Forgotten
Title: Forgotten
Author: VampireMadonna
Pairing: KyuWook
Rating: PG
Genre: Fluff, teenage romance
Summary: It's Ryeowook's birthday and everyone seems to have forgotten, including his boyfriend Kyu.
A/N: Dedicated to my darling Hennu. I know you were supposed to get 3 short stories but you got one long one instead. Hope you enjoy it. Happy birthday!
They’d forgotten.
I can’t believe it, he thought, exchanging books in his locker before his next class. Every single one of them had forgotten.
He knew his parents were busy people, his mom was a college professor and his dad ran the family business, but how could they have forgotten the day their one and only son was born? Hell, his mother constantly went on and on about how difficult her pregnancy had been and how she’d spent twenty-four hours in labor, with very little to dull the pain mind you, just to bring him into the world. It was her favorite form of blackmail when she wanted to keep him and his father in line. She loved to remind her husband of how much she’d suffered to give him the son he’d always wanted after birthing three daughters, and she took pleasure in seeing her son wince when she recited the gory details of how she’d almost died just so he could live.
Yes, considering how much his mother enjoyed tormenting them with the tales of his birth, it was a mystery that she’d forgotten. She never had before. Yet that morning, she’d made him breakfast, wished him a good day, then left early for work, his father following shortly after. His sisters were off at college but it was a first for them as well. Even his friends at school seemed oblivious to it and they lived on Facebook and Twitter, etc. Did they not get birthday updates on their homepage??
Perhaps the one that bothered him the most was the most important to him.
His boyfriend, Kyuhyun.
They’d been together for three years now and always celebrated their birthdays together. Kyu’s had gone already, and it had been a memorable one for them he thought with a blush, but he’d never forgotten Ryeowook’s before. That is, until today apparently. He’d picked him up at home, kissed him ‘hello’ and they’d chatted idly on the way to school about their classes, their favorite and most hated teachers, the latest girl to get knocked up by her stupid boyfriend and the party coming up that weekend, etc. The usual teen stuff. All the while, Wookie had sat there waiting, just waiting for some kind of acknowledgment, some indication that the boy he intended to spend the rest of his life with had not forgotten his birthday. Because it was more than just his birthday.
It was their anniversary.
“Has the world gone mad?!” he growled, slamming his locker shut.
As he turned around and caught the wary glances of people in the hall, all who gave him an extremely wide berth now, he realized that he’d been glaring into his locker for quite a while. Sighing, he lugged his backpack over his shoulder and dragged his feet to his next class. And it was one that he had with Kyu. Oh joy!
By lunch, his mood had worsened.
“Dude, you’re seriously freaking me out,” Yesung commented.
Eunyuk nodded. “Seriously. It’s like…you’re emitting this really dark aura. I can almost see the black haze around you. Totally sci-fi, man.”
Ryeowook ignored the Dumb and Dumber twins, as he thought of them, and continued to push his food around on his plate. He had no appetite. The day was half over and not one person had wished him happy birthday. Was he really so insignificant, so unimportant to them? His friends, he could forgive, because they were simply his friends. It would be nice if they remembered, he always remembered theirs, but if they didn’t, it didn’t hurt so much. But his family…and Kyu? It was unforgivable. They were the most important people in his life and they had forgotten the most important day in his. Doubly so in Kyu’s case. He’d not only forgotten his boyfriend’s birthday but also their anniversary. What made it worse was that they’d actually discussed getting married on their anniversary so it would remain their anniversary forever. Thinking about it, he was sorely tempted to kick Kyu beneath the table but he was too pissed to even muster up the strength to do that.
“Babe,” Kyu spoke softly beside him, making him jump out of his thoughts. “Are you okay?” he continued, brows furrowed in worry.
Ryeowook looked into Kyu’s eyes, saw his genuine concern and felt his heart soften. Usually he would given into those deep brown eyes but not today. He was way too hurt to forgive him so easily.
“I’m fine,” he replied shortly.
Kyu’s brows rose at the sharpness of his tone. It was so unlike his Wookie to be so snappy. He was usually soft, gentle, caring. He had a little bit of a diva in him but it never got out of hand.
“Wook…” He placed a hand on Wookie’s where it lay clenched on the table top.
Ryeowook snatched his hand away. “I said I’m fine.” Jumping up, he pushed his food towards Shindong. “Here, I’m not very hungry today and it shouldn’t go to waste. Enjoy.” And with that, he turned and stalked out of the cafeteria.
Everyone at the table looked after him in wide-eyed amazement.
“Dude…” Eunyuk said, finally breaking the silence. “You should definitely go after him. If he’s like this now, then…”
Kyu sighed. “I know…”
Kyuhyun rose and followed behind his boyfriend. He didn’t see him immediately outside the cafeteria but he knew that there was only one place he would really go to, where he went whenever he was upset: the music hall.
He took his time getting there, wondering what he could say to diffuse the situation. As he approached the door, he heard the first strains of the piano drifting down the hall and quickened his pace. He loved to sit and watch Wookie play. It was one of his favorite hobbies. He didn’t think he’d have the opportunity to do that right now, though. More’s the pity…
He walked quietly into the room, not wanting to disturb his boyfriend. He stood, watching and listening while he hammered at the keys, the piece changing from something slow and almost sad to pounding and angry. By the time it was done, he had forgotten what he was going to say.
He cleared his throat. “Um, Wook.”
Without turning around, Wookie said, “I told you I was fine. You didn’t have to follow me here.”
Kyu walked around to stand beside him so he could look at his face.
“It’s obvious that something is wrong, babe. You can never hide your emotions, you know that, especially not from me. I know you too well.”
“Apparently not well enough,” Wookie snapped.
Kyu frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Jumping to his feet, Ryeowook planted his hands on his hips and glared at his boyfriend.
“What day is it, Kyu?”
Kyu thought for a moment, looking up at the ceiling as if he was wracking his brain. “Um, Wednesday?”
“The date, Kyu. The date.”
“The…7th?” he replied with a hopeful tone.
Wookie’s brows furrowed deeper. “It’s the 8th,” he snapped. “Do you know what happens on the 8th, Kyu?”
“Um…”
“Ugh!” Ryewook grunted in frustration. “My birthday, you asshole. It’s my birthday. And not just my birthday but our anniversary.”
Kyu’s eyes widened in surprise. “Oh my g… Wook, I’m so sorry.” He reached for Wookie only to have his hand slapped away.
“I can’t believe you really forgot. I told myself it was impossible. This day has always meant so much to both of us, I never once thought you’d forget it. I even told myself that maybe you were playing a trick on me. But it’s not just you, it’s everyone. It’s like that movie Sixteen Candles. Mom, dad, my sisters, my friends and my beloved boyfriend: everyone who is supposed to care about me has forgotten my birthday!”
“Wook…”
“And I remember everyone’s. Everyone’s! Even the mail man’s, for crying out loud!”
Kyu rubbed the back of his neck looking uncomfortable, shifting from foot to foot. “Well, in our defense Wook, you have that organizer that you write everything in. The one with all the colored stickers and stuff.”
If Ryeowook’s eyes could’ve shot fire at Kyu, he would’ve turned to ash where he stood.
“Wookie…” Kyu’s voice was soft and filled with genuine regret as he stepped close to his boyfriend, taking his face in his hands. “I’m really sorry. There’s no excuse, I’m a bad boyfriend.”
Ryeowook felt that familiar warmth that he felt whenever Kyu touched him spreading through his chest and it was all he could do to battle it back and hold onto his anger.
“It’s fine, forget it. It’s just another day anyway.” Pulling away from Kyu, he grabbed his backpack. “I’ve got class now.”
“I’ll meet you by the car after school,” Kyu said, sadness plaguing his eyes.
“You don’t need to. I’ll just…”
“I’ll meet you by the car,” he repeated, his voice hard as iron.
Pouting in frustrating, Wookie turned on his heels and stormed out again.
As soon as he was gone, Kyu expelled a loud sigh. How was he supposed to get through the rest of the day?
Ryeowook was at his locker again, packing away his books before his last class that day, when he glanced down the hall and gasped in surprise.
There was Kyu…and Sungmin.
They were talking, laughing really, Sungmin smiling up and Kyu and Kyu smiling down at him.
They look good together.
Where had that thought come from? Everyone knew that Sungmin worshiped Kyu and had more than a little crush on him but he was a good friend, to both boys, and had never crossed any boundaries as a result of his infatuation. But had that changed? Kyu was a really charismatic guy, always friendly and personable, so it would be impossible to differentiate flirting from the way he usually talked to people, especially since Wookie was too far away to overhear their conversation.
Just then, Sungmin handed Kyu something and Kyu grinned as he took it, reaching his other hand out to ruffle the boy’s hair. Then he casually threw his arm around the boy’s shoulders and the two of them walked off down the hall and out of sight, never once looking back or they would’ve seen a very stunned Wookie standing there gaping at them.
He felt sick to his stomach. What the hell was going on? Was it possible that Kyu…
He shook his head, trying to clear those negative thoughts. Kyu would never betray him like that. He abhorred cheating. After seeing what it had done to his own family when his father left his mom for another, younger woman, he’d sworn never to cheat and never to forgive anyone who cheated on him.
But maybe Sungmin had enticed him somehow? Maybe…
He shook his head again. Sungmin was his friend, he would never do that to him, to them. Closing his locked, he hurried off to his last class.
By the time school ended, Ryeowook was a mental mess. He hadn’t been able to concentrate on anything the teacher said and the teacher had noticed since Wookie was one of his best students. He’d even asked him if he was sick and needed to go to the nurse’s office because he looked pale. He’d said no but he was sick: sick with worry. Kyu’s last class was right next to his so they usually walked to it together but when he’d passed the room and peeked in, wanting to see a glimpse of his boyfriend even though he was still hurt, Kyu wasn’t there. His usual seat near the window was empty.
He couldn’t stop thinking about that, what it meant, and then when class ended and he went out to the parking lot, Kyu was right there as he’d said he would be, leaning against his car in the same spot he’d parked in that morning. He smiled at Wookie as if nothing was amiss but the smile only increased Wookie’s worry. Kyu never skipped class. Where had he gone? Why?
The drive home was uncomfortable, at least for Wookie. Kyu tried to engage him in conversation at first but when he was unresponsive, Kyu gave up and simply sang along with the music on the radio. When they pulled up in front of Wookie’s house, he jumped out of the car before Kyu had a chance to turn the engine off and turned back to him.
“I think it’s better if you just go home. I just to be alone right now.”
Kyu switched the engine off, accidentally hitting the horn as he climbed out. “Wookie…”
“Please. Just go.”
Kyu stared at Wookie consideringly for a few seconds. Finally, he sighed. “Okay. I know I messed up and I guess you need time to forgive me. But can I at least use your bathroom?”
Wookie frowned. “You live one street over, you can hold it.”
Kyu blushed. “Please, Wook. I’ve really gotta go.”
Rolling his eyes, Wookie turned on his heels and started up the path to his front door, leaving Kyu to follow behind him. As he pulled his key out of his bag, he said, “Get in, do your thing, and get out, okay?”
“Yes sir,” Kyu replied.
Wookie could’ve sworn that he heard a smile in his voice. Impossible! Kyu wouldn’t dare laugh at him right now. He stuck the key in the lock and turned, pushing the door open the same time that he glanced at Kyu over his shoulder. He gasped. Kyu was smiling.
“Surprise!”
Wookie’s head snapped around, eyes wide in shock.
“♪Saengil chukha hamnida…♪”
They were all there in the foyer, every last one of them. His parents, his sisters, a sprinkling of aunts, uncles and cousins, and all of his friends from school.
“Wha…what?” he sputtered, unable to form a coherent thought.
Yesung laughed. “Dude, you should’ve seen your face today. Priceless!”
“Yeah, I was afraid you were gonna punch someone before the day was out,” Eunhyuk chimed in.
“Aww…” his mother crooned, stepping towards him. “Did my baby really think his own mother forgot his 18th birthday? After all that I went through to bring you into this world? After…”
There was a loud, communal groan. Everyone had heard the story before.
His mother turned to look at the assembled party-ers and whatever they saw on her face instantly shut them up. Turning back to her son, she said, “I would never forget your birthday, baby. It’s one of the happiest and most memorable days of my life too you know.”
“But… This morning you… Aren’t you supposed to be in work?” he finally got out.
Mrs. Kim chuckled. “I got someone else to take over my classes. Daddy closed the business for the day.”
“But you left so early this morning.”
“Well there was a lot to do,” she explained. “We had to get the house ready, pick up your sisters, consult the caterer, among other things. It’s tough work getting a party ready in less than ten hours, you know. You’d better appreciate it. It was like giving birth to you again. You have no idea how…”
Before she could get into it again, Kyu, who had stayed silent, forgotten by Wookie in his moment of shock, grabbed his arm and pulled him outside, shutting the door behind them.
“A surprise party,” Wookie finally said.
Kyu nodded. “Yup.”
Wookie frowned. “But I hate surprises.”
Kyu chuckled. “Trust me, I know. It was your mom’s idea but never again. I had to tap into some expert acting skills to make it through the day. There were a few times I almost gave in and told you the truth.”
Wookie felt a small smile lift his lips as his worry and unease finally dissipated. Suddenly, he remembered one thing.
“And Sungmin? What’s his role in all of this?”
Kyu rolled his eyes. “Seriously, Wookie, if you even thought for a moment that I…”
“I didn’t!” Wookie jumped in, afraid of what was on the end of that sentence. He’d been an fool to ever doubt Kyu. Even if Kyu had forgotten his bday, one thing he knew he’d never forget was his fidelity and his personal feelings on cheating. It hit far too close to home for him.
Kyu shot him a knowing look. “Uh huh. You’re such an idiot…” Sighing, he pushed his frustrations aside and smiled. “Sungmin’s dad owns a bakery, in case you’ve forgotten. He put in a special order for your birthday cake, a present from him, and he merely came to give me the receipt so I could collect it. He’s not in there, in case you haven’t noticed. He couldn’t make it for the beginning of the party but he promised to stop by later.” Kyu’s brows furrowed. “I saw you, by the way, standing there watching us. You might want to look a little less obvious next time you spy on me, or anyone else.”
“I wasn’t spying!” Wookie objected. “I was merely standing by my locker when I happened to glance over and see the two of you talking. It’s not like I heard anything you said.”
Kyu cocked a brow. “Thank goodness for that. The whole plan would’ve been blown. You really need to get over your insecurities where Sungmin are concerned.”
“I’m not insecure,” he insisted, but he shifted from foot to foot, squirming. “Just… Everyone knows how he feels about you is all.”
“I’m not so easily tempted, Wook. I’m caught, hook, line and sinker, by you, and I don’t want you to ever cut me loose. But if it makes you feel any better, Sungmin doesn’t like me anymore.”
Wookie’s eyes widened in surprise. “He doesn’t?”
“No. He’s interested in someone else entirely.”
“Really?” he pressed, finding it hard to believe. Who wouldn’t want Kyu? He was tall, handsome, intelligent, friendly…
“So is all forgiven?” Kyu asked, interrupting his train of thought.
“Well…” Wookie moved into the circle of Kyu’s arms, sighing inwardly when they closed around him, holding him close. “I really hate surprises but… It wasn’t your idea and I suppose you couldn’t really have said ‘no’ to my mother, crazy woman that she is so...” He wound his arms around Kyu’s neck, gazing into his dark eyes. “Just kiss me and we’ll call it even.”
Kyu lowered his head to Wookie’s and just before their lips met, he whispered, “Happy birthday Wook.” He nipped at his lips lightly, then added, “And happy anniversary,” before melding their lips together.
The kiss was soft, gentle, filled with the love and understanding that Wookie had become used to. With Kyu’s arms around him, his soft breath fanning his face as his lips moved tenderly over his, he wondered how he could ever have doubted, even for a second, Kyu’s love for him.
They could’ve gone on and on but the hooting on the other side of the door let them know that they were probably being watched from the window.
With a regretful sigh, Kyu pressed one last hard kiss to Wookie’s lips and pulled back. “Later,” he said, his voice full of promise.
Wooki grinned in anticipation. “I’ll hold you to that, mister.” Just then, he remembered something. “By the way, you never said who Sungmin likes now.”
Kyu laughed. “You’re never going to believe it.”
“Try me.”
Smiling mischievously, Kyu leaned in close. “You.”
Wookie’s eyes went wide in disbelief and his heart stopped.
“WHAT?!”
Author: VampireMadonna
Pairing: KyuWook
Rating: PG
Genre: Fluff, teenage romance
Summary: It's Ryeowook's birthday and everyone seems to have forgotten, including his boyfriend Kyu.
A/N: Dedicated to my darling Hennu. I know you were supposed to get 3 short stories but you got one long one instead. Hope you enjoy it. Happy birthday!
They’d forgotten.
I can’t believe it, he thought, exchanging books in his locker before his next class. Every single one of them had forgotten.
He knew his parents were busy people, his mom was a college professor and his dad ran the family business, but how could they have forgotten the day their one and only son was born? Hell, his mother constantly went on and on about how difficult her pregnancy had been and how she’d spent twenty-four hours in labor, with very little to dull the pain mind you, just to bring him into the world. It was her favorite form of blackmail when she wanted to keep him and his father in line. She loved to remind her husband of how much she’d suffered to give him the son he’d always wanted after birthing three daughters, and she took pleasure in seeing her son wince when she recited the gory details of how she’d almost died just so he could live.
Yes, considering how much his mother enjoyed tormenting them with the tales of his birth, it was a mystery that she’d forgotten. She never had before. Yet that morning, she’d made him breakfast, wished him a good day, then left early for work, his father following shortly after. His sisters were off at college but it was a first for them as well. Even his friends at school seemed oblivious to it and they lived on Facebook and Twitter, etc. Did they not get birthday updates on their homepage??
Perhaps the one that bothered him the most was the most important to him.
His boyfriend, Kyuhyun.
They’d been together for three years now and always celebrated their birthdays together. Kyu’s had gone already, and it had been a memorable one for them he thought with a blush, but he’d never forgotten Ryeowook’s before. That is, until today apparently. He’d picked him up at home, kissed him ‘hello’ and they’d chatted idly on the way to school about their classes, their favorite and most hated teachers, the latest girl to get knocked up by her stupid boyfriend and the party coming up that weekend, etc. The usual teen stuff. All the while, Wookie had sat there waiting, just waiting for some kind of acknowledgment, some indication that the boy he intended to spend the rest of his life with had not forgotten his birthday. Because it was more than just his birthday.
It was their anniversary.
“Has the world gone mad?!” he growled, slamming his locker shut.
As he turned around and caught the wary glances of people in the hall, all who gave him an extremely wide berth now, he realized that he’d been glaring into his locker for quite a while. Sighing, he lugged his backpack over his shoulder and dragged his feet to his next class. And it was one that he had with Kyu. Oh joy!
By lunch, his mood had worsened.
“Dude, you’re seriously freaking me out,” Yesung commented.
Eunyuk nodded. “Seriously. It’s like…you’re emitting this really dark aura. I can almost see the black haze around you. Totally sci-fi, man.”
Ryeowook ignored the Dumb and Dumber twins, as he thought of them, and continued to push his food around on his plate. He had no appetite. The day was half over and not one person had wished him happy birthday. Was he really so insignificant, so unimportant to them? His friends, he could forgive, because they were simply his friends. It would be nice if they remembered, he always remembered theirs, but if they didn’t, it didn’t hurt so much. But his family…and Kyu? It was unforgivable. They were the most important people in his life and they had forgotten the most important day in his. Doubly so in Kyu’s case. He’d not only forgotten his boyfriend’s birthday but also their anniversary. What made it worse was that they’d actually discussed getting married on their anniversary so it would remain their anniversary forever. Thinking about it, he was sorely tempted to kick Kyu beneath the table but he was too pissed to even muster up the strength to do that.
“Babe,” Kyu spoke softly beside him, making him jump out of his thoughts. “Are you okay?” he continued, brows furrowed in worry.
Ryeowook looked into Kyu’s eyes, saw his genuine concern and felt his heart soften. Usually he would given into those deep brown eyes but not today. He was way too hurt to forgive him so easily.
“I’m fine,” he replied shortly.
Kyu’s brows rose at the sharpness of his tone. It was so unlike his Wookie to be so snappy. He was usually soft, gentle, caring. He had a little bit of a diva in him but it never got out of hand.
“Wook…” He placed a hand on Wookie’s where it lay clenched on the table top.
Ryeowook snatched his hand away. “I said I’m fine.” Jumping up, he pushed his food towards Shindong. “Here, I’m not very hungry today and it shouldn’t go to waste. Enjoy.” And with that, he turned and stalked out of the cafeteria.
Everyone at the table looked after him in wide-eyed amazement.
“Dude…” Eunyuk said, finally breaking the silence. “You should definitely go after him. If he’s like this now, then…”
Kyu sighed. “I know…”
Kyuhyun rose and followed behind his boyfriend. He didn’t see him immediately outside the cafeteria but he knew that there was only one place he would really go to, where he went whenever he was upset: the music hall.
He took his time getting there, wondering what he could say to diffuse the situation. As he approached the door, he heard the first strains of the piano drifting down the hall and quickened his pace. He loved to sit and watch Wookie play. It was one of his favorite hobbies. He didn’t think he’d have the opportunity to do that right now, though. More’s the pity…
He walked quietly into the room, not wanting to disturb his boyfriend. He stood, watching and listening while he hammered at the keys, the piece changing from something slow and almost sad to pounding and angry. By the time it was done, he had forgotten what he was going to say.
He cleared his throat. “Um, Wook.”
Without turning around, Wookie said, “I told you I was fine. You didn’t have to follow me here.”
Kyu walked around to stand beside him so he could look at his face.
“It’s obvious that something is wrong, babe. You can never hide your emotions, you know that, especially not from me. I know you too well.”
“Apparently not well enough,” Wookie snapped.
Kyu frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Jumping to his feet, Ryeowook planted his hands on his hips and glared at his boyfriend.
“What day is it, Kyu?”
Kyu thought for a moment, looking up at the ceiling as if he was wracking his brain. “Um, Wednesday?”
“The date, Kyu. The date.”
“The…7th?” he replied with a hopeful tone.
Wookie’s brows furrowed deeper. “It’s the 8th,” he snapped. “Do you know what happens on the 8th, Kyu?”
“Um…”
“Ugh!” Ryewook grunted in frustration. “My birthday, you asshole. It’s my birthday. And not just my birthday but our anniversary.”
Kyu’s eyes widened in surprise. “Oh my g… Wook, I’m so sorry.” He reached for Wookie only to have his hand slapped away.
“I can’t believe you really forgot. I told myself it was impossible. This day has always meant so much to both of us, I never once thought you’d forget it. I even told myself that maybe you were playing a trick on me. But it’s not just you, it’s everyone. It’s like that movie Sixteen Candles. Mom, dad, my sisters, my friends and my beloved boyfriend: everyone who is supposed to care about me has forgotten my birthday!”
“Wook…”
“And I remember everyone’s. Everyone’s! Even the mail man’s, for crying out loud!”
Kyu rubbed the back of his neck looking uncomfortable, shifting from foot to foot. “Well, in our defense Wook, you have that organizer that you write everything in. The one with all the colored stickers and stuff.”
If Ryeowook’s eyes could’ve shot fire at Kyu, he would’ve turned to ash where he stood.
“Wookie…” Kyu’s voice was soft and filled with genuine regret as he stepped close to his boyfriend, taking his face in his hands. “I’m really sorry. There’s no excuse, I’m a bad boyfriend.”
Ryeowook felt that familiar warmth that he felt whenever Kyu touched him spreading through his chest and it was all he could do to battle it back and hold onto his anger.
“It’s fine, forget it. It’s just another day anyway.” Pulling away from Kyu, he grabbed his backpack. “I’ve got class now.”
“I’ll meet you by the car after school,” Kyu said, sadness plaguing his eyes.
“You don’t need to. I’ll just…”
“I’ll meet you by the car,” he repeated, his voice hard as iron.
Pouting in frustrating, Wookie turned on his heels and stormed out again.
As soon as he was gone, Kyu expelled a loud sigh. How was he supposed to get through the rest of the day?
Ryeowook was at his locker again, packing away his books before his last class that day, when he glanced down the hall and gasped in surprise.
There was Kyu…and Sungmin.
They were talking, laughing really, Sungmin smiling up and Kyu and Kyu smiling down at him.
They look good together.
Where had that thought come from? Everyone knew that Sungmin worshiped Kyu and had more than a little crush on him but he was a good friend, to both boys, and had never crossed any boundaries as a result of his infatuation. But had that changed? Kyu was a really charismatic guy, always friendly and personable, so it would be impossible to differentiate flirting from the way he usually talked to people, especially since Wookie was too far away to overhear their conversation.
Just then, Sungmin handed Kyu something and Kyu grinned as he took it, reaching his other hand out to ruffle the boy’s hair. Then he casually threw his arm around the boy’s shoulders and the two of them walked off down the hall and out of sight, never once looking back or they would’ve seen a very stunned Wookie standing there gaping at them.
He felt sick to his stomach. What the hell was going on? Was it possible that Kyu…
He shook his head, trying to clear those negative thoughts. Kyu would never betray him like that. He abhorred cheating. After seeing what it had done to his own family when his father left his mom for another, younger woman, he’d sworn never to cheat and never to forgive anyone who cheated on him.
But maybe Sungmin had enticed him somehow? Maybe…
He shook his head again. Sungmin was his friend, he would never do that to him, to them. Closing his locked, he hurried off to his last class.
By the time school ended, Ryeowook was a mental mess. He hadn’t been able to concentrate on anything the teacher said and the teacher had noticed since Wookie was one of his best students. He’d even asked him if he was sick and needed to go to the nurse’s office because he looked pale. He’d said no but he was sick: sick with worry. Kyu’s last class was right next to his so they usually walked to it together but when he’d passed the room and peeked in, wanting to see a glimpse of his boyfriend even though he was still hurt, Kyu wasn’t there. His usual seat near the window was empty.
He couldn’t stop thinking about that, what it meant, and then when class ended and he went out to the parking lot, Kyu was right there as he’d said he would be, leaning against his car in the same spot he’d parked in that morning. He smiled at Wookie as if nothing was amiss but the smile only increased Wookie’s worry. Kyu never skipped class. Where had he gone? Why?
The drive home was uncomfortable, at least for Wookie. Kyu tried to engage him in conversation at first but when he was unresponsive, Kyu gave up and simply sang along with the music on the radio. When they pulled up in front of Wookie’s house, he jumped out of the car before Kyu had a chance to turn the engine off and turned back to him.
“I think it’s better if you just go home. I just to be alone right now.”
Kyu switched the engine off, accidentally hitting the horn as he climbed out. “Wookie…”
“Please. Just go.”
Kyu stared at Wookie consideringly for a few seconds. Finally, he sighed. “Okay. I know I messed up and I guess you need time to forgive me. But can I at least use your bathroom?”
Wookie frowned. “You live one street over, you can hold it.”
Kyu blushed. “Please, Wook. I’ve really gotta go.”
Rolling his eyes, Wookie turned on his heels and started up the path to his front door, leaving Kyu to follow behind him. As he pulled his key out of his bag, he said, “Get in, do your thing, and get out, okay?”
“Yes sir,” Kyu replied.
Wookie could’ve sworn that he heard a smile in his voice. Impossible! Kyu wouldn’t dare laugh at him right now. He stuck the key in the lock and turned, pushing the door open the same time that he glanced at Kyu over his shoulder. He gasped. Kyu was smiling.
“Surprise!”
Wookie’s head snapped around, eyes wide in shock.
“♪Saengil chukha hamnida…♪”
They were all there in the foyer, every last one of them. His parents, his sisters, a sprinkling of aunts, uncles and cousins, and all of his friends from school.
“Wha…what?” he sputtered, unable to form a coherent thought.
Yesung laughed. “Dude, you should’ve seen your face today. Priceless!”
“Yeah, I was afraid you were gonna punch someone before the day was out,” Eunhyuk chimed in.
“Aww…” his mother crooned, stepping towards him. “Did my baby really think his own mother forgot his 18th birthday? After all that I went through to bring you into this world? After…”
There was a loud, communal groan. Everyone had heard the story before.
His mother turned to look at the assembled party-ers and whatever they saw on her face instantly shut them up. Turning back to her son, she said, “I would never forget your birthday, baby. It’s one of the happiest and most memorable days of my life too you know.”
“But… This morning you… Aren’t you supposed to be in work?” he finally got out.
Mrs. Kim chuckled. “I got someone else to take over my classes. Daddy closed the business for the day.”
“But you left so early this morning.”
“Well there was a lot to do,” she explained. “We had to get the house ready, pick up your sisters, consult the caterer, among other things. It’s tough work getting a party ready in less than ten hours, you know. You’d better appreciate it. It was like giving birth to you again. You have no idea how…”
Before she could get into it again, Kyu, who had stayed silent, forgotten by Wookie in his moment of shock, grabbed his arm and pulled him outside, shutting the door behind them.
“A surprise party,” Wookie finally said.
Kyu nodded. “Yup.”
Wookie frowned. “But I hate surprises.”
Kyu chuckled. “Trust me, I know. It was your mom’s idea but never again. I had to tap into some expert acting skills to make it through the day. There were a few times I almost gave in and told you the truth.”
Wookie felt a small smile lift his lips as his worry and unease finally dissipated. Suddenly, he remembered one thing.
“And Sungmin? What’s his role in all of this?”
Kyu rolled his eyes. “Seriously, Wookie, if you even thought for a moment that I…”
“I didn’t!” Wookie jumped in, afraid of what was on the end of that sentence. He’d been an fool to ever doubt Kyu. Even if Kyu had forgotten his bday, one thing he knew he’d never forget was his fidelity and his personal feelings on cheating. It hit far too close to home for him.
Kyu shot him a knowing look. “Uh huh. You’re such an idiot…” Sighing, he pushed his frustrations aside and smiled. “Sungmin’s dad owns a bakery, in case you’ve forgotten. He put in a special order for your birthday cake, a present from him, and he merely came to give me the receipt so I could collect it. He’s not in there, in case you haven’t noticed. He couldn’t make it for the beginning of the party but he promised to stop by later.” Kyu’s brows furrowed. “I saw you, by the way, standing there watching us. You might want to look a little less obvious next time you spy on me, or anyone else.”
“I wasn’t spying!” Wookie objected. “I was merely standing by my locker when I happened to glance over and see the two of you talking. It’s not like I heard anything you said.”
Kyu cocked a brow. “Thank goodness for that. The whole plan would’ve been blown. You really need to get over your insecurities where Sungmin are concerned.”
“I’m not insecure,” he insisted, but he shifted from foot to foot, squirming. “Just… Everyone knows how he feels about you is all.”
“I’m not so easily tempted, Wook. I’m caught, hook, line and sinker, by you, and I don’t want you to ever cut me loose. But if it makes you feel any better, Sungmin doesn’t like me anymore.”
Wookie’s eyes widened in surprise. “He doesn’t?”
“No. He’s interested in someone else entirely.”
“Really?” he pressed, finding it hard to believe. Who wouldn’t want Kyu? He was tall, handsome, intelligent, friendly…
“So is all forgiven?” Kyu asked, interrupting his train of thought.
“Well…” Wookie moved into the circle of Kyu’s arms, sighing inwardly when they closed around him, holding him close. “I really hate surprises but… It wasn’t your idea and I suppose you couldn’t really have said ‘no’ to my mother, crazy woman that she is so...” He wound his arms around Kyu’s neck, gazing into his dark eyes. “Just kiss me and we’ll call it even.”
Kyu lowered his head to Wookie’s and just before their lips met, he whispered, “Happy birthday Wook.” He nipped at his lips lightly, then added, “And happy anniversary,” before melding their lips together.
The kiss was soft, gentle, filled with the love and understanding that Wookie had become used to. With Kyu’s arms around him, his soft breath fanning his face as his lips moved tenderly over his, he wondered how he could ever have doubted, even for a second, Kyu’s love for him.
They could’ve gone on and on but the hooting on the other side of the door let them know that they were probably being watched from the window.
With a regretful sigh, Kyu pressed one last hard kiss to Wookie’s lips and pulled back. “Later,” he said, his voice full of promise.
Wooki grinned in anticipation. “I’ll hold you to that, mister.” Just then, he remembered something. “By the way, you never said who Sungmin likes now.”
Kyu laughed. “You’re never going to believe it.”
“Try me.”
Smiling mischievously, Kyu leaned in close. “You.”
Wookie’s eyes went wide in disbelief and his heart stopped.
“WHAT?!”