Closing Walls and Ticking Clocks
ʚ Title: Closing Walls and Ticking Clocks for doeiros ♡
ʚ Pairing(s): Kyungsoo/Chanyeol
ʚ Rating: PG-13
ʚ Warnings: none actually. hahaha.
ʚ Word count: 3,342 words
ʚ Summary: The world is ending but Kyungsoo isn't scared.
ʚ Author’s notes/Messages for the recipient: Dear doeiros, I'm sorry if I butchered your prompt. TT√TT. I'll make it up to you after the exchange!!!
Closing Walls and Ticking Clocks
∞Day 14
The night they announced the end of the world had been a particularly regular night for Kyungsoo. He had come home from work tired and exchanged his formal clothes for his worn out pajamas. He ordered some Chinese take out, turned the television on and switched to the weekly entertainment showed he frequently watched. The Chinese take out arrived half an hour later and he'd sat down in front of the TV, eating. The show was interrupted by a news flash.
It is reported that there have been freak storms all over the world. Scientists are currently investigating on the weird phenomena. Meanwhile, we advice everyone to stay safe and remain alert.
The program reverts back to the entertainment program.
As if on cue, it starts raining. Hard. The rain pounds on the rooftop of his apartment and drowns out the voices on the TV. Kyungsoo sighs and finishes his food.
The rain still pounds as he gets ready for bed. The temperature had dropped low and he's shivering as he walks to his small bed. At least it's comfortable under the covers, making his eyes droop sleepily. In no time, he's off to dreamland. That night, he dreams about lightning and great floods. It washes away the world into a watercolor mess of blacks and dirty colors. And he's holding on to something tight as the current drifts him violently.
The foreshadowing couldn't have been better.
∞Day 13
The sounds of clashing thunder wakes him up. He abruptly sits straight and clutches the covers, the rapid beat of his heart echoing in his ears. The whole building is silent, except for the drum of rain. He calms himself down and lies back down again. He's closed his eyes and relaxed when the booming sound comes again.
It's not thunder. It's a knock. A particularly loud knock. As if someone was pounding on the door. He walks to the front door clutching his blanket, and peers through the peephole in his door.
It's.. A guy. A drenched guy. That's looking straight at him in the eye. Or so. Kyungsoo isn't sure if the guy sees him. Nevertheless, he opens the door but doesn't open the chain lock.
The guy up close is taller than him. Drops of water cling on his lashes that frame his wide eyes and his brown hair sticks to his forehead. His large ears and nose are red with cold. His clothes appears to be soaked to the end and clings to his body. And he's shivering like a leaf in the wind.
"P-please. Let me i-in." His voice is deep and although it almost sounds scary, Kyungsoo's overcome with pity and unlocks the door. The boy stumbles in and Kyungsoo locks the door behind him. He immediately puts water in a kettle and boils it. The boy stands awkwardly in a corner, hugging himself and watching Kyungsoo rush around. He throws a towel to the guy and the latter nods thank you to him.
"I'm Park Chanyeol." Kyungsoo learns as he and the boy sit down on the table. Chanyeol sips on his hot chocolate and blinks at Kyungsoo. "Thank you for letting me in."
"You're welcome." He's lent Chanyeol a knit sweater and a pair of woolen pajamas that's both too short on him. He himself had changed to the same outfit. The temperature was so cold it was almost like winter. "What actually brings you here?"
"The world is ending." Chanyeol casually says as if it was not a trivial matter and they were just talking about cats. Kyungsoo stared at him.
"It's true. You think that freak storms and those weird fire hurricanes happen just because of weird weather? The predictions are true. To storm or fire the world must fall."
"Are you actually quoting Percy Jackson at me?" Kyungsoo smiles at him and Chanyeol puts a hand on his nape.
"Um.. Possibly. But you believe me don't you?" Chanyeol's eyes had widened even more and he looks like Dobby the house elf in Harry Potter.
Kyungsoo doesn't answer and sips at his hot chocolate. He's half reluctant to push this delirious guy outside again but he can't deny he would like some company.
∞Day 12
The next day is much more warmer and the rain had stopped. Kyungsoo had let Chanyeol stay with him partly because he'd warmed up nicely with the big guy and his loneliness had faded a little, then partly because Chanyeol told him (albeit a little too sheepishly, and his hand on his nape) that he had nowhere to go to. He'd said that he will let Chanyeol stay as long as he helps around as much as possible.
Kyungsoo's company had phoned him that they're giving all the employees a week off work since there were weird storms at uncertain times and they wanted all the employees safe.
They lied on their stomach on the floor of the apartment, playing Scrabble and talking about a lot of stuff.
"Seriously? Snape? That's a name Chanyeol, not a word." He says to the taller one, but Chanyeol sticks out his tongue at Kyungsoo instead and puts more points on his score.
"What are you, four?" He sneers and erases the points. Chanyeol makes a wild grab for the pencil, thus hitting their Scrabble set and resetting the game.
"No. I'm like," he counts on his fingers. "23 or something."
"Yeah, you act like you're four so suck it up then."
"God, you're mean." Chanyeol pouts as him.
"I've been told." Kyungsoo can't help but smile at the latter's childishness. He puts the Scrabble set in the box and goes to the shelf to keep it. Chanyeol follows him like an overgrown puppy.
"Whoa, you're like a genius or something." Chanyeol says as he sees the millions of books in the shelf.
"This was the one you mentioned to me yesterday right?" He points to the Percy Jackson series and Kyungsoo nods. Chanyeol pulls out the Last Olympian.
"You don't know that?" He taps the book.
"Nah."
"Then how did you know the quote then?"
"Heard it from a friend. I have this weird talent that I memorize every detail I heard or read."
They read all day until the day fades to night.
∞Day 11
Scientists speculated that there is something wrong with the earth's core that result in weird weather all over the world. Currently, they're working on finding out how to solve the serious problem we are now facing.
"It's just like in The Core you know." Chanyeol explains. "The core of the earth starts to be weird and all this stuff happens. And the world almost ends if not for the help these smart guys who had an idea to cure the core."
Kyungsoo's left in thinking. If the world was really ending, would there be good and smart guys to save the day?
Probably not.
∞Day 10
Scientists say that there is no more possible way to solve our global problem. It's official. The world is ending as we know it.
The news shocks Kyungsoo that he dropped the glass cup he's washing. The glass meets the floor in a flurry of fragments.
Chanyeol cheers however, throwing his fist in the air and cheering.
"Why the hell are you cheering?" He asks the taller one.
"Cause I'm right!"
A flash of lightning interrupts Chanyeol's cheer and both of them looks outside. The sky flashed bright. A scream comes from their neighbor as another flash appears near the apartments.
Kyungsoo gestures for Chanyeol to turn off the TV and plug all the appliances off.
"I'm actually shocked. And scared." He whispers, and he can feel himself going pale. Chanyeol walks to him and holds his hands tight.
"Don't worry. I might feel the elation of being right but I'm scared too."
They both hid under the covers. Once in a while, they can hear something being hit and they wonder of this might be the end. But the fear somehow subsides because as Chanyeol had said, they're not alone.
∞Day 9
The weather for the day is hot. The two had the electric fan switched to the highest level it can get and they put an ice filled bucket in front of it so the chill can blow over them.
Chanyeol takes a huge bite out of the watermelon and chews on it purposely. Kyungsoo watches in interest.
"Are you eating that?" Chanyeol points to Kyungsoo's own watermelon. He shakes his head and offers it to Chanyeol.
Watching Chanyeol eat is interesting. It keeps him entertainment on a boring day like this. In a weird creepy way.
"Stop staring at me funny." Chanyeol chides at him and throw a couple of watermelon seeds at him. Kyungsoo rolls his eyes but throw some back anyway.
Like four year olds, they fight with the seeds and in they end up dirtying the apartment and knocking the ice bucket and spilling the ice cubes all over the floor.
Together, they survey the mess and laugh. Admittedly, he never had the most fun like this since he was a kid. He was thankful for the company and the fun.
Especially because one has a little to thank for these days.
∞Day 8
Kyungsoo's legs are exhausted at pedaling his bike all day and he almost collapses as he stops in front of a convenience store. He carelessly dumps his bike out front and drags himself inside the air conditioned shop.
The shop is deserted, the only person inside is Baekhyun, the resident cashier. He was chewing gum noisily and his face expressed the most bored expression it can ever muster. The shop's shelves are almost empty, most of the items are missing. He grabs five onion chips and three kimchi flavored ones. He then scours the sweets section for his favorite jellybeans and Chanyeol's chocolate bars. All the while, he can feel Baekhyun's eyes on him.
"How's business?" He asks curtly, putting the items down carefully in front of the cashier. Baekhyun eyes him dramatically from under the mop of hair covering his eyes.
"You know. Shite. Crap. Damned. The so called apocalypse has taken a toll on everyone. Even boss has let everyone get what they need.'" He puts the items in a bag without even scanning them. He talks again, imitating his boss' gruff voice. "'It's all going to waste, so might as well give it to you lot.' The privelege has therefore extended to you then. Enjoy. Oh, and cigarette?" He extends a packet of Marlboros at Kyungsoo.
"Umm.. Thanks. And no thanks." He pushes the box back to Baekhyun and gives the cashier a wave.
He mounts his bike again after putting his wares on the bike's basket. As he bikes around Seoul, he sees the littered remains of the storm yesterday. Almost no one is outside and if he spots someone, they're usually hurrying as if a storm is about to start anytime.
Chanyeol greets him by the door and ushers him quickly inside.
"The news say that they spotted a fire devil around Insadong and it destroyed a couple of properties. There are five people who were found dead and a number of people wounded."
Kyungsoo nods and opens the onion chips. Chanyeol steals the bag from him.
"Hey, whaddifichdissisarrkeiasfolf?" Chanyeol says with his mouth full. Some chip bits fly out of his mouth.
"What?" Kyungsoo looks disgusted.
"What if this is all Gaea's fault? You know, earth mother and all."
"That's just mythology you know." But somehow Kyungsoo wishes it was all that simple.
∞Day 7
Work has been stopped officially. It's boring at home so Kyungsoo and Chanyeol spend their time building forts. In the kitchen.
"So we don't have to walk far for food." Chanyeol says.
The sheets hanged on the table corners and counters, supported by tape and heavy objects and pillows were scattered inside. It's pretty low so Chanyeol has to stoop down.
Outside, there's a raging storm again. The thunder and lightning deduced Kyungsoo to a shivering mess of scared, but here with Chanyeol's arms around him it feels safe.
∞Day 6
The movie is About Time. They watch the leading man repeat time over and over again just to right his mistakes.
"If I had those powers I would surely exhaust myself using them from all the things I want to change." Chanyeol huffed. "And look at him! He's just using it to rewind time for sex!"
"God Chanyeol. Can't you see the romance in that?"
Chanyeol snorts.
∞Day 5
His parents called him from his home. His mother was crying and his father's voice sounded sad.
"How are you Kyungsoo?" His father asks.
"I'm fine. How about you and mom?"
"We're managing but it's hard. Take care okay? We're worried about you."
"Yes. I'll take care. Do the same."
"Just remember son. We are so proud of you and... We love you. Take care."
"I.. Love you too." The call ends and there's tears in Kyungsoo's eyes.
"Who was that?" Chanyeol looks up from his Rubik's cube.
"Mom and Dad." He wipes his eyes. They sit in silence.
Chanyeol breaks it. "My home was boring. Tragic and lonely. I was lonely at home."
Chanyeol's face remained blank. It was kind of unnerving. "My parents... They made me leave. They said I'm not needed in the family."
"It's pathetic you see. They're not fit to take care of me. That's why they're the useless ones. I will never miss them."
"I hate your parents." Kyungsoo blurts out. It sounds bad to say it but it's true. What kind of parents are they to send their son away? And Kyungsoo is thankful to have loving parents.
"I hate them too. But I have you now right?" Chanyeol beams and Kyungsoo nods.
∞Day 4
"Let's party." Chanyeol stands up and gets his phone. He plugs it on a speaker.
Girl's Day's Oh My God plays.
"This would totally redefine party til the world ends." Chanyeol says and he dances to the track, not caring if the steps are wrong. He also sings along in his deep voice and it coerces giggles from Kyungsoo.
At the chorus, Kyungsoo jumps up to dance along because it's possibly the only step he knows.
They play girl group songs throughout the day to night and even up to the sunrise.
∞Day 3
It feels like a nice night.
Sure, there's the impending doom of the apocalypse but it feels like a night night as Kyungsoo cooks his signature dishes. It's going to be a slight feast. For no occassion.
He cooks kimchi spaghetti and some galbi. He makes sidedishes and some nice ramen.
Chanyeol and Kyungsoo ate with pleasant talk that night. They forget the impending doom and they're almost done when the lights flicker and they hear a loud crash outside. Chanyeol rushes to see what's happening and Kyungsoo rushes to clean up. There's a crash again and Kyungsoo yelps, almost dropping a plate.
"It's just the neighbors throwing everything out." Chanyrol reassures him.
Their sleep tonight is full of worries and thrashings around on the bed. It's a fitful night's sleep.
∞Day 2
The world is shaking. Kyungsoo struggles to keep upright and he trips on every single thing.
"Shit!" He falls again and almost gets squished by a falling lamp post.
"Get on my back. Hurry!" Chanyeol tells him and they rush to an open field where other people were located.
The earthquake had started a few minutes ago and they rushed out of the apartment as fast as they can. They would find shelter as soon as it's over.
×
It's a tight space in the small house they took refuge on but they're thankful. They huddled under the sheets.
Im scared of dying. He's sure he hears Chanyeol say it but in the haze of sleep, all he feels are Chanyeol's cold hand gripping on his and reassurance.
∞Day 1
"Kyungsoo! Kyungsoo!" Chanyeol's booming voice caused Kyungsoo to open his eyes in alarm and sit up. Chanyeol ushers him up and outside the door. The floor's already covered in water.
"Why? What's happening?" Kyungsoo says.
"It's flooding and we have to go find higher ground. Come on! Hurry!" Chanyeol holds his hand and they run. It's difficult because of the knee deep water and the scattered remains of last nights earthquake. Not to mention the cold rain.
They stop just outside a slightly tall building and catch their breath.
"I have something to tell you." Chanyeol had never looked so serious to this moment. "Actually, make that I have a lot to tell you."
"What?" Kyungsoo's hand tightens around Chanyeol's. They walk the stairs up, two steps at a time. Chanyeol doesn't answer him yet.
They reach the top. Kyungsoo looks down and feels queasy at the sight below him. As said, the building is only slightly tall but if you were to fall down, you would die immediately.
"I'm a chronic liar." Chanyeol starts. Kyungsoo freezes. "I don't have parents and they didn't really throw me out. I just escaped from some orphanage and I don't have work and I'm homeless. It started raining and your house was the nearest. I had read Percy Jackson once. I don't really remember everything I read or hear."
Kyungsoo doesn't speak. Chanyeol continues.
"I think you make great kimchi spaghetti and I hate spaghetti but you made me eat it. I don't like thunder and lightning. I'm a fucking coward. I know I told you I'm a chronic liar but all that I said was true." He takes Kyungsoo's hand. "Everything I did when I was with you is true and I enjoyed every single moment until the end."
"And I think I like you."
Chanyeol squeezes Kyungsoo's hand. Kyungsoo should pull his hand away and push Chanyeol down to his end but he doesn't. He squeezes back. Because he knows, feels that everything is true.
"I believe you." And he smiles at Chanyeol. The last one he knows he'll ever give.
×
The flood doesn't come until they least expect it under the cover of sleep and a temporary roof above their head. Kyungsoo wakes up to the roar of water in his ears and a hand holding tightly to him. The currents wash over him like an a leaf on a river.
Kyungsoo as a child never had swimming lessons. He had never set foot on a body of water too long. And here he is now, helpless. He can't even turn his head to see Chanyeol. But he still feels the hand the gropes on his too hard, too afraid to let go.
Kyungsoo feels the burn in his lungs from the lack of air and this is it. His eyes sting and he feels numb.
Is this the end?
Reset the time.
Earth Science class is a bore. Even if Kyungsoo is a top student it still bores him. His eyes are half closed and half of him is approaching dreamland.
"Goddamit Kyungsoo! I'm never letting you borrow my notes!" Chanyeol hisses in his ear. His eyes flap open.
"What?" He says sleepily and Chanyeol flicks his nose discreetly.
×
"I swear to God, if you don't stop staying up late to read I will burn every book you have." Chanyeol tells him in a joking manner. Kyungsoo scowls.
"Percy Jackson is worth my sleep time. If I could I would never put him down."
"Gay for a book character eh?" Chanyeol raises his eyebrows in a suggestive manner and Kyungsoo elbows him.
"Hey, I just remembered a strange dream." Kyungsoo starts to narrate to Chanyeol about the dream. "It was the end of the world and you and I were taken by some great flood or something."
Chanyeol snickers. "The effects of reading some tragic story before bedtime."
Kyungsoo rolls his eyes. "Oh and you also confessed that you liked me."
A loud guffaw can be heard throughout the hallway.
"Please. You aren't my type unless you had boobs." Chanyeol snorts.
Kyungsoo laughs but deep inside of him, he feels it is true. That somehow all of that really happened.
He shrugs the feeling away.
ʚ Pairing(s): Kyungsoo/Chanyeol
ʚ Rating: PG-13
ʚ Warnings: none actually. hahaha.
ʚ Word count: 3,342 words
ʚ Summary: The world is ending but Kyungsoo isn't scared.
ʚ Author’s notes/Messages for the recipient: Dear doeiros, I'm sorry if I butchered your prompt. TT√TT. I'll make it up to you after the exchange!!!
Closing Walls and Ticking Clocks
∞Day 14
The night they announced the end of the world had been a particularly regular night for Kyungsoo. He had come home from work tired and exchanged his formal clothes for his worn out pajamas. He ordered some Chinese take out, turned the television on and switched to the weekly entertainment showed he frequently watched. The Chinese take out arrived half an hour later and he'd sat down in front of the TV, eating. The show was interrupted by a news flash.
It is reported that there have been freak storms all over the world. Scientists are currently investigating on the weird phenomena. Meanwhile, we advice everyone to stay safe and remain alert.
The program reverts back to the entertainment program.
As if on cue, it starts raining. Hard. The rain pounds on the rooftop of his apartment and drowns out the voices on the TV. Kyungsoo sighs and finishes his food.
The rain still pounds as he gets ready for bed. The temperature had dropped low and he's shivering as he walks to his small bed. At least it's comfortable under the covers, making his eyes droop sleepily. In no time, he's off to dreamland. That night, he dreams about lightning and great floods. It washes away the world into a watercolor mess of blacks and dirty colors. And he's holding on to something tight as the current drifts him violently.
The foreshadowing couldn't have been better.
∞Day 13
The sounds of clashing thunder wakes him up. He abruptly sits straight and clutches the covers, the rapid beat of his heart echoing in his ears. The whole building is silent, except for the drum of rain. He calms himself down and lies back down again. He's closed his eyes and relaxed when the booming sound comes again.
It's not thunder. It's a knock. A particularly loud knock. As if someone was pounding on the door. He walks to the front door clutching his blanket, and peers through the peephole in his door.
It's.. A guy. A drenched guy. That's looking straight at him in the eye. Or so. Kyungsoo isn't sure if the guy sees him. Nevertheless, he opens the door but doesn't open the chain lock.
The guy up close is taller than him. Drops of water cling on his lashes that frame his wide eyes and his brown hair sticks to his forehead. His large ears and nose are red with cold. His clothes appears to be soaked to the end and clings to his body. And he's shivering like a leaf in the wind.
"P-please. Let me i-in." His voice is deep and although it almost sounds scary, Kyungsoo's overcome with pity and unlocks the door. The boy stumbles in and Kyungsoo locks the door behind him. He immediately puts water in a kettle and boils it. The boy stands awkwardly in a corner, hugging himself and watching Kyungsoo rush around. He throws a towel to the guy and the latter nods thank you to him.
"I'm Park Chanyeol." Kyungsoo learns as he and the boy sit down on the table. Chanyeol sips on his hot chocolate and blinks at Kyungsoo. "Thank you for letting me in."
"You're welcome." He's lent Chanyeol a knit sweater and a pair of woolen pajamas that's both too short on him. He himself had changed to the same outfit. The temperature was so cold it was almost like winter. "What actually brings you here?"
"The world is ending." Chanyeol casually says as if it was not a trivial matter and they were just talking about cats. Kyungsoo stared at him.
"It's true. You think that freak storms and those weird fire hurricanes happen just because of weird weather? The predictions are true. To storm or fire the world must fall."
"Are you actually quoting Percy Jackson at me?" Kyungsoo smiles at him and Chanyeol puts a hand on his nape.
"Um.. Possibly. But you believe me don't you?" Chanyeol's eyes had widened even more and he looks like Dobby the house elf in Harry Potter.
Kyungsoo doesn't answer and sips at his hot chocolate. He's half reluctant to push this delirious guy outside again but he can't deny he would like some company.
∞Day 12
The next day is much more warmer and the rain had stopped. Kyungsoo had let Chanyeol stay with him partly because he'd warmed up nicely with the big guy and his loneliness had faded a little, then partly because Chanyeol told him (albeit a little too sheepishly, and his hand on his nape) that he had nowhere to go to. He'd said that he will let Chanyeol stay as long as he helps around as much as possible.
Kyungsoo's company had phoned him that they're giving all the employees a week off work since there were weird storms at uncertain times and they wanted all the employees safe.
They lied on their stomach on the floor of the apartment, playing Scrabble and talking about a lot of stuff.
"Seriously? Snape? That's a name Chanyeol, not a word." He says to the taller one, but Chanyeol sticks out his tongue at Kyungsoo instead and puts more points on his score.
"What are you, four?" He sneers and erases the points. Chanyeol makes a wild grab for the pencil, thus hitting their Scrabble set and resetting the game.
"No. I'm like," he counts on his fingers. "23 or something."
"Yeah, you act like you're four so suck it up then."
"God, you're mean." Chanyeol pouts as him.
"I've been told." Kyungsoo can't help but smile at the latter's childishness. He puts the Scrabble set in the box and goes to the shelf to keep it. Chanyeol follows him like an overgrown puppy.
"Whoa, you're like a genius or something." Chanyeol says as he sees the millions of books in the shelf.
"This was the one you mentioned to me yesterday right?" He points to the Percy Jackson series and Kyungsoo nods. Chanyeol pulls out the Last Olympian.
"You don't know that?" He taps the book.
"Nah."
"Then how did you know the quote then?"
"Heard it from a friend. I have this weird talent that I memorize every detail I heard or read."
They read all day until the day fades to night.
∞Day 11
Scientists speculated that there is something wrong with the earth's core that result in weird weather all over the world. Currently, they're working on finding out how to solve the serious problem we are now facing.
"It's just like in The Core you know." Chanyeol explains. "The core of the earth starts to be weird and all this stuff happens. And the world almost ends if not for the help these smart guys who had an idea to cure the core."
Kyungsoo's left in thinking. If the world was really ending, would there be good and smart guys to save the day?
Probably not.
∞Day 10
Scientists say that there is no more possible way to solve our global problem. It's official. The world is ending as we know it.
The news shocks Kyungsoo that he dropped the glass cup he's washing. The glass meets the floor in a flurry of fragments.
Chanyeol cheers however, throwing his fist in the air and cheering.
"Why the hell are you cheering?" He asks the taller one.
"Cause I'm right!"
A flash of lightning interrupts Chanyeol's cheer and both of them looks outside. The sky flashed bright. A scream comes from their neighbor as another flash appears near the apartments.
Kyungsoo gestures for Chanyeol to turn off the TV and plug all the appliances off.
"I'm actually shocked. And scared." He whispers, and he can feel himself going pale. Chanyeol walks to him and holds his hands tight.
"Don't worry. I might feel the elation of being right but I'm scared too."
They both hid under the covers. Once in a while, they can hear something being hit and they wonder of this might be the end. But the fear somehow subsides because as Chanyeol had said, they're not alone.
∞Day 9
The weather for the day is hot. The two had the electric fan switched to the highest level it can get and they put an ice filled bucket in front of it so the chill can blow over them.
Chanyeol takes a huge bite out of the watermelon and chews on it purposely. Kyungsoo watches in interest.
"Are you eating that?" Chanyeol points to Kyungsoo's own watermelon. He shakes his head and offers it to Chanyeol.
Watching Chanyeol eat is interesting. It keeps him entertainment on a boring day like this. In a weird creepy way.
"Stop staring at me funny." Chanyeol chides at him and throw a couple of watermelon seeds at him. Kyungsoo rolls his eyes but throw some back anyway.
Like four year olds, they fight with the seeds and in they end up dirtying the apartment and knocking the ice bucket and spilling the ice cubes all over the floor.
Together, they survey the mess and laugh. Admittedly, he never had the most fun like this since he was a kid. He was thankful for the company and the fun.
Especially because one has a little to thank for these days.
∞Day 8
Kyungsoo's legs are exhausted at pedaling his bike all day and he almost collapses as he stops in front of a convenience store. He carelessly dumps his bike out front and drags himself inside the air conditioned shop.
The shop is deserted, the only person inside is Baekhyun, the resident cashier. He was chewing gum noisily and his face expressed the most bored expression it can ever muster. The shop's shelves are almost empty, most of the items are missing. He grabs five onion chips and three kimchi flavored ones. He then scours the sweets section for his favorite jellybeans and Chanyeol's chocolate bars. All the while, he can feel Baekhyun's eyes on him.
"How's business?" He asks curtly, putting the items down carefully in front of the cashier. Baekhyun eyes him dramatically from under the mop of hair covering his eyes.
"You know. Shite. Crap. Damned. The so called apocalypse has taken a toll on everyone. Even boss has let everyone get what they need.'" He puts the items in a bag without even scanning them. He talks again, imitating his boss' gruff voice. "'It's all going to waste, so might as well give it to you lot.' The privelege has therefore extended to you then. Enjoy. Oh, and cigarette?" He extends a packet of Marlboros at Kyungsoo.
"Umm.. Thanks. And no thanks." He pushes the box back to Baekhyun and gives the cashier a wave.
He mounts his bike again after putting his wares on the bike's basket. As he bikes around Seoul, he sees the littered remains of the storm yesterday. Almost no one is outside and if he spots someone, they're usually hurrying as if a storm is about to start anytime.
Chanyeol greets him by the door and ushers him quickly inside.
"The news say that they spotted a fire devil around Insadong and it destroyed a couple of properties. There are five people who were found dead and a number of people wounded."
Kyungsoo nods and opens the onion chips. Chanyeol steals the bag from him.
"Hey, whaddifichdissisarrkeiasfolf?" Chanyeol says with his mouth full. Some chip bits fly out of his mouth.
"What?" Kyungsoo looks disgusted.
"What if this is all Gaea's fault? You know, earth mother and all."
"That's just mythology you know." But somehow Kyungsoo wishes it was all that simple.
∞Day 7
Work has been stopped officially. It's boring at home so Kyungsoo and Chanyeol spend their time building forts. In the kitchen.
"So we don't have to walk far for food." Chanyeol says.
The sheets hanged on the table corners and counters, supported by tape and heavy objects and pillows were scattered inside. It's pretty low so Chanyeol has to stoop down.
Outside, there's a raging storm again. The thunder and lightning deduced Kyungsoo to a shivering mess of scared, but here with Chanyeol's arms around him it feels safe.
∞Day 6
The movie is About Time. They watch the leading man repeat time over and over again just to right his mistakes.
"If I had those powers I would surely exhaust myself using them from all the things I want to change." Chanyeol huffed. "And look at him! He's just using it to rewind time for sex!"
"God Chanyeol. Can't you see the romance in that?"
Chanyeol snorts.
∞Day 5
His parents called him from his home. His mother was crying and his father's voice sounded sad.
"How are you Kyungsoo?" His father asks.
"I'm fine. How about you and mom?"
"We're managing but it's hard. Take care okay? We're worried about you."
"Yes. I'll take care. Do the same."
"Just remember son. We are so proud of you and... We love you. Take care."
"I.. Love you too." The call ends and there's tears in Kyungsoo's eyes.
"Who was that?" Chanyeol looks up from his Rubik's cube.
"Mom and Dad." He wipes his eyes. They sit in silence.
Chanyeol breaks it. "My home was boring. Tragic and lonely. I was lonely at home."
Chanyeol's face remained blank. It was kind of unnerving. "My parents... They made me leave. They said I'm not needed in the family."
"It's pathetic you see. They're not fit to take care of me. That's why they're the useless ones. I will never miss them."
"I hate your parents." Kyungsoo blurts out. It sounds bad to say it but it's true. What kind of parents are they to send their son away? And Kyungsoo is thankful to have loving parents.
"I hate them too. But I have you now right?" Chanyeol beams and Kyungsoo nods.
∞Day 4
"Let's party." Chanyeol stands up and gets his phone. He plugs it on a speaker.
Girl's Day's Oh My God plays.
"This would totally redefine party til the world ends." Chanyeol says and he dances to the track, not caring if the steps are wrong. He also sings along in his deep voice and it coerces giggles from Kyungsoo.
At the chorus, Kyungsoo jumps up to dance along because it's possibly the only step he knows.
They play girl group songs throughout the day to night and even up to the sunrise.
∞Day 3
It feels like a nice night.
Sure, there's the impending doom of the apocalypse but it feels like a night night as Kyungsoo cooks his signature dishes. It's going to be a slight feast. For no occassion.
He cooks kimchi spaghetti and some galbi. He makes sidedishes and some nice ramen.
Chanyeol and Kyungsoo ate with pleasant talk that night. They forget the impending doom and they're almost done when the lights flicker and they hear a loud crash outside. Chanyeol rushes to see what's happening and Kyungsoo rushes to clean up. There's a crash again and Kyungsoo yelps, almost dropping a plate.
"It's just the neighbors throwing everything out." Chanyrol reassures him.
Their sleep tonight is full of worries and thrashings around on the bed. It's a fitful night's sleep.
∞Day 2
The world is shaking. Kyungsoo struggles to keep upright and he trips on every single thing.
"Shit!" He falls again and almost gets squished by a falling lamp post.
"Get on my back. Hurry!" Chanyeol tells him and they rush to an open field where other people were located.
The earthquake had started a few minutes ago and they rushed out of the apartment as fast as they can. They would find shelter as soon as it's over.
×
It's a tight space in the small house they took refuge on but they're thankful. They huddled under the sheets.
Im scared of dying. He's sure he hears Chanyeol say it but in the haze of sleep, all he feels are Chanyeol's cold hand gripping on his and reassurance.
∞Day 1
"Kyungsoo! Kyungsoo!" Chanyeol's booming voice caused Kyungsoo to open his eyes in alarm and sit up. Chanyeol ushers him up and outside the door. The floor's already covered in water.
"Why? What's happening?" Kyungsoo says.
"It's flooding and we have to go find higher ground. Come on! Hurry!" Chanyeol holds his hand and they run. It's difficult because of the knee deep water and the scattered remains of last nights earthquake. Not to mention the cold rain.
They stop just outside a slightly tall building and catch their breath.
"I have something to tell you." Chanyeol had never looked so serious to this moment. "Actually, make that I have a lot to tell you."
"What?" Kyungsoo's hand tightens around Chanyeol's. They walk the stairs up, two steps at a time. Chanyeol doesn't answer him yet.
They reach the top. Kyungsoo looks down and feels queasy at the sight below him. As said, the building is only slightly tall but if you were to fall down, you would die immediately.
"I'm a chronic liar." Chanyeol starts. Kyungsoo freezes. "I don't have parents and they didn't really throw me out. I just escaped from some orphanage and I don't have work and I'm homeless. It started raining and your house was the nearest. I had read Percy Jackson once. I don't really remember everything I read or hear."
Kyungsoo doesn't speak. Chanyeol continues.
"I think you make great kimchi spaghetti and I hate spaghetti but you made me eat it. I don't like thunder and lightning. I'm a fucking coward. I know I told you I'm a chronic liar but all that I said was true." He takes Kyungsoo's hand. "Everything I did when I was with you is true and I enjoyed every single moment until the end."
"And I think I like you."
Chanyeol squeezes Kyungsoo's hand. Kyungsoo should pull his hand away and push Chanyeol down to his end but he doesn't. He squeezes back. Because he knows, feels that everything is true.
"I believe you." And he smiles at Chanyeol. The last one he knows he'll ever give.
×
The flood doesn't come until they least expect it under the cover of sleep and a temporary roof above their head. Kyungsoo wakes up to the roar of water in his ears and a hand holding tightly to him. The currents wash over him like an a leaf on a river.
Kyungsoo as a child never had swimming lessons. He had never set foot on a body of water too long. And here he is now, helpless. He can't even turn his head to see Chanyeol. But he still feels the hand the gropes on his too hard, too afraid to let go.
Kyungsoo feels the burn in his lungs from the lack of air and this is it. His eyes sting and he feels numb.
Is this the end?
Reset the time.
Earth Science class is a bore. Even if Kyungsoo is a top student it still bores him. His eyes are half closed and half of him is approaching dreamland.
"Goddamit Kyungsoo! I'm never letting you borrow my notes!" Chanyeol hisses in his ear. His eyes flap open.
"What?" He says sleepily and Chanyeol flicks his nose discreetly.
×
"I swear to God, if you don't stop staying up late to read I will burn every book you have." Chanyeol tells him in a joking manner. Kyungsoo scowls.
"Percy Jackson is worth my sleep time. If I could I would never put him down."
"Gay for a book character eh?" Chanyeol raises his eyebrows in a suggestive manner and Kyungsoo elbows him.
"Hey, I just remembered a strange dream." Kyungsoo starts to narrate to Chanyeol about the dream. "It was the end of the world and you and I were taken by some great flood or something."
Chanyeol snickers. "The effects of reading some tragic story before bedtime."
Kyungsoo rolls his eyes. "Oh and you also confessed that you liked me."
A loud guffaw can be heard throughout the hallway.
"Please. You aren't my type unless you had boobs." Chanyeol snorts.
Kyungsoo laughs but deep inside of him, he feels it is true. That somehow all of that really happened.
He shrugs the feeling away.