Remember Me!?! Chapter 22: Touch PART TWO
Remember Me!?!?
Chapter 22: Touch
PART TWO
Couples: JongKey/MinKey
Genre: Drama, Romance, Crack, Fluff
Rated: PG
Disclaimer: I do not own SHINee, SNSD, or any other bands and or songs mentioned.
Summary: A soft and gentle touch that he had grown to be so used to feel--how is that all of a sudden it felt so differnt? How can a gently touch from a friend sudden make Kibum's stomach turn and his face turn red? What was going on with him?
PART ONE HERE! shinetae.livejournal.com/6473.html#cutid1
Kibum continued to hold his angry breath still in his cheeks, but only had a chance to stomp angrily to the parking lot of the University, before he suddenly felt a strong hand grab his wrist tightly and pull him backwards forcefully. He tried his best to keep his emotions concealed as he roughly dug his front teeth into his bottom lip, shooting venomous stares at Jonghyun as their eyes meet with each others’. “You. What do you want? Shouldn’t you be off somewhere enjoying a nice and well-made picnic with a certain deceived girl?” He growled angrily as he stared Jonghyun down into his soul.
Jonghyun made a face as he tried to find some way to defend himself against the look of pure hatred beaming towards him. “Okay, look, Kibum, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let her think that the letter was for her. I know. And I understand why you’re so mad at me, but-you really are just too over the top! Do you have any idea how insane you just were!?” He asked, quickly.
Kibum hissed something through his teeth before trying to yank his arm away from Jonghyun quickly, but failed, so he huffed out an angry breath. “Shuddup! I am not that insane!” He snapped quickly, looking away.
Jonghyun kept a tight hold on Kibum’s wrist and shot him a look that easily read as “Oh, really?”, before letting out a breath and staring at Kibum closely. “Kibum, I think there is one minor detail that you have conveniently forgotten about. Just one minor fact that you THREW A ROCK AT MY GIRLFRIEND’S FACE!! And yet, you still tell me that you’re not that overboard!!” He finally screamed. “Please tell me how throwing rocks at peoples’ girlfriend’s faces is anything BUT borderline insane?? Do you know what would have happened if it actually hit her!? Do you have idea what would have happened to you? You could have seriously hurt her if it actually hit her, and you would probably be in a lot of trouble! You better be happy the wind caught it on the last minute and it only flew under her ear!” He shouted quickly.
Kibum looked up quickly, eyes huge. “WHAAAT? You mean it didn’t hit her!?! How’d that happen!? I have such good aim! I thought for sure that it would hit her smack on!” He whined quickly and stubbornly.
Jonghyun’s eyes widened with shock and he stared at Kibum with complete disbelief. “Yah!! Kibum!! How could you!?!” He whined back.
Kibum only held his breath and turned away from Jonghyun the best the he could, and attempted (without succeeding) to yank his wrist away from him again. “How could I? How could I my ass! You’re the despicable one! You’re the one who deceived that girl. How could you ask me how I could when you know how much it would hurt me? When you actually lied to her and told her that it was for her, even when you knew how much that letter meant? When you knew that every word I wrote in that letter was from the heart? How could you just lie and give her the letter that was written by me and was only for you? How could you be so heartless to me? Don’t you even care anymore if you hurt someone? I-if you hurt me? Do you not care anymore?” He asked quickly, but as he reached the end, his voice finally riled down and softened into a muffled sob.
Jonghyun sighed but it took nothing more for him to soften, even while trying to defend himself, forgetting all about Kibum’s rather concerning display of anger earlier and only feeling for him. “I know it hurt you…and I know it wasn’t fair for me to do that….but at least I’m not the one who was throwing rocks at peoples’ faces right?” He asked, his comical side leaking a little bit through his voice.
This however, only made it worse, when the saddened diva only hid his face and tried to yank away from Jonghyun again, whispering something quietly that Jonghyun wasn’t sure if he was supposed to hear, for it sounded more like it was to himself rather than to him. “You might as well could have thrown a rock at my face. You already hurt me more than getting pelted with rocks. You have no idea how much you getting that letter and understanding what I meant by it meant to me-then I see you giving it away…I’d rather be hit with stones…” He whispered bitterly.
Jonghyun nipped his lip slightly before finally allowing himself to soften completely and give in. He slowly pulled Kibum’s wrist back, past the side of his waist, until Kibum stumbled forwards a little bit, before taking his other arm from his jacket pocket and wrapping it around the thin younger boy’s shoulders. Kibum shifted quickly at the contact, but didn’t move as he realized he was in some sort of a hug, before smiling lightly. Jonghyun seemed to sigh slightly before taking his hand from Kibum’s wrist and dipped it into his pocket before slipping the letter into his hand.
“Kibum…I know you meant every word in this letter, and I know how much every single word means to you….there was no way I could have let Tiffany keep something like that. I’m…sorry to have hurt you again, Kibum. It seems like I don’t even have to do anything to hurt you anymore, and I honestly never want to. Just…don’t cry like this anymore. It breaks your perfect and bitchy diva image….” He muttered, after a moment, staring over the younger boy’s shoulder as not to feel too comfortable in the other boy’s arms (which were now wrapping themselves around his waist).
Kibum stayed quiet for just a moment and allowed himself to remain silent as he glanced down at the letter that the shorter boy’s hand just slipped into his hand, before finally smiling to himself and allowing for his arms to snake their way up and around Jonghyun’s waist, resting his head comfortably on Jonghyun’s shoulder. “You know….” He started contently after a moment, but still kept a low volume. “I’m not complaining, it’s just that-your honesty and good heartedness is only making me fall even deeper in love with you. You do realize this, don’t you, Jonggie?” He asked.
Jonghyun swallowed and shifted a little bit uneasily, but continued to hug Kibum close as he stared over his shoulder awkwardly. “I-I wish it didn’t. You know the situation we’re in now…” He muttered stubbornly, after a moment.
Kibum half smiled and let out a soft breath before putting his cheek against Jonghyun’s shoulder again. “Hnn…if you don’t want me to fall even more in love with you…you should stop being such an amazing and sweet person. You should just be stupid and hateful and make me despise you. That’d be so much easier for us both…” He muttered.
Jonghyun half smiled before shaking his head after a moment. “Yeah. It would be easier and better if I could blow you and your feelings off just like that-but you know that I’ve never been able to be that kind of person. I won’t be able to stand myself if I know I’ve made someone hurt, and then just blew them off easily. I can’t do that to anyone-even someone as annoying as you.” He answered, honestly.
Kibum nodded at this. “I know this. And that’s why I love you even when you hurt me…..I know you’ll make it right. But….you do realize that if you keep it up with these hugs like this…I won’t complain….it’s just that they could be read wrongly. Like you’re still trying to deny the fact that you’re madly in love with me. Well, that is, if that’s not what you’re trying to express.” He added, smirking more to himself.
Jonghyun’s eyes went wide as he suddenly realized how close and intimate the hug had become, before quickly pushing Kibum away from him, keeping him a good arm’s length’s away. “OKAY! Well, if you’re not crying anymore…there’s absolutely no reason for me for comfort you (hugging is comforting, nothing more), and I can take this time to lecture and scold you instead!” He said quickly, as he reset his feet firmly in the ground to get a better stance for himself. “IT’S NOT OKAY TO THROW ROCKS AT PEOPLES’ GIRLFRIENDS’ FACES!!!!” He finally screeched.
Kibum only crossed his arms again and rolled his eyes in response.
~~~~~~~~~
Minho sighed as he glanced up from where he had been sitting. He wondered why he had so foolishly done what he had just done-running from his last period class at school, to the dorm hoping that what Kibum had written in the note he had received was true. It was Tuesday, which meant that he didn’t have a single period with the other boy, and he hadn’t seen the other since four in the morning, when he had finally managed to convince himself to look away from the sight of Kibum sleeping comfortably with Jonghyun’s jacket and fall asleep himself. Now it was already dark again in the sky outside, and the older of the two was nowhere to be seen. Minho should have figured that this would happen. He knew that it would only be a matter of time before Jonghyun changed his mind and took Kibum back, even though Minho had thought-no, hoped-that it would take longer. But this was Kibum that we were talking about. How could Jonghyun not want that back? Minho would have to deal with it sooner than he thought.
Please wait for me at the dorm-I want you make you your favorite dinner. I love you,
-~*~Key~*~.
Minho sighed hard against the hand he had been leaning his chin against once before standing up and walking towards the bathroom to take a shower. He now wondered when it was that he actually started allowing himself to become foolishly hopeful and expect a night alone with Kibum, just the two of them again. This would definitely be something impossible. Why wouldn’t he allow himself to learn that? He sighed slightly.
~~~
As Minho stepped out of the shower and stepped into some clean house clothes, he forced himself not to believe that he could smell food cooking in the kitchen. Why would Kibum come back from being with Jonghyun all of a sudden and cook food for him? He didn’t want to smile as he pushed open the bathroom door and peeked through the hallway into the kitchen, but it was unstoppable as he found his eyes fall upon soft figure of the older boy against the steam that was leaking out of the bathroom, into the hallway. He sighed slightly as his smile fell from his lips, and he walked slowly into the hallway, leaning against the doorframe and stared into the kitchen at Kibum, who was fluttering between the counters and stove.
Kibum smiled contently as he glanced down at the cooking, placing the back of his wrist on his hips and admiring the well-made dinner of Minho’s favorite food. Suddenly, he heard a soft exhale coming from the hallway, and he could tell without turning who it was behind him. He smiled lighter before turning towards the other boy.
“Oh, Minho-ah! You’re done with your shower now? Did you have a nice one?” He asked, as he walked forwards a little bit. “I’m sorry I’m home so late-it’s just that we ran out of rice so I thought that I would stop by the grocery store after school today, but there was some confusion getting there-long story short, I was held up for a long time. I’m sorry for not calling you to tell you where I was until now.” He added.
Minho stopped himself from showing the obvious relief that plastered itself to his face as he heard the reason for Kibum’s lateness. So Jonghyun really hadn’t changed his mind already, and took him away from him? He softened his breath before walking into the kitchen slowly.
“No. Don’t be sorry, Key. Just as long as you were safe at the store by yourself. The last thing I’d ever be able to do is be able to deal with you getting into trouble just so that you could make dinner for me-even though I really do appreciate it.” He answered, after a moment.
Kibum smiled as Minho reached him, but glanced over his shoulder and grabbed a dish towel before walking the rest of the way to Minho, and stood on his toes to reach the top of Minho’s head to rub his short black hair dry. “You worry about me more than my own Umma does, Minho-ah.” He said, smiling. “I’m fine going to the store by myself-I’m a big boy now. And, anyway, I couldn’t make your favorite food without rice, now, could I? Don’t worry about me. Let hurry and get your hair dry so you can eat and actually taste my wonderful cooking. It’s going to get cold.” He ordered, getting a soft “mmn” from Minho as the taller boy ducked his head so Kibum could reach him better.
It was only a moment before the short hair on top of Minho’s head was dry, and Kibum made a light hum to tell Minho he was done, before starting to move his hands away. However, the moment that his hands began to move away from Minho’s head, Minho suddenly caught his forearm before lightly running his finger down his arm until he managed to fit them into Kibum’s hand. “Thank you. Key. You making me dinner like this, and even making something I really like-it means so much to me. Thank you. For everything.” He said, sincerity burning in his eyes as he looked straight into Kibum’s eyes.
Kibum stayed quiet and completely still in Minho’s grasp for a moment and just looked up at the taller boy for almost a minute before finally smiling again and squeezing Minho’s hand weakly to make the taller boy release him so he could scamper off to get dinner ready again. “D-don’t be so grateful all the time, Minho-ah, and come and eat something!” He sang quickly as he reached to grab two plates from the cupboard, but as he pulled away, found himself thinking, “What was that?? Seriously, what was that? S-since when did…..why when Minho-ah’s hand ran down my arm…why’d my face suddenly go hot? Why did I suddenly feel so….weird? Since when did Minho-ah start getting so intense? I’ll…never understand…” He thought slowly, trying not to feel too stressed.
The rest of the night was spent together. Kibum was loud and talkative through the whole dinner as always, and Minho was silent and sincere. Kibum talked about all things under the sun, but purposely made sure to only mention Jonghyun once through the entire time. This dinner was made for Minho, and only for Minho. He was most important right then. No matter how much Kibum loved Jonghyun and was happy about this progress that day, he loved Minho too. It was important for Minho to know that.
Once dinner was finished and desserts had been eaten, Kibum smiled at the thankful Minho before taking both of their plates and excusing himself to start on the dishes, filling the sink with soap and bending under the sink to grab rubber gloves so his skin wouldn’t dry out. As he was unsuccessful he pouted his lips slightly but went to work anyway, sticking his hands into the sudsy water. “Ughh, my skin’s going to get dry…” He thought, as he glanced towards the clock to check the time.
Suddenly, Kibum froze completely as he felt his hand being caught and stopped from dunking back into the soapy water again. He swallowed slowly before glancing back over his shoulder to look at Minho, who was suddenly so close behind him that Kibum’s shoulders were almost pressed into his chest. “Mi-Minho-ah?” Kibum asked quietly, after a moment.
Minho seemed to notice their closeness as well, and took his hand back before bowing his head respectfully. Perhaps he hadn’t meant to suddenly become so close to the other boy all of a sudden. He had always been shy and reserved-he wasn’t sure what brought him to suddenly stand so closely behind Kibum like that. He glanced down at the ground before half smiling. “You already made dinner for me tonight. You don’t have to do the dishes too. Let me do that. You can go take a shower, or whatever you like. I’ll do it.” He said, moving to Kibum’s side to try to take over his job.
Kibum stopped again for a moment before finally smiling lightly and moving back to Minho’s side, bumping him with his hip to get him out of the way. “I want to take care of everything for you tonight, and apologize for my lack of consideration. Don’t go saying that it’s all me working hard, it’s all to thank you anyway.” He answered, smiling contently like the stubborn diva that he was.
Minho also smiled at this, but stayed persistent. “You have nothing to apologize for. Anyway, I help you, you help me. That was our agreement from the beginning of this all, wasn’t it? If you won’t let me do it for you, let me at least help you.”He answered, after a moment.
Kibum smiled again before nodding happily. “Alright! If you want to help, help you may. Just don’t say I didn’t resist at first. As long as I feel that I’ve done enough to make up for being inconsiderate to you in the last few days.” He said, graciously and without complaint moving aside to taking over the drying position and give Minho the washing job.
Minho smiled, content with his job, and began washing the dishes wordlessly for a few moments as he listened sincerely to Kibum’s constant and mindless jabber, before suddenly getting an idea. Kibum, despite being the diva that he was, had seemed to have always used to scream and play with Jonghyun happily. Kibum seemed to love playing with Jonghyun before-was it Minho’s always seriousness the reason why Kibum had never noticed him in the ways he had noticed Jonghyun before? Minho half smiled to himself before scooping a handful of soft white bubbles into his palm and bringing it to his mouth before gently blowing it, causing for them to blow lightly onto Kibum’s hair.
Kibum’s gaze snapped up from drying the plate he held in his hands, before wheeling around and staring Minho down quickly. “Yahh!! My hair!” He shouted quickly, fluffing his fabulous hair around. “Minho-ah! You! Omo! C’mere, I’m totally going to get you back!!” He snapped, loudly.
Minho smiled and laughed quietly before stepping to the side, away from Kibum’s angry fists. This, however, only caused for Kibum to shout loudly again and leap at him, jumping onto his back quickly. Minho faked an attempt to escape, but caught and supported Kibum fully as he latched himself onto the taller boy’s back, smiling with his shy and yet soft smile as the other boy began laughing, trying to get his revenge on him by scrubbing a few handfuls of suds into his hair.
“Alright! Alright. You caught me. I’m sorry.” Minho attempted as Kibum, quite resembling a monkey, climbed all over his back trying to give him a Mohawk with some soap he had managed to scoop up from the sink. “A little soap won’t ruin your perfect hair. It’s always perfect anyway. Besides, you’re beautiful no matter what your hair looks like anyway.” Suddenly, the moment the words left his mouth, it dawned on Minho that he had actually said the secret thought that he had thought for so long, and that despite his always shyness Kibum had heard everything that he felt.
Kibum stopped attacking Minho’s head, and sat completely still, still supporting himself by hanging by his arms, which were tied above Minho’s shoulders. He seemed to remain silent for a long moment as he thought about what Minho had just said. For all of the years that he had known Minho, Minho hardly ever said things like that unless he was comforting Kibum or reassuring him of how Jonghyun would take him back. Kibum had always just figured it was due to Minho’s shy and quiet nature that he would never say an embarrassing compliment to him unless under the said situations, and when the words came out honestly without Minho’s shyness…it was just….different. Why was it that Minho seemed so different to him that night? He glanced down slowly for just another moment before doing his best to shrug it off and finally perked back up.
“Of course I look beautiful! I always look beautiful! I’m the most beautiful creature who has ever roamed this green earth, why need to tell me?” He asked quickly and confidently after a moment of regaining himself again.
Minho half smiled as he heard Kibum’s normal cockiness. He didn’t become upset with him when he complimented him like that? It didn’t make things awkward between the two of them? Kibum seemed to like to play around with him too…if he kept it up, would they be able to be comfortable playing with each other? He smiled a little lighter before sighing slightly and glancing towards the kitchen again. “Ah. Yes. But if only you were as modest as you are beautiful…” He muttered, after a moment.
Kibum looked up quickly and furiously, although he was still smiling widely. “Whhaaat???” He screamed quickly. “Are you saying I’m not modest!? I’m totally modest, okay!? I have you know that I’ve been completely faithful to Jonghyun from the day I was born, okay!? Just ‘cuz I know how to appreciate good looking men, and good looking men know how to appreciate me, doesn’t mean that I’m not modest!” He snapped quickly.
Minho let out a breath before nodding and supporting Kibum fully again. “I know, I know. I was just playing with you earlier. You have good morals, Key, and your dedication to Jonghyun is something that can never been questioned. You’re a very strong person, Key. You’ve been strong through so many hard times, and never once completely cracked and went through them, you have every right to be cocky.” He answered honestly, after a long moment.
Kibum was once again stricken silent again and he stayed still for just a moment before going back to smiling, but this time lighter and more beautiful than before, as he wrapped his arms tighter around Minho’s shoulders, and hugged him tightly. “You know I couldn’t have done it without you, Minho. Give yourself some credit too.” He muttered, placing his cheek against Minho’s back. “Even though I’m great and wonderful, I need you with me in order to keep it up sometimes. You know that without you, I’d never get to be here. That I’d never be able to stand and look Jonghyun in the eyes again if I didn’t know that I had you there behind me to support and comfort me.” He admitted.
Minho could only flush deeply at these words and smile a little lighter as he shifted Kibum more onto his back to show that he was supporting him fully. That night, Minho didn’t have to wake up alone at three am and watch Kibum snuggling asleep with Jonghyun’s jacket completely forgetting about the other boy. That night Minho didn’t even have to wake up to find Kibum sitting up in bed panting and crying about his dreams with Jonghyun. That night Minho fell asleep with Kibum snuggled close against his chest, and even as the smaller boy woke in the night with a sharp gasp after his dream, he only grasped Minho closer, and eventually fell back asleep with the feeling of Minho’s fingers running through his hair. Neither of them felt scared or lonely that night, because they had each other.
~~~
Meanwhile, in a dorm of a less comfortable mood….Jonghyun groaned as he rolled around on his couch staring at the clock. He watched as the hand on his clock snapped and hit the twelve, revealing that it was already one in the morning, before letting out a sigh. “It’s…already one, and he never showed up…” He whispered to himself as he swished what was left of his cold coffee around in his cup. “…does this mean that he’s not coming at all? Isn’t this a good thing? Even though it’s an honest relief that he’s not here….here I am sitting up late at night worrying about him. What if he tried coming here in the middle of the night and ended up getting kidnapped or something? Ohhhh god! I’ll never be able to sleep tonight! Stupid Kibum…” He groaned, tossing himself backwards like a breaching whale onto his couch.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Part ONE? HERE! shinetae.livejournal.com/6473.html
Thanks for reading!!!!!!! All comments and reads are very important! Please comment and tell me how you think the story's going?
YES! I got the next chapter already and will post it tomorrow! It seems like forever since I posted this fanfiction, but it's because it takes quite a long time to write. I really hope you enjoy it! Oh, and don't worry, this won't be an angst Broken!JongKey, there's an even chance between Jonghyun and Minho, but don't worry about all this angst that's in so many fictions these days! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING! I LOVE YOU ALL! I promise you that the story's progressing quicker from here on!