too much of the familiar eyes of the beautiful man in his dream, as he listened to his son.
“You’re hungry, huh, Yoogeunnie? Arasso, I’m hungry too, let me see what I can make my favorite little boy for dinner, ne?” He asked happily, ruffling his son’s hair affectionately, turning his attention back to the most wonderful part of his life.
Yoogeun smiled widely as his daddy turned his attention back onto him again, and grabbed his father’s hand, laughing happily as Minho threw him over his shoulders and played airplane all the way to the kitchen.
“I want Korean food, Appa. Taeminnie’s eomma must have come home tonight, because his house smells so yummy like Korean food! It smells so good!” The little boy cheered happily, as he played with his daddy’s short hair.
Minho paused for a moment as he realized that the appetizing smell from his dream still had not faded away with the visuals. The Lee family-- it must because they were cooking Korean cuisine that his dream had been so realistic.
“Ah, I’m glad to hear so then. Taehyun must have gotten a job finally, and now they’re celebrating. That’s good. It breaks my heart when Taemin-ah is left alone, huh? Maybe now Mommy will stop breathing down Taehyun’s back for his rent...” He muttered, more to himself (still keeping the habit of referring to his wife as “mommy”, since he spent all his free time with his son), as he walked back towards the kitchen.
~*~
Taemin’s eyes sparkled with pure delight as he looked at his tiny table, nearly over-flowing with dish after dish of Korean cuisine. “Uwaaah! I feel like a king! Kimchi, Bi Bim Bap, Bulgogi, Pa Jun, Egg Omelet, Dongchimi, even chicken!! Key-eommmmaaaaa~you’re the best!!” The excited boy cheered loudly, nearly crying with joy as he grabbed his chopsticks to dig into the large meal in front of him.
Kibum chuckled softly and messed up Taemin’s hair gently as he sat down after preparing the feast, but couldn’t help but stare at the white envelope hanging on the refrigerator. It was stamped in English, but had Korean written below, reading that it was a rent over-due notice.
“Choi....Yuri?” Kibum whispered quietly, more to himself as his eyes grazed over the name printed on the bottom of the paper slowly.
Taemin glanced up from his meal upon hearing Kibum’s words, but didn’t stop stuffing his face even as he answered his teacher’s muttering. “Mnn. She’s my landlord! She’s really pretty, but she’s really mean too! She’s always yelling at Appa because the rent is late. She’s really mean, but her son and husband are saints! Ajeossi even bought me my school supplies and Keroro pouch when they went back to Korea a while ago!” He sang happily. “Wae? Do you know her?” He asked after a moment.
Kibum shook his head slowly as he took a sip of the cold water he had gotten himself. “Mghn, aniyo. I used to know a Yuri who sounds a lot like her though. But her surname wasn’t Choi. It was Kwon. It must not be the same one.” He muttered, though his head was obviously off somewhere else.
Taemin chuckled quietly but went back to slurping up some of the kuksu Kibum had prepared. “Meph, maybe she got married. She and her husband used to live in Korea.” He muttered, oblivious to the frown that covered Kibum’s face at his suggestion.
“I hope not. I would feel bad for her husband.” He growled quietly to himself, as he remembered the many arguments he had with his husband’s co-worker, Kwon Yuri.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: This is late. like, really late. SORRY!
School is starting in ONE WEEK (damn short summers), and i don't have much time anymore. But I shall still try to bring chapters of substence to you.....not like this one where nothing really got accomplished.........ANYWAYS, yeah, this turned into a TaeKey fanfic in some ways (not romantically though, that's only MINkey liked I promised), which is weird because I'm not really a fan of TaeKey. And why is that "Tae" comes before "Key"? (Fan of masculine Key under it all, despite his feminine role in this). I hope you liked this nonetheless. The kissing between my baby Minho and...that female....was difficult to write, but I hope it wasn't too awkward. COMMENTS ARE MY BEST FRIEND AND I'LL LOVE YOU FOREVER IF YOU COMMENTED!
Couple: MinKey/Broken!MinKey, cheating/bff!JongKey, side!JongYu, MinhoxYuri (blegh...)
Genre: AU, Romance, Angst, Family
Rated: PG13
Summary: Kibum had lost everything four years ago, when he had stupidly turned his own self-doubting into a simple action he would regret for the rest of his life. He lost everything...including his husband....
What if there was a way for life to rewind? What if there was a way to start over on a relationship right from the first meeting? What if there was a way to forget every hurt, and to say everything that was left unsaid? What if you were given the chance to love and cherish him forever the way you should have? What if it’s already too late?...
Prompt by Patzmelody01 (I love this prompt, I hope I didn’t ruin it)
A/N: For Patzmelody01 because I tortured her so much with Remember Me!?!, haha. I hope you like it, and it makes you happy, not only hate me even more. xP
Pervious Chapters
The sound of Jonghyun’s “jolly” laughter resounding on the other line of the telephone, almost made Kibum regret calling his best friend up as soon as he got back from his first day of work, as he told him of all the mistakes he had made throughout the day.
“Shut up already, Jonghyun! I wouldn’t have told you if I knew you’d laugh like this. Aish! What kind of best friend are you? It’s not funny. I’m hanging up.” Kibum grumbled jokingly, as Jonghyun continued laughing on the other line.
Upon hearing Kibum’s threat, Jonghyun immediately stopped his laughter and cleared his throat the best he could, sitting up a little on his spot on the couch. “A-ah, wait, no. Don’t hang up yet. I’ll stop laughing. Honestly, tell me about your first day at work there. Aside from driving the wrong way down a one-way street, mistaking a co-worker for a man when she was in fact a woman, and getting lost on your way back to the hotel--how was your day? Are you adjusting well? Have you met anyone interesting?” He finally asked, calming his laughter to act as the “best friend” character.
Kibum let out a little breath as he pondered over whether or not to tell Jonghyun about his dream about Minho or not, but decided against it at the last moment. There was no reason to talk about it to Jonghyun. Jonghyun might be a romantic, but wasn’t a genius in terms of finding deeper meanings, and besides, it didn’t even matter. It was just a dream. Just a dream about missing his lover, and nothing more. Or, even, perhaps it classified as a nightmare, but all-in-all it wasn’t real, and there was nothing he could do about it. So, instead he took a breath and thought back on his day.
“Alright, look, you can’t laugh at me, but there is something and someone interesting I met today...” Kibum started after a moment, forcing his thoughts away from his dream of Minho to focus back on the task ahead, pausing for a brief moment before hearing an interested hum on the other line from his friend. “There’s this....boy...you see,” Kibum started uneasily, a little unsure of how to explain the strange, yet incredibly sweet boy he had met that day.
At this, Jonghyun had to gnaw his lips to keep back from laughing out loud again (failing as Kibum head him chuckle). “Oh? This sounds promising. And here I thought that Almighty Key had become some sort of Minho-nun, promising never to love another man than Minho...” He muttered playfully, until he head the loud tap of Kibum attempting to punch him through the phone-line like that.
“It’s not like that, Pabo! He’s not like that. He’s a student! Idiot...” Kibum snapped quickly, as he realized what Jonghyun had been implying. “The reason why I'm hesitating is because I’ve been pondering over what I can do to help him ever since the moment I first met him. Aish, he’s right. You really are Hyung’s Pabo.” He muttered angrily.
Jonghyun let out a quiet and bored sigh as he heard his oh-so-very interesting thought of Kibum finding some local Hawaiian love, and was forced to cancel it out in order to focus on work. Since when was the Almighty Key so boring when it came to hot love affairs? Before Minho, he had once been the king of them.
“Aish! You’re no fun anymore Kibum. Here I thought I would be getting some juicy story on some hot gossip or something. Not just more work...” He muttered stubbornly, getting a tired sigh on the other line from Kibum.
“Jonghyun, I already told you I never wanted the be the center of gossip again. That kind of attention is not at all rewarding. What’s rewarding is knowing that you’ve made a difference in someone’s life; which is what I’m trying to do. Now shut up and help me already.” Was the blunt reply from the younger man on the other line.
Jonghyun held his breath with boredom but agreed to be silent and help his friend out. As much as he was still interested in the young, immature lifestyle, he had to hand it to Kibum for turning everything around, and he didn’t want to be the reason for Kibum’s downfall--again.
“Aish, okay, right, student. Making a difference in someone’s life. Okay. What about the student? Why are you so set on helping him? Is his English really that bad? Because if that’s the case, calling me really isn’t going to help you.” He joked, painfully honestly, after a moment.
Kibum half smiled before glancing down at the paperwork for the next day’s (his first official day) classwork. “That’s not it. You see, he’s a Korean exchange student who’s family has faced a few hard times since they moved here. His English is really limited, and I think he’s falling a little behind in his classes because of it. The principal told me that he gets bullied a lot, especially from the other boys. I think it’s because he’s pretty feminine and a little oblivious to the world around him. He’s really sweet and adorable, but he doesn’t have any friends at school. I want to make a difference for him.” He explained the best he could, as he doodled little pictures onto his notebook as he spoke.
Jonghyun was silent for a moment, before Kibum could hear his soft, almost doting laugh on the other line. “Sweet, beautiful, oblivious, slightly feminine, and misunderstood high school boy who gets bullied by the other boys for being different...” His high-school best friend muttered softly on the other line. “Does he have styled black hair, glasses, wear too skinny of jeans and keeps a secret crush on the rookie soccer team’s MVP?” He asked fondly, after a moment.
Kibum held his breath as he glanced down at the papers lied out on the table under him, staring at the last year’s yearbook, at the small picture of the bright smile Lee Taemin had painted over his face, hair just a bit too perfect for a boy, clothes stylish and well-picked out. A soft sigh left his lips as he remembered having a yearbook photo nearly identical.
“Alright...perhaps he does remind me of myself in high school, happy? Maybe when I saw the way he was so isolated in school because of his differences, it reminded of the way I was before you and Minho both transferred to my school. Maybe the sad gleam in his eyes when he spoke about not having any friends reminded me of the way I used to hide the pain I felt too. But, Jjong, that’s only more of a reason. All of the more of a reason. I want to change things for him. Jonghyun, this boy is still different than I was. He’s still kind and loving, even though he’s constantly hurting. He hasn’t tried to change himself to what everyone else wants him to be. And I want to show him that he doesn’t have to. I want to change it for him. I want him to acknowledge himself for being wonderful the way he is, and for him not to do what I did. He has a pure, innocent heart, Jjong. I want for the day when someone learns to truly love him for it, for him never to lose that person.....like I did.” He spoke honestly, voice slow and soft, and Jonghyun could hear his honest emotions through it all.
Jonghyun made a soft noise on the other line before being quiet for a moment, then finally speaking. “You want to do for him what was done for you by Minho, don’t you?” He asked softly, after a moment.
Kibum glanced back down, slowly running his fingers over the words he had accidentally written down on on his notebook. The name he had accidentally written down.
민호. 최민호. 민호야, 너무 그리워...
“Minho. Choi Minho. Minho-yah, I really miss you...”
“I do...” He muttered honestly, quietly, as his eyes glanced down sorrowfully down at the name he had written, and realized how much he really did miss Minho at that time. “I want to do this, not only for him, not only for myself, but for Minho too.” He answered truthfully.
Jonghyun let out a slightly agitated sigh on the other line as he heard the pain still contained in his best friend’s voice as he spoke of his lost lover, and glared at the wall as he slumped back into his couch unhappily.
“Damn it, Kibum. I wish I could just find Minho already and force that little jerk back to you already. I know you made a mistakes earlier in your marriage, and your biggest was freaking my mistake more than yours, but you’ve changed so much for him. You’ve changed into such a freaking beautiful person for him, and I know, no matter how much you deny it, you loved him more than anything else in this world! It’s so aggravating, knowing that you still love him more than ever, and knowing that he probably loves you still as well, but you two just being too stubborn to get back together. You two are only hurting yourselves and each other by staying apart like this. I just...wish I could do something...” He growled unhappily, guilt spreading through his chest more rapidly than wildfire. Seeing his best friend hurting so much because of something he had more or less caused made him feel like the worst human being in the entire world.
Kibum sighed softly, feeling the want to shed tears, but forced them back as he stared down at the name he had written so many times on that small piece of paper. “No, Jjongie, it’s not your fault, okay? It’s.....better, this way. I’m...glad for him to have left me in order to allow himself to live a fair life without someone taking advantage of his kindness. To live for himself, not for anyone else. I’m happier knowing that, you know.” He answered quietly, though the tone of his voice was less than convincing.
At this, Jonghyun could only sigh softly, knowing he couldn’t and wouldn’t try to convince Kibum of anything other. He knew it was impossible to convince Minho to go back to Kibum, and it was only up to Minho to decide whether or not he would. All he could do was try to be nicer to his best friend and try to comfort him.
“He would be proud of you, Bummie-yah.” He finally said quietly, staring down at his fingers as he heard Kibum sniff a little, knowing the younger was trying to compose himself again.
“How...do you think he is, Jjongie? Do...you think he’s doing alright? Do you think he’s happy with his new life? Do you think he’s been treated fairly at last?” Kibum found himself asking quietly, after a moment. He hadn’t meant to, but he couldn’t help it now. It had been playing on his mind constantly since his dream the first night he had arrived in Hawaii, and he was dying to get some reassurance. For someone to help convince him that staying out of the other man’s life forever was indeed the right thing for him to do.
“He is. I’m sure. Just like you’ve changed, I’m positive that he’s changed and won’t let anyone take advantage of him anymore. Don’t worry about him, Bummie. Though I already know, no matter how happy he is now...he misses you just as much as you miss him. I can promise you that.” Jonghyun answered quietly, smiling comfortingly, even though he knew his friend couldn’t see it.
Kibum allowed for a small smile to come onto his lips as well as he glanced down and tried to make himself strong again, knowing he had to keep working hard for Minho. “Heh...thanks, Jjongie.” He said quietly.
~*~
The smile that lit the little boy’s face took up half of his head as he glanced out the window of his mother’s office building, pushing past the stuffy blinds, letting out a happy noise as he spotted his most favorite person in the entire world.
“Appaaa~!!” Yoogeun sang happily, as he quickly ran from the window towards the office door, as his father opened the door and without a single word, smiled just as wide as the boy and took his baby into his arms.
“Yoogeun-ah!” The good appa said happily, as he set his bags on the ground and didn’t hesitate to lift his little boy and bounce him playfully in his arms, throwing him into the air, then catching him with strong, sturdy arms to support him with, causing for the little boy to scream with happiness.
Suddenly, however, there was a feminine, strict voice from inside the office that stopped both father and son from their happy playing. “Shh, boys, Eomma is working. Be quiet in the office.” A familiar voice said quietly, from behind her desk, as she rubbed her temples slowly before glancing back at her laptop.
At the familiar sound of his mother’s scolding, Yoogeun pouted quietly, but his father only smiled lightly at him and reached into his bag, pulling out a little carton of chocolate milk and a cookie, handing it to the now excited boy before messing his hair then standing back up, taking his other bags in his hands as he walked slowly towards the desk.
The woman behind the desk didn’t even glance up from her laptop that she was typing crazily away on, until her husband was already standing behind her, a light, yet shiny and beautiful silver necklace was placed softly around her neck, her quiet husband smiling charmingly as he fastened it for her.
Upon feeling the cold silver chain sitting lightly against the exposed skin on her chest, the woman stopped her continuous typing on her computer and glanced up slowly, utterly surprised and confused as to why there was suddenly a beautiful necklace around her neck, as she took the small, shiny pendent from it’s hanging place a little above her collarbones.
“Minho-yah? Yeobo, what is this?” She asked, her voice light as she glanced over her shoulder from the pendent back towards her quiet yet charming husband.
Minho only gave her a soft smile as he knelt down next to her, looking into her eyes before taking a minute to admire his wife in her new necklace. “Happy fifth anniversary, Yuri. I love you.” Prince Charming said lightly, as he leaned forwards and left a small kiss on her forehead.
Yuri stopped completely as she heard her husband’s words, her eyes going wide. Anniversary? Their anniversary? Shit, was that today? That’s right, it is on February fourth. Did she really forget? A soft, reassuring smile fell onto her lips as she faked her composure in front of her husband and simply leaned forwards again, kissing his lips lightly.
“You remembered.” She said lightly as she pulled away (flat out ignoring Yoogeun’s whining about being gross behind her), looking back at her husband’s face, feeling just a little guilty she had completely forgotten. Isn’t the man the one who’s supposed to forget these things? That’s what she gets for having a husband like Minho though.
Minho only replied to this with a warm smile as he continued to squat down so that he was at her level and could hold her hands. “Of course I remembered. I haven’t once forgotten from the moment you first told me.” He said charmingly.
Yuri, at this, could only sigh lightly. How was she supposed to respond to this? If anyone, Minho was the one with an excuse to forget that date, not her. How was she supposed to reply back to him without him finding out? All she could do was silence him again with another kiss on the lips.
This, however, produced a disgusted groan from the baby standing behind them as Yoogeun set down his chocolate mil for long enough to whine and complain again. “Ewww! Appaaaa, stop being yucky with Eomma!!! Let’s go home, let’s go home! I’ve been practicing my soccer at kindergarten! I wanna show you, Coach-Appa! C’mon, c’mon!” The little boy squealed quickly, grabbing his daddy’s first three fingers (his hand was still too small to grasp his dad’s full hand) and began yanking him towards the door again.
Minho smiled fondly at his son before glancing back up at his wife. “What time are you going to be home tonight? I could make you dinner at home if you’re too tired to go out after work.” He offered kindly, making his wife frown slowly, guilt spreading over her face.
“Ohh, Minho-yah...I promised my boss I would help him file paperwork after my normal hours today, and have an appointment with a client that I need to show one of the apartments we have near Bay Front to at six tonight. There was no other time he could go look at it before then, and we really need to make a sell. I can’t be home any sooner than eight....oh, Yeobo, I feel so terrible.” She whined quietly, sticking out her lips in a ridiculous little pout.
Minho stayed quiet for a long moment as he glanced down at his shoes, nodding slowly before raising his gaze back towards his wife, giving her an understanding smile. “Don’t worry about it, Yuri. I understand. You work so hard....I’ll try harder to find a sturdier job as quickly as I can. Don’t work yourself too much, and eat the food I brought for you, I left it on your desk. I’ll see you when you get home. Don’t worry, I have Yoogeun-ah to play with, so I won’t feel lonely.” He said happily after a moment, hoisting his little son up into his arms as he spoke of him, causing for the boy to squeal with happiness.
Yuri only smiled apologetically and saw her husband and son off kindly, before turning back and heading into her office again to get back to her work.
~*~
Kibum tried not to seem distant as he sat down next to the happy blonde boy at his side, listening to the kid talk all about what a fun time he had had when he went to the beach the other day. He knew Taemin needed to have someone to talk to about whatever he wanted to, but he couldn’t help himself from thinking back to the conversation about the kid he had had with Jonghyun the night prior.
“You want to keep him from getting bullied anymore, right? Then do what I did when I made friends with you and found out that you were getting bullied.” Jonghyun suggested casually.
“Do what you did? Kim Jonghyun, you skipped science so that you could barge into my PE class and beat the shit out of every boy in the shower room. I’m a teacher, do you really think that’s something I can do?” Kibum responded dryly.
“Good point......”
“Help me out here, Jjong.”
“Okay, look, here’s a better idea. Do what I did, but just keep your head about it. How did I find out that the kids in your PE class were harassing you? I asked you. So just take it that far. Ask the kid who’s bullying him, and then try to work it out from there.” Jonghyun finally answered after a moment.
At this suggestion, Kibum smiled lightly. “For being a Pabo, you’re pretty smart sometimes, Jjongie. I guess that’s what you get for dating a professor....”
“WE’RE NOT DATING!”
Kibum sighed softly as he stared down at the water glistening in the bright afternoon’s sunshine as he sat on the bleachers by the pool next to Taemin during lunch for the second day in a row. Jonghyun was right. (How often does this happen?) He was just nervous about asking Taemin about it. He hated seeing the smile off the normally happy boy’s face, and was scared of making the kid sad again. But, then again, there was only one way of fixing Taemin’s bullying problems, and he could not do that unless he knew exactly what kind of problems the kid was facing.
“Hey.....Taeminnie, can I ask you a kind of weird question? Is that okay?” Kibum finally spoke quietly, after thinking over his words, turning to face the curious eyes that were now staring at him.
“A weird question? What kind of question, Hyung? You can ask me anything you want, but what kind of weird question?” The happy, innocent child asked happily as he swung his legs back and forwards through the space between his seat and the floor, which he could not reach.
Kibum didn’t advert his gaze from the kid, but took a breath and softened a little as he figured he should just tell the kid the truth. He was a junior in high school after all, and as cute and innocent as he seemed, he couldn’t always have things sugar-coated for him.
“Mr. Dirks told me that you get bullied at lot at school by the other boys....can....you tell my why?” Kibum asked quietly, trying his best to keep his facial expressions and posture soft as he spoke.
Taemin’s large smile quickly shrunk down to a small, and semi sorrowful expression as the kid turned his gaze down to the cement below them. “Not everyone’s as nice as you, Hyung...” Was all that he said quietly, as his eyes flashed sadly.
Kibum nipped his bottom lip lightly as he saw how he had upset the younger boy, and set a gentle hand on his lithe little back. “I want to see if I can help you out, Taemin-ah. I know I’m just your English tutor, but you see; we’re a lot alike. I was bullied a lot by the other boys in my classes when I was your age, too. I think if I know what’s happening to you, I can try to help you out so you won’t get bullied anymore.” He explained empathetically, making the little kid next to him let out a heavy breath.
Taemin turned his gaze away from Kibum again and smiled a fake smile that almost broke Kibum’s heart. “I’m alright, Key-Hyung. It’s nothing that serious, and it’s not that bad anymore. You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be okay.” He said quietly, though his voice was missing it’s normal bouncy tone, and sounded plain and stale as the kid refused to make eye-contact.
Kibum furrowed his eyebrows and frowned heavily as he heard the younger’s answer before trying his best to be calm again, starting to draw little comforting circles onto Taemin’s back, trying to make him relax his shoulders.
“Don’t make things up, Taemin-ah. Look, I know that it’s hard. I know it’s hard and no fun to talk to anyone about getting bullied. I know because I was just like you when I was a kid. I used to be ashamed of the fact that I was getting bullied and teased by the boys in my PE class, that I never told my parents or halmeoni, and therefore had to stay through most of high school alone. It was not until I finally found someone who was actually stupidly blunt enough to force it out of me that I finally told anyone. And after I told him, he helped me confront my bullies, and they stopped. Please, Taemin-ah, let me help you.” He spoke softly, smiling lightly as he noticed the way Taemin stopped tensing when he heard his words.
With one last heavy sigh, Taemin finally broke a little and frowned heavily, staring at Kibum’s hand on his shoulder.
“They make fun of me because they say that I look like a girl. They also laugh because I can’t lift weights like they do during PE. And, they take advantage of the fact I don’t speak English very well, and always get me to say bad things in English to our teachers and get sent to the principal’s office because of them. I haven’t told anyone yet, because I didn’t think it would stop it. They haven’t done anything to physically hurt me, except for send me into the girl’s shower rooms during PE, and I was attacked by the girls...” He answered quietly, as he played nervously with his fingers.
Kibum swallowed heavily as he heard the kid’s words and began drawing little circles on his back again. “Thank you for telling me, Taeminnie-yah. I’ll help you. I know that I can, because seven years ago....the same exact things were happening to me. I can help you with your English, and will help you stand up to the kids in your PE class. Thank you for telling me. I know it’s not a good feeling to admit such things, but it’s important. Just because they haven’t physically harmed you, doesn’t mean that their words don’t hurt. Words can hurt you Taeminnie, and if you don’t tell someone about it, it will only continue to hurt you. But, know this: I’m always here. I’ll always be here for you, Taeminnie. You can tell me anything, and I’ll never judge you. I promise you.” He said softly, pushing the hair out of the child’s face as Taemin stared up at him with teary eyes.
“H-hyung....th-thank you. I don’t feel like you’re my teacher...the way you take care of me, it’s almost like you’re my eomma. Eomma, gomawo...” The boy sniffed quietly, as he reached arms around Kibum’s neck, as Kibum happily took him and squeezed him tightly. It was true, now he realized it was more than just wanting to help him. He had already started to feel motherly feelings towards the kid.
“C’mon, Taeminnie. The bell just rang. We need to get to class before you’re tardy.” He cooed softly into the kid’s honey blonde hair, as he squeezed his shoulders before walking slowly back towards the large yellow buildings of the school again.
~*~
“Eomma~~” Taemin whined loudly, as the detention bell rang loudly through the nearly empty school, vibrating through the old buildings, into the open windows of BB202. “It’s already 4:00pm. School ended at 1:20 today!! Why do I have to stay so late just to practice writing the names of the states?? Even the kids in detention have left already! Eomma! You’re the worst!” The kid whined loudly, as Kibum tried his best to ignore him as he tried again to teach Taemin that the letter “L” faced towards the right.
“You forgot Louisiana again, Taemin-ah. Say it again after me. Louisiana. Leo-i-shi-a-na.” Kibum explained, poking up his glasses as he busily began writing out the pronunciation of the state in Hangul. “러-이-시-아-나.”
Taemin promptly ignored his teacher’s attempts of teaching, as he pouted out his lips and began rubbing his little stomach unhappily. “Omooooo~eomma, I’m hungry! Key-eomma, I’m really hungry! I didn’t even eat lunch today because I was studying with you! I’m really hungry! What kind of Eomma are you? you won’t even let me eat! Eomma is cruel!” The kid whined loudly (yes, he had called Kibum “eomma” all day since the first recess and Kibum couldn’t see him stopping any time in the near future).
Kibum sighed lightly as he got up slowly from his place sitting on the table Taemin was stationed at and took his glasses off of his nose, glancing out the windows at the darkening sky. “Aish, alright. I suppose it is getting late. Call your Appa and tell him that your teacher held you late.” He said quietly, finding that time had slipped by a lot faster than he had thought.
Taemin giggled with his feat as he stuffed his pencils into his Keroro decorated pencil case, but didn’t make any intentions to reach for the small cellphone in his pocket, simply continuing to pack away his things. “No need. Appa left yesterday.” He said plainly, though his bright eyes once again seemed distant.
Kibum paused all his actions as he heard the boy’s response and glanced over his shoulder at the kid again slowly. “What? Left for where?” He asked quietly, though he only felt dread raise in his throat as the kid simply shrugged at his question.
“Dunno. He does this sometimes. Especially when money is really limited. He’ll just pack up his stuff for a week or more at a time and disappear for a while, leaving me and Eomeoni to take care of ourselves for a little while until he comes back. Sometimes he brings money back with him though, and he always does come back, so we trust him when he disappears. Besides, Eomeoni never stays at home when he leaves, so no one’s expecting me to come back home yet.” The child responded easily, ignoring the concerned and shocked expressions painting over Kibum’s face.
Kibum gnawed his bottom lip to keep his emotions in check, and not to curse at the irresponsible parents leaving their beautiful, innocent and completely naive boy home alone all the time (it sounded as if this happens often), and took in a deep breath. “Then...what about food? Do you have enough food at home to be able to eat wholesome meals when you’re by yourself!?” He asked quickly, motherly instincts kicking back in (since when does a family-less, twenty-four year old man start having motherly instincts?), as he quickly walked back towards the boy.
Taemin glanced down slowly and rubbed his little stomach as it growled almost on cue. “Well, normally Ajeossi--my landlord’s husband--helps feed me when my parents leave, but he worked late yesterday and couldn’t help....” He muttered honestly, eyes looking guilty like he didn’t even like to tell Kibum the pitiful truth.
Kibum couldn’t resist anymore and quickly got up from his spot, walking over to the boy, throwing his backpack over his shoulder and grabbing the boy’s thin wrist wordlessly, yanking him towards the classroom door. “C’mon, you’re coming with me right now. Where’s an asian market in Hilo? I’m making you kimchi and bulgogi. Better yet, I’ll make some Bi Bim Bap too, you need carbs.” He stated bluntly, not leaving any room for Taemin to complain or even question his words.
~*~
The appetizing smell of slowly cooking meat and frying vegetables led Minho slowly through the long hallway of the strange, yet somehow familiar house, his mind or memory not knowing where he was going, but his feet leading him as if he had walked that way a million times before in his life. He didn’t know how, but he seemed to know exactly what doors to open or what direction to turn through the modernized, yet beautiful house, until he finally reached the room he had been led to.
He entered the kitchen, and stopped immediately, the moment that he had stepped into the bright and fragrant room. On a large, wooden table sat two bowls with long, wooden chopsticks laid out across their rims, surrounded by a few trays of gorgeous looking side dishes of kimchi, pa jun, egg omelet, dongchimi, and rice set out in a large bowl. The whole room, though slightly chilly, as if it was late in winter, was emanating delicious and hardy scents of Minho’s favorite foods that he hadn’t tasted since he was last in Korea. Though he hadn’t never remembered knowing such a room, scent, or feeling, he couldn’t stop himself from suddenly feeling at home, feeling like he was exactly where he belonged again.
Suddenly, however, something in the back of the kitchen moved as the sound of meat frying in sauce in a hot pan caught Minho’s attention away from all of the side dishes set out on the table. As his eyes slowly moved up towards the silhouette of the person’s figure in front of him, Minho felt his breath hitch slightly in his throat, eyes slowly traveling up the thin back of the one standing at the stove. The figure’s legs and back were slim, wearing a comfortable grey sweater and a pair of plain, but formfitting white jeans, a white apron tied around the thin waist as the figure moved to stir the cooking sugogi. At first, Minho stayed silent, expecting for the figure to turn around, and for him to glance upon Yuri, his wife, judging on how his arms suddenly ached to wrap themselves around the thin waist in front of him. However, as he stared closer at the figure, and his eyes slowly moved up to the soft, short, light brown hair that rested softly on the back of the figure’s neck, and the broad, masculine looking shoulders of the one in front of him, his breathing becoming even more difficult.
Slowly, as if sensing Minho’s presence, yet not at all surprised, the beautiful man that stood in front of him slowly turned around; a pure, porcelain and chaste face was turned towards him, smooth, seamless white skin stretched as if sculpted over high cheekbones, sparkling, lively black eyes staring at him happily as a soft smile fell over his plump lips.
“Minho-yah,” The man said lightly, as his eyes met with Minho’s, his voice soft and familiar, saying Minho’s name so naturally as if Minho had somehow had the sound of it imprinted in his heart.
Minho couldn’t do anything, couldn’t say anything, simply stayed still as the beautiful, smaller man made his way over towards him slowly, lightly, his walk so graceful as if he was floating over to him, until they were finally face-to-face. That beautiful face--he knew it. He knew it from somewhere. He knew it, there was no doubt in his mind. Though he couldn’t find a name to it, a time, a past or a memory. All he knew was that he knew this man, knew every little detail of his face, every tone of his voice, every touch of his body.
Minho didn’t know when or how, but the next thing he knew, his arms had shakily set themselves around the beautiful one’s waist, as if it was almost instinct to do so, but scared and uneasily as if he wasn’t supposed to allow himself to do so. His breath was now just in uneasy pants, sending puffs of wind against the other man’s soft, brown hair, as the smaller brought himself closer against Minho’s body, a soft, pale, yet strangely delicate hand placing itself softly on his cheek as the beautiful one turned sorrowful eyes up to him.
Minho found himself swallowing heavily as those lively, sparkling, dark eyes turned up to him, now shaky, small gathering tears gleaming in their corners, just so full of guilt and sorrow that it nearly broke Minho’s trembling heart. His face seemed to say so much, though he continued to be wordless for a long minute as he simply stared up into Minho’s eyes apologetically.
Finally the words came, weak, quiet, deep and raw with honesty. Words that made Minho’s heart wrench harshly.
“Minho-yah, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
The tears spilled, and Minho’s hand moved automatically to wipe them away, trembling slightly as he made contact withe the soft, warm skin of the other’s beautiful face.
“Don’t cry....” Minho found himself whispering quietly, as he slowly pushed tears off of the beautiful man’s face, finding the movements of his own thumbs softening into gentle caresses on the other’s face.
The beautiful one slowed himself enough to take a breath before looking at Minho again, eyes still raw with emotion, but this time, though still guilty and regretful, a new expression is painted within them.
“...I love you.”
The words were sudden, and yet not unexpected, yet it still forces Minho to try to deal with the sudden sharp aching that his heart sends spearing through his entire body. As if the words were both oxygen and poison, one giving him life, and the other killing him slowly.
“I love you, Minho. I love you--I love you so much. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! I--” The beautiful man’s pleads slowly slipped into whispers, as Minho found them both moving closer to each other, so close that their noses bump, and they can taste each other’s breath, lips slowly, yet familiarly moving against---
--“APPA!”
Minho jumps at the shout, and the next thing he knows, he is laying across his and his wife’s shared bed, his adorable son sitting next to him, staring at him with curious eyes, and he finds that the entire experience had just been a dream. Another dream, like the others of the strange man he had before in his past, and yet, for the first time he had seen the beautiful one’s face.
“Appa, you fell asleep again! It’s already dark outside, and I’m really, really hungry!!” Yoogeun whined quietly at his side, sticking out his plump, little lips in a pout as he continues to stare at his newly awakened daddy.
Minho let out a quiet sigh as he sat up a little on the bed, having the guilt of dreaming of another’s love rather than his wife’s again, and tried his best not to think too much of the familiar eyes of the beautiful man in his dream, as he listened to his son.
“You’re hungry, huh, Yoogeunnie? Arasso, I’m hungry too, let me see what I can make my favorite little boy for dinner, ne?” He asked happily, ruffling his son’s hair affectionately, turning his attention back to the most wonderful part of his life.
Yoogeun smiled widely as his daddy turned his attention back onto him again, and grabbed his father’s hand, laughing happily as Minho threw him over his shoulders and played airplane all the way to the kitchen.
“I want Korean food, Appa. Taeminnie’s eomma must have come home tonight, because his house smells so yummy like Korean food! It smells so good!” The little boy cheered happily, as he played with his daddy’s short hair.
Minho paused for a moment as he realized that the appetizing smell from his dream still had not faded away with the visuals. The Lee family-- it must because they were cooking Korean cuisine that his dream had been so realistic.
“Ah, I’m glad to hear so then. Taehyun must have gotten a job finally, and now they’re celebrating. That’s good. It breaks my heart when Taemin-ah is left alone, huh? Maybe now Mommy will stop breathing down Taehyun’s back for his rent...” He muttered, more to himself (still keeping the habit of referring to his wife as “mommy”, since he spent all his free time with his son), as he walked back towards the kitchen.
~*~
Taemin’s eyes sparkled with pure delight as he looked at his tiny table, nearly over-flowing with dish after dish of Korean cuisine. “Uwaaah! I feel like a king! Kimchi, Bi Bim Bap, Bulgogi, Pa Jun, Egg Omelet, Dongchimi, even chicken!! Key-eommmmaaaaa~you’re the best!!” The excited boy cheered loudly, nearly crying with joy as he grabbed his chopsticks to dig into the large meal in front of him.
Kibum chuckled softly and messed up Taemin’s hair gently as he sat down after preparing the feast, but couldn’t help but stare at the white envelope hanging on the refrigerator. It was stamped in English, but had Korean written below, reading that it was a rent over-due notice.
“Choi....Yuri?” Kibum whispered quietly, more to himself as his eyes grazed over the name printed on the bottom of the paper slowly.
Taemin glanced up from his meal upon hearing Kibum’s words, but didn’t stop stuffing his face even as he answered his teacher’s muttering. “Mnn. She’s my landlord! She’s really pretty, but she’s really mean too! She’s always yelling at Appa because the rent is late. She’s really mean, but her son and husband are saints! Ajeossi even bought me my school supplies and Keroro pouch when they went back to Korea a while ago!” He sang happily. “Wae? Do you know her?” He asked after a moment.
Kibum shook his head slowly as he took a sip of the cold water he had gotten himself. “Mghn, aniyo. I used to know a Yuri who sounds a lot like her though. But her surname wasn’t Choi. It was Kwon. It must not be the same one.” He muttered, though his head was obviously off somewhere else.
Taemin chuckled quietly but went back to slurping up some of the kuksu Kibum had prepared. “Meph, maybe she got married. She and her husband used to live in Korea.” He muttered, oblivious to the frown that covered Kibum’s face at his suggestion.
“I hope not. I would feel bad for her husband.” He growled quietly to himself, as he remembered the many arguments he had with his husband’s co-worker, Kwon Yuri.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: This is late. like, really late. SORRY!
School is starting in ONE WEEK (damn short summers), and i don't have much time anymore. But I shall still try to bring chapters of substence to you.....not like this one where nothing really got accomplished.........ANYWAYS, yeah, this turned into a TaeKey fanfic in some ways (not romantically though, that's only MINkey liked I promised), which is weird because I'm not really a fan of TaeKey. And why is that "Tae" comes before "Key"? (Fan of masculine Key under it all, despite his feminine role in this). I hope you liked this nonetheless. The kissing between my baby Minho and...that female....was difficult to write, but I hope it wasn't too awkward. COMMENTS ARE MY BEST FRIEND AND I'LL LOVE YOU FOREVER IF YOU COMMENTED!