S18: Tacenda
Title: Tacenda
For: S18
Pairings: Sehun/Soojung and Unrequited!Minseok/Sehun
Rating: PG
Length: 1.6k
Summary: They will never be together, but they will never be apart.
Warnings: Unrequited love
Author's note: Sorry this turned a bit different from what I intended to but thank you to my semi-beta who held my hand despite being busy. Million thanks to the mod for being so understanding.
Minseok reaches blindly for the phone that's vibrating on his bedside, the melody of Sehun's favourite song filling the room.
"Hello."
“Minseok.”
None of them talk for a while but Minseok doesn’t need to see Sehun to know something must be up. There’s a sound of muffled cry at the end of the line, and Minseok waits patiently on the line. It gets louder and he finally asks for his whereabout.
Minseok fetches Sehun at the bar mentioned and brings him back to their shared apartment, with Sehun’s still clinging to his side, face buried on Minseok’s shoulder and arms wrapping around his waist loosely. They sit on the sofa for a while, listening to each other’s breathing until Sehun starts to sob and tightens his hold on him. Minseok caresses his hair until the sobs die out, and they fall asleep.
In the morning, Minseok asks him over breakfast.
“What happened yesterday?”
Sehun answers by getting off the table and goes to work.
Even days after, Sehun wouldn’t tell but it is obvious to Minseok that Sehun has broken up with his girlfriend. Minseok is delighted with the news. The girl had been fooling Sehun around for quite some time but the boy is oblivious to it. There were times Minseok caught her cheating on Sehun and he tried to hint to him but Sehun was blinded by her acting.
There is this urge for Minseok to tell Sehun, that he won’t do that to him.
* * *
Sehun doesn’t dwell in sadness for long. Minseok sees it, the way Sehun smiles when he enters the apartment after returning from the party that night. The couch beside dips with weight, as the person settles comfortably. Minseok steals glances towards Sehun at times, who seems lost in his world staring blankly at the television.
“Minseok..."
"Hurm...?"
"I think I found someone.”
Sehun shares his story about the girl he met at his colleague’s party.
Meeting this girl takes longer than the previous girlfriends did, but eventually Sehun does invite her to their house, introducing Soojung to Minseok.
She fits the description Sehun tells him. Beautiful, she looks even better than in pictures. A pretty smile that goes well with her good manners that charmed people. It’s easy for Minseok to let himself hate her; for having his heart in a way he could never have.
Sometimes she visits both of them and joins their weekly get-together with Lu Han.
It is months later that Soojung starts to notice, about Minseok's stare that lingers a little too long on Sehun when he is not looking. The look in his eyes is of almost the same that Soojung gives Sehun.
Both of them are in the kitchen, washing the dishes as Sehun sets the DVD for their watch of the night in the living room.
“How long have you liked him?” Soojung asks, hands still soaping the plates.
Minseok startles, hands freezes under the water for a while. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“It took me some time to realize but Minseok, I saw the way you look at him… I don't think he knows."
"He doesn't know and I have no intention in letting him know."
“I am always in the middle then, am I not?”
Nothing is being said as they clear the dishes faster, trying to escape from one another.
Days later when Lu Han shows up, he could feel the tense. One look from him suffices for Minseok to admit what’s going on.
"Soojung knows."
“You know you’re not being subtle about hating her either.” Lu Han reminds.
It’s getting more obvious from that point that both Soojung and Minseok have silent declaration of war and she tries harder to have Sehun’s attention on her.
- - - - - -
"Lu Han, let's date."
The said person laughs aloud.
"Lu Han, I mean it."
"Minseok, I'm not Sehun. Stop trying to fool yourself."
Even when Minseok tries to do stupid things, Lu Han is there to bring him up from the hole. Years later and after being called dumb by Lu Han so many times, Minseok finally stops being greedy, knowing he will never have him the way she does. Even so throughout the years, Minseok thinks Lu Han has tried to understand him and even staying by his sides.
* * *
Sehun asks Minseok first, if Minseok thinks he’s ready to settle down with Soojung.
He had seen Sehun being the happiest when Soojung is around, given actions of tender and care, the sweetest smiles, and eyes full with love that Minseok wished they have been directed for him.
Minseok could not say no. And he agrees when Sehun asks for his help to propose Soojung.
Her answer would have been obvious. Minseok finds himself helping Sehun with the wedding preparation in every way possible, being a best friend that he is.
Lu Han has been supportive all this while, but he doesn’t think he could see Minseok looking like this any longer.
"Minseok, stop torturing yourself."
"You know he needs me for this, Lu Han."
"Which is why I say you are torturing yourself."
Minseok is playing the best friend card well, tries to look happy when he's in front of Sehun but when the door closes he forgets how to breathe.
- - - - - -
Minseok is there in the waiting room to soothe Sehun from nervousness, he’s even there sitting on the first row when Sehun is at the altar with Soojung saying their vows.
* * *
Minseok moves out to live with Lu Han. They still meet on weekends but Minseok would try to avoid, getting himself busy with part-time work and six months later he bids Sehun farewell before departing for a 2-month trip to China with Lu Han. Minseok is in Beijing with Lu Han for a week before he goes for solo backpacking trip around China.
Minseok and Sehun have never gone so long without contacting each other. He tries not to contact Sehun. It should be easier since Sehun doesn’t make an attempt to contact him too. But the trip gives Minseok so much to reminisce his time with Sehun.
From the moment their friendship started when Sehun fell his lunchbox, to their journey of walking back and forth to school, to the memories of their first fist fight, to the pain of their first heartbreaks, to the experiences of living together, and to the point Minseok started to look at Sehun more than his best friend.
Minseok is more than happy, to have Sehun by his side. But at times, he lets his selfishness overrule. Whenever Soojung is beside Sehun, Minseok would be reminded that Sehun will never be his.
So he runs, away from his heartache and the person he loves.
* * *
They are back in Seoul and Lu Han brings Minseok to meet the married pair, knowing that he wouldn’t last a day without news from Sehun.
Lu Han offers to buy the groceries with Sehun, leaving the other two at home. It’s been awhile since Minseok is left alone with Soojung. Even as he’s sitting at the dining table and Soojung at the couch in the living room, he finds himself being stared at again like more than a year ago.
"Minseok, I know you’re still not over him.” Minseok doesn’t lift his face. Soojung gets up and sits across him. “Don’t run, you can stay. You had chances of breaking us, but you never actually did. Sehun might look like he is fine, but he misses you… I can't say I understand your feelings, because I don't and never will. But you can still stay beside him like before I came to his life.”
“You sound so sure I wouldn’t try again.”
“You know the answer yourself, Minseok.”
He finally lifts up his head to look at her. “Why are you doing this?”
“Aren’t we doing this for the same reason? He looks happier when you’re around, and you know he loves you more than his other friends.”
It sounds nice and how Minseok wishes it is true, but he isn’t sure if that’s how it is.
- - - - - -
Lu Han is helping Soojung to cook for dinner, while Minseok sits beside Sehun watching a drama in silence. It’s halfway through the episode of drama when Minseok realises that Sehun has been following the drama, not just watching it to kill the time.
“You watch this?”
“It’s your favourite actor.”
It hits Minseok hard, that Soojung isn’t lying about Sehun. He has been thinking about himself too much that he refuses to believe that Sehun still needs him as much as he does.
“Sehun, remember that time when we didn’t talk to each other for so long?”
He nods. “Yeah.”
Minseok turns to face Sehun. “I don’t want us to be like that again… I’m sorry.”
“Do you remember how we made up?” Sehun looks at him.
Minseok doesn’t have time to recall before a punch lands on his stomach. It was not with too much force but he’s clutching across his stomach from the pain. But it’s worth it, the warm radiant smile that Sehun is giving him. They both know they have forgiven each other again. And soon, laughter can be heard from the living room.
* * *
They still meet years later at the same house which is now vibrant with a pair of little kids running around. Minseok lives alone after Lu Han settles down with the guy he loves.
Minseok is happy, looking forward to spend another weekend with them. Being able to share Sehun’s happiness of his family, Minseok couldn’t ask for more. He accepts it, that he can never be together with Sehun but they will never be apart.
For: S18
Pairings: Sehun/Soojung and Unrequited!Minseok/Sehun
Rating: PG
Length: 1.6k
Summary: They will never be together, but they will never be apart.
Warnings: Unrequited love
Author's note: Sorry this turned a bit different from what I intended to but thank you to my semi-beta who held my hand despite being busy. Million thanks to the mod for being so understanding.
Minseok reaches blindly for the phone that's vibrating on his bedside, the melody of Sehun's favourite song filling the room.
"Hello."
“Minseok.”
None of them talk for a while but Minseok doesn’t need to see Sehun to know something must be up. There’s a sound of muffled cry at the end of the line, and Minseok waits patiently on the line. It gets louder and he finally asks for his whereabout.
Minseok fetches Sehun at the bar mentioned and brings him back to their shared apartment, with Sehun’s still clinging to his side, face buried on Minseok’s shoulder and arms wrapping around his waist loosely. They sit on the sofa for a while, listening to each other’s breathing until Sehun starts to sob and tightens his hold on him. Minseok caresses his hair until the sobs die out, and they fall asleep.
In the morning, Minseok asks him over breakfast.
“What happened yesterday?”
Sehun answers by getting off the table and goes to work.
Even days after, Sehun wouldn’t tell but it is obvious to Minseok that Sehun has broken up with his girlfriend. Minseok is delighted with the news. The girl had been fooling Sehun around for quite some time but the boy is oblivious to it. There were times Minseok caught her cheating on Sehun and he tried to hint to him but Sehun was blinded by her acting.
There is this urge for Minseok to tell Sehun, that he won’t do that to him.
* * *
Sehun doesn’t dwell in sadness for long. Minseok sees it, the way Sehun smiles when he enters the apartment after returning from the party that night. The couch beside dips with weight, as the person settles comfortably. Minseok steals glances towards Sehun at times, who seems lost in his world staring blankly at the television.
“Minseok..."
"Hurm...?"
"I think I found someone.”
Sehun shares his story about the girl he met at his colleague’s party.
Meeting this girl takes longer than the previous girlfriends did, but eventually Sehun does invite her to their house, introducing Soojung to Minseok.
She fits the description Sehun tells him. Beautiful, she looks even better than in pictures. A pretty smile that goes well with her good manners that charmed people. It’s easy for Minseok to let himself hate her; for having his heart in a way he could never have.
Sometimes she visits both of them and joins their weekly get-together with Lu Han.
It is months later that Soojung starts to notice, about Minseok's stare that lingers a little too long on Sehun when he is not looking. The look in his eyes is of almost the same that Soojung gives Sehun.
Both of them are in the kitchen, washing the dishes as Sehun sets the DVD for their watch of the night in the living room.
“How long have you liked him?” Soojung asks, hands still soaping the plates.
Minseok startles, hands freezes under the water for a while. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“It took me some time to realize but Minseok, I saw the way you look at him… I don't think he knows."
"He doesn't know and I have no intention in letting him know."
“I am always in the middle then, am I not?”
Nothing is being said as they clear the dishes faster, trying to escape from one another.
Days later when Lu Han shows up, he could feel the tense. One look from him suffices for Minseok to admit what’s going on.
"Soojung knows."
“You know you’re not being subtle about hating her either.” Lu Han reminds.
It’s getting more obvious from that point that both Soojung and Minseok have silent declaration of war and she tries harder to have Sehun’s attention on her.
- - - - - -
"Lu Han, let's date."
The said person laughs aloud.
"Lu Han, I mean it."
"Minseok, I'm not Sehun. Stop trying to fool yourself."
Even when Minseok tries to do stupid things, Lu Han is there to bring him up from the hole. Years later and after being called dumb by Lu Han so many times, Minseok finally stops being greedy, knowing he will never have him the way she does. Even so throughout the years, Minseok thinks Lu Han has tried to understand him and even staying by his sides.
* * *
Sehun asks Minseok first, if Minseok thinks he’s ready to settle down with Soojung.
He had seen Sehun being the happiest when Soojung is around, given actions of tender and care, the sweetest smiles, and eyes full with love that Minseok wished they have been directed for him.
Minseok could not say no. And he agrees when Sehun asks for his help to propose Soojung.
Her answer would have been obvious. Minseok finds himself helping Sehun with the wedding preparation in every way possible, being a best friend that he is.
Lu Han has been supportive all this while, but he doesn’t think he could see Minseok looking like this any longer.
"Minseok, stop torturing yourself."
"You know he needs me for this, Lu Han."
"Which is why I say you are torturing yourself."
Minseok is playing the best friend card well, tries to look happy when he's in front of Sehun but when the door closes he forgets how to breathe.
- - - - - -
Minseok is there in the waiting room to soothe Sehun from nervousness, he’s even there sitting on the first row when Sehun is at the altar with Soojung saying their vows.
* * *
Minseok moves out to live with Lu Han. They still meet on weekends but Minseok would try to avoid, getting himself busy with part-time work and six months later he bids Sehun farewell before departing for a 2-month trip to China with Lu Han. Minseok is in Beijing with Lu Han for a week before he goes for solo backpacking trip around China.
Minseok and Sehun have never gone so long without contacting each other. He tries not to contact Sehun. It should be easier since Sehun doesn’t make an attempt to contact him too. But the trip gives Minseok so much to reminisce his time with Sehun.
From the moment their friendship started when Sehun fell his lunchbox, to their journey of walking back and forth to school, to the memories of their first fist fight, to the pain of their first heartbreaks, to the experiences of living together, and to the point Minseok started to look at Sehun more than his best friend.
Minseok is more than happy, to have Sehun by his side. But at times, he lets his selfishness overrule. Whenever Soojung is beside Sehun, Minseok would be reminded that Sehun will never be his.
So he runs, away from his heartache and the person he loves.
* * *
They are back in Seoul and Lu Han brings Minseok to meet the married pair, knowing that he wouldn’t last a day without news from Sehun.
Lu Han offers to buy the groceries with Sehun, leaving the other two at home. It’s been awhile since Minseok is left alone with Soojung. Even as he’s sitting at the dining table and Soojung at the couch in the living room, he finds himself being stared at again like more than a year ago.
"Minseok, I know you’re still not over him.” Minseok doesn’t lift his face. Soojung gets up and sits across him. “Don’t run, you can stay. You had chances of breaking us, but you never actually did. Sehun might look like he is fine, but he misses you… I can't say I understand your feelings, because I don't and never will. But you can still stay beside him like before I came to his life.”
“You sound so sure I wouldn’t try again.”
“You know the answer yourself, Minseok.”
He finally lifts up his head to look at her. “Why are you doing this?”
“Aren’t we doing this for the same reason? He looks happier when you’re around, and you know he loves you more than his other friends.”
It sounds nice and how Minseok wishes it is true, but he isn’t sure if that’s how it is.
- - - - - -
Lu Han is helping Soojung to cook for dinner, while Minseok sits beside Sehun watching a drama in silence. It’s halfway through the episode of drama when Minseok realises that Sehun has been following the drama, not just watching it to kill the time.
“You watch this?”
“It’s your favourite actor.”
It hits Minseok hard, that Soojung isn’t lying about Sehun. He has been thinking about himself too much that he refuses to believe that Sehun still needs him as much as he does.
“Sehun, remember that time when we didn’t talk to each other for so long?”
He nods. “Yeah.”
Minseok turns to face Sehun. “I don’t want us to be like that again… I’m sorry.”
“Do you remember how we made up?” Sehun looks at him.
Minseok doesn’t have time to recall before a punch lands on his stomach. It was not with too much force but he’s clutching across his stomach from the pain. But it’s worth it, the warm radiant smile that Sehun is giving him. They both know they have forgiven each other again. And soon, laughter can be heard from the living room.
* * *
They still meet years later at the same house which is now vibrant with a pair of little kids running around. Minseok lives alone after Lu Han settles down with the guy he loves.
Minseok is happy, looking forward to spend another weekend with them. Being able to share Sehun’s happiness of his family, Minseok couldn’t ask for more. He accepts it, that he can never be together with Sehun but they will never be apart.