MatchMakers
Title: MatchMakers
Chapter: 12/13
Pairings: EunHae, KiHae, SiHae, SiChul, KiHan
Side Pairings: KangTeuk, KyuWook, YeMin
Rating: PG-16
Summary: They were known as the school MatchMakers; if you wanted a steady relationship with someone you’d love forever, they were the three to go see. But the MatchMakers can’t find someone for themselves! When a new student transfers in, will their situation change for the better... Or worse?
A/N: Second-last chapter! One left! Sorry I took so long, school started and I've been tripping over myself X.X This chapter was hard to write, because I know what I want to happen but it's not coming out the way I want it!!! *headdesk* anyways, I hope you like it, the last chapter should be up by tomorrow! Keep an eye out for it!
HyukJae ran the entire way to DongHae’s apartment. Public transit would take longer than it did for him to run, and there was no time. He thanked his lucky stars that he was physically fit, or he would take much longer to get there. But he had to be there. The worst possible thing he could imagine right now would be DongHae sitting in his apartment, utterly alone, crying. DongHae was the bright and cheerful fish, but most of all he was so innocent and naive, he couldn’t be left alone at a time like this. The mental image of DongHae curled up against the wall sobbing uncontrollably made HyukJae force himself to run faster, now sprinting. He ignored the screaming pain in his sides as he pushed himself past his limits. There was time to worry about that later.
As he ran, he kept trying DongHae’s number. Right after he left the school, he got a busy signal. Someone was on the phone with DongHae. HyukJae tried again and again all the way there. Busy still. What was going on?
Even at top-speed, it took him ten minutes to reach DongHae’s apartment. He pressed the button for the elevator, then gave up when it took too long and took the stairs, nearly knocking over a woman coming down. Muttering an apology, he didn’t slow down, but took the stairs two at a time, bounding up two floors and into the hallway.
It had taken too long. DongHae had been alone for nearly half an hour. That was too much time! His mind could come up with too many possibilities for what could have happened during that time, everything ranging from a mental breakdown to a suicide attempt. No, DongHae would never do that… Would he? He’d never been this sad before, maybe it would be the only that he could cope-
HyukJae grabbed the doorknob and pulled. Locked. “DongHae! It’s me, open up!” He called, banging on the door. No reply. “Hae!” Ten seconds passed, then there was a small click as the door was unlocked. DongHae opened the door a little, looking out at HyukJae. “Hyukkie…”
He had been crying, hard. The skin under his eyes were puffy, the chocolate-brown orbs slightly bloodshot as he looked at the older male. His skin was pale, lips cracked and bleeding a little. HyukJae felt his heart twist painfully.
Doing the first thing that came to mind, he took a step forward, going to pull him into a hug, but DongHae flinched. Flinched away from him. HyukJae stopped, worried. “Hae…”
“W-Why are you here?”
“To help you, obviously. The posters-“
“You shouldn’t have come. I’m a m-monster. I-“
“You can’t seriously believe what those people are saying?!?” HyukJae couldn’t believe it.
“Th-they’re right, I came in out of nowhere and exp-ected everyone to be my friend,” DongHae whispered, eyes filled with tears. His body shook uncontrollably, as he continued unable to stop. “I h-hung all over everyone and was a nuisance, and hurt two of my best friends, a-and was such a trouble to you and KyuHyunnie, and I-“\
HyukJae stepped forward again, pulling DongHae into a crushing hug. The taller boy fought at first, trying to get free and stammering about how he couldn’t, he wasn’t worth HyukJae’s friendship, and how he didn’t belong here. HyukJae just held onto him grimly, until DongHae’s struggling died down and all he could do was cry in his best friends’ arms.
HyukJae pulled the boy further into the apartment, nudging the door closed with his foot. “Shh… Calm down, it’s okay,” He whispered, stroking the others soft hair. DongHae hid his face against HyukJae’s shoulder, shaking still. The rapper made him sit down on the couch, arms still wrapped around his body and holding him close.
“Listen to me,” HyukJae said softly. “They don’t know you, they’re just idiots who judge before knowing a scrap of information. You’re not trouble, and you’re our friend DongHae… You’re my best friend. You belong here, you’re a part of Super Junior. Don’t you ever doubt that.”
DongHae sniffed a little. “I… I’m not a part of Super Junior,” He whispered.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m leaving, Hyukkie.”
HyukJae felt the world fall out from under him. “W… What?”
“M-my cousin… JungHoon hyung… He’s here. He called a minute ago… He took the plane, he’s in Seoul, and he’s coming to take me back home. H-he said he left last night when he s-saw the pictures on the Internet-“
“No!” HyukJae hugged him tighter, dismayed. “DongHae, you can’t leave. You belong here! With us!” With me.
“I have to. I promised him. A-And he won’t leave unless I’m with him.”
HyukJae shook his head harder, unable to believe it. “He’s not getting you. I’-I’ll talk to him, he’ll understand! You can’t go back, Hae!”
“H-Hyukkie-“
The doorbell rang.
*****
The others followed KiBum anxiously through the corridors of the school, as he pulled off the posters from the walls. There was no point though; they seemed to reappear, and most of the students had seen and were spreading the story. KiBum seemed to be looking at each picture carefully though, comparing them, holding them up to the sunlight. They weren’t done from a printer, but on real photo paper.
“It’s no use, they just keep on coming back,” ShinDong huffed, looking with annoyance at the wall they had passed five minutes ago, which bore a new picture. “Where are they all coming from?” SungMin asked.
“Someone’s making them fresh,” KiBum murmured, running his fingers over the picture of him and DongHae kissing. He had to make this right. It was partly his fault anyways. “These photos were made very, very recently.”
“Someone’s making them right now?” RyeoWook piped up from behind his boyfriend.
“Most likely. And to post it up this quickly, they’d have to be in the school.” He looked at KangIn. “Who’s allowed to use the photo labs?”
“Only the students registered in the Photography course,” the male answered, unsure.
KiBum nodded. “And this person isn’t a teacher. Look, the photos haven’t developed properly.” He pointed out all the inconsistencies in the pictures. They were faint, but when noticed stood out like a sore thumb. “And so many mistakes too. Most likely a first-year.”
“Where’s the labs?” YeSung asked.
“I know,” SiWon said. They followed him quickly through the halls, ignoring the other students they passed. This had to be stopped now, before things blew out of control. If it hadn’t already.
They got to the photo lab quickly. KiBum went in first, opening the door to shine light into the darkroom. A girl standing by the film developer squeaked in surprise, dropping the picture she had been holding into the developer again, the liquid splashing a bit onto her clothes. “Hey, I’m working here-“ She started, turning around and stopping when she saw who it was.
“TaeYeon. Nice to see you again,” KiBum greeted mildy. The girl smiled back. “Hi oppas. I’m a bit busy, could you come back later?”
Heechul barged past them, storming up to where pictures were hanging to dry and squinting at them. “I don’t believe it. You witch!” He whirled on TaeYeon, but SiWon got there first and restrained the older male, fighting to get to the girl who had her back pressed up against the counter, terrified of his wrath.
KiBum didn’t even need to look at the pictures himself to know they had caught the culprit. “TaeYeon, you’re the last person I would have expected, but it makes sense in a warped way… You take photography, but you’re not as good at it as the others in your class… You always leave spots on your work. I remember seeing your photos displayed in the school gallery before, all of them were spotty.” He stepped aside, so the others could enter the room. The light from outside fried the developing pictures inside the room, turning them black. KyuHyun snatched the digital camera from the counter and proceeded to delete all the incriminating pictures of DongHae.
“But… I don’t get why,” SiWon said, frowning as he held onto HeeChul, who was hissing at TaeYeon like a very pissed-off HeeBum. “You used to be picked on just as badly as DongHae is now. Worse, in fact. So why are you doing this to him?”
The eleven boys focused on her, waiting for her answer. KiBum and SiWon looked sorely disappointed. They’d helped her out when she was being picked on, and she repaid them by turning on one of their best friends.
“I-I… He’s corrupted you all! You used to all pay attention to everyone, not singling anyone out in particular. But when he came in, it was all ‘DongHae this’, ‘DongHae that’. You didn’t talk to the rest of us often anymore. You didn’t talk to me anymore. You promised you would never do that! You guys were my only friends.”
“So to get back at us, you took out your frustrations on DongHae?” KiBum asked coldly. “Where’s the logic in that, TaeYeon? You’ve always been a smart girl. Looking at DongHae, doesn’t he look exactly how you used to be? The entire school against him, with us as his only friends? Doesn’t that sound the least bit familiar?”
“And if you took the time to know him,” KyuHyun spoke up softly from the back. “We wouldn’t be your only friends anymore.”
They let that sink in, seeing the uncertainty in her eyes. TaeYeon really wasn’t a bad girl. She and DongHae were alike in so many ways. But she didn’t see it.
She looked down at the pictures littering the floor, taking in the barely-noticable tears DongHae had shed in each. The way his body curled in on himself, insecure. Tears formed in her own eyes. She could see herself in those pictures. “Oppas… What did I do?”
She slipped to the floor, crying softly. ShinDong and LeeTeuk moved forward to comfort her. SiWon kept his grip on HeeChul, who wasn’t done shooting dagger-eyes at her. KiBum drew in a breath, trying to calm down. There was a light touch at the back of his neck, and he looked back at HanKyung, who smiled reassuringly.
“What do we do now? Go find DongHae?” SungMin asked.
LeeTeuk shook his head. “No. HyukJae’s there with him, he’s the one who could help him most now.”
For once, they all agreed with their leader. KyuHyun nodded. “Sometimes the person that you need the most, is the one who’s been beside you all along,” He said quietly. RyeoWook nodded a little. YeSung drew SungMin closer to him.
“Then we’ll wait. And pray for the best.”
Chapter: 12/13
Pairings: EunHae, KiHae, SiHae, SiChul, KiHan
Side Pairings: KangTeuk, KyuWook, YeMin
Rating: PG-16
Summary: They were known as the school MatchMakers; if you wanted a steady relationship with someone you’d love forever, they were the three to go see. But the MatchMakers can’t find someone for themselves! When a new student transfers in, will their situation change for the better... Or worse?
A/N: Second-last chapter! One left! Sorry I took so long, school started and I've been tripping over myself X.X This chapter was hard to write, because I know what I want to happen but it's not coming out the way I want it!!! *headdesk* anyways, I hope you like it, the last chapter should be up by tomorrow! Keep an eye out for it!
HyukJae ran the entire way to DongHae’s apartment. Public transit would take longer than it did for him to run, and there was no time. He thanked his lucky stars that he was physically fit, or he would take much longer to get there. But he had to be there. The worst possible thing he could imagine right now would be DongHae sitting in his apartment, utterly alone, crying. DongHae was the bright and cheerful fish, but most of all he was so innocent and naive, he couldn’t be left alone at a time like this. The mental image of DongHae curled up against the wall sobbing uncontrollably made HyukJae force himself to run faster, now sprinting. He ignored the screaming pain in his sides as he pushed himself past his limits. There was time to worry about that later.
As he ran, he kept trying DongHae’s number. Right after he left the school, he got a busy signal. Someone was on the phone with DongHae. HyukJae tried again and again all the way there. Busy still. What was going on?
Even at top-speed, it took him ten minutes to reach DongHae’s apartment. He pressed the button for the elevator, then gave up when it took too long and took the stairs, nearly knocking over a woman coming down. Muttering an apology, he didn’t slow down, but took the stairs two at a time, bounding up two floors and into the hallway.
It had taken too long. DongHae had been alone for nearly half an hour. That was too much time! His mind could come up with too many possibilities for what could have happened during that time, everything ranging from a mental breakdown to a suicide attempt. No, DongHae would never do that… Would he? He’d never been this sad before, maybe it would be the only that he could cope-
HyukJae grabbed the doorknob and pulled. Locked. “DongHae! It’s me, open up!” He called, banging on the door. No reply. “Hae!” Ten seconds passed, then there was a small click as the door was unlocked. DongHae opened the door a little, looking out at HyukJae. “Hyukkie…”
He had been crying, hard. The skin under his eyes were puffy, the chocolate-brown orbs slightly bloodshot as he looked at the older male. His skin was pale, lips cracked and bleeding a little. HyukJae felt his heart twist painfully.
Doing the first thing that came to mind, he took a step forward, going to pull him into a hug, but DongHae flinched. Flinched away from him. HyukJae stopped, worried. “Hae…”
“W-Why are you here?”
“To help you, obviously. The posters-“
“You shouldn’t have come. I’m a m-monster. I-“
“You can’t seriously believe what those people are saying?!?” HyukJae couldn’t believe it.
“Th-they’re right, I came in out of nowhere and exp-ected everyone to be my friend,” DongHae whispered, eyes filled with tears. His body shook uncontrollably, as he continued unable to stop. “I h-hung all over everyone and was a nuisance, and hurt two of my best friends, a-and was such a trouble to you and KyuHyunnie, and I-“\
HyukJae stepped forward again, pulling DongHae into a crushing hug. The taller boy fought at first, trying to get free and stammering about how he couldn’t, he wasn’t worth HyukJae’s friendship, and how he didn’t belong here. HyukJae just held onto him grimly, until DongHae’s struggling died down and all he could do was cry in his best friends’ arms.
HyukJae pulled the boy further into the apartment, nudging the door closed with his foot. “Shh… Calm down, it’s okay,” He whispered, stroking the others soft hair. DongHae hid his face against HyukJae’s shoulder, shaking still. The rapper made him sit down on the couch, arms still wrapped around his body and holding him close.
“Listen to me,” HyukJae said softly. “They don’t know you, they’re just idiots who judge before knowing a scrap of information. You’re not trouble, and you’re our friend DongHae… You’re my best friend. You belong here, you’re a part of Super Junior. Don’t you ever doubt that.”
DongHae sniffed a little. “I… I’m not a part of Super Junior,” He whispered.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m leaving, Hyukkie.”
HyukJae felt the world fall out from under him. “W… What?”
“M-my cousin… JungHoon hyung… He’s here. He called a minute ago… He took the plane, he’s in Seoul, and he’s coming to take me back home. H-he said he left last night when he s-saw the pictures on the Internet-“
“No!” HyukJae hugged him tighter, dismayed. “DongHae, you can’t leave. You belong here! With us!” With me.
“I have to. I promised him. A-And he won’t leave unless I’m with him.”
HyukJae shook his head harder, unable to believe it. “He’s not getting you. I’-I’ll talk to him, he’ll understand! You can’t go back, Hae!”
“H-Hyukkie-“
The doorbell rang.
*****
The others followed KiBum anxiously through the corridors of the school, as he pulled off the posters from the walls. There was no point though; they seemed to reappear, and most of the students had seen and were spreading the story. KiBum seemed to be looking at each picture carefully though, comparing them, holding them up to the sunlight. They weren’t done from a printer, but on real photo paper.
“It’s no use, they just keep on coming back,” ShinDong huffed, looking with annoyance at the wall they had passed five minutes ago, which bore a new picture. “Where are they all coming from?” SungMin asked.
“Someone’s making them fresh,” KiBum murmured, running his fingers over the picture of him and DongHae kissing. He had to make this right. It was partly his fault anyways. “These photos were made very, very recently.”
“Someone’s making them right now?” RyeoWook piped up from behind his boyfriend.
“Most likely. And to post it up this quickly, they’d have to be in the school.” He looked at KangIn. “Who’s allowed to use the photo labs?”
“Only the students registered in the Photography course,” the male answered, unsure.
KiBum nodded. “And this person isn’t a teacher. Look, the photos haven’t developed properly.” He pointed out all the inconsistencies in the pictures. They were faint, but when noticed stood out like a sore thumb. “And so many mistakes too. Most likely a first-year.”
“Where’s the labs?” YeSung asked.
“I know,” SiWon said. They followed him quickly through the halls, ignoring the other students they passed. This had to be stopped now, before things blew out of control. If it hadn’t already.
They got to the photo lab quickly. KiBum went in first, opening the door to shine light into the darkroom. A girl standing by the film developer squeaked in surprise, dropping the picture she had been holding into the developer again, the liquid splashing a bit onto her clothes. “Hey, I’m working here-“ She started, turning around and stopping when she saw who it was.
“TaeYeon. Nice to see you again,” KiBum greeted mildy. The girl smiled back. “Hi oppas. I’m a bit busy, could you come back later?”
Heechul barged past them, storming up to where pictures were hanging to dry and squinting at them. “I don’t believe it. You witch!” He whirled on TaeYeon, but SiWon got there first and restrained the older male, fighting to get to the girl who had her back pressed up against the counter, terrified of his wrath.
KiBum didn’t even need to look at the pictures himself to know they had caught the culprit. “TaeYeon, you’re the last person I would have expected, but it makes sense in a warped way… You take photography, but you’re not as good at it as the others in your class… You always leave spots on your work. I remember seeing your photos displayed in the school gallery before, all of them were spotty.” He stepped aside, so the others could enter the room. The light from outside fried the developing pictures inside the room, turning them black. KyuHyun snatched the digital camera from the counter and proceeded to delete all the incriminating pictures of DongHae.
“But… I don’t get why,” SiWon said, frowning as he held onto HeeChul, who was hissing at TaeYeon like a very pissed-off HeeBum. “You used to be picked on just as badly as DongHae is now. Worse, in fact. So why are you doing this to him?”
The eleven boys focused on her, waiting for her answer. KiBum and SiWon looked sorely disappointed. They’d helped her out when she was being picked on, and she repaid them by turning on one of their best friends.
“I-I… He’s corrupted you all! You used to all pay attention to everyone, not singling anyone out in particular. But when he came in, it was all ‘DongHae this’, ‘DongHae that’. You didn’t talk to the rest of us often anymore. You didn’t talk to me anymore. You promised you would never do that! You guys were my only friends.”
“So to get back at us, you took out your frustrations on DongHae?” KiBum asked coldly. “Where’s the logic in that, TaeYeon? You’ve always been a smart girl. Looking at DongHae, doesn’t he look exactly how you used to be? The entire school against him, with us as his only friends? Doesn’t that sound the least bit familiar?”
“And if you took the time to know him,” KyuHyun spoke up softly from the back. “We wouldn’t be your only friends anymore.”
They let that sink in, seeing the uncertainty in her eyes. TaeYeon really wasn’t a bad girl. She and DongHae were alike in so many ways. But she didn’t see it.
She looked down at the pictures littering the floor, taking in the barely-noticable tears DongHae had shed in each. The way his body curled in on himself, insecure. Tears formed in her own eyes. She could see herself in those pictures. “Oppas… What did I do?”
She slipped to the floor, crying softly. ShinDong and LeeTeuk moved forward to comfort her. SiWon kept his grip on HeeChul, who wasn’t done shooting dagger-eyes at her. KiBum drew in a breath, trying to calm down. There was a light touch at the back of his neck, and he looked back at HanKyung, who smiled reassuringly.
“What do we do now? Go find DongHae?” SungMin asked.
LeeTeuk shook his head. “No. HyukJae’s there with him, he’s the one who could help him most now.”
For once, they all agreed with their leader. KyuHyun nodded. “Sometimes the person that you need the most, is the one who’s been beside you all along,” He said quietly. RyeoWook nodded a little. YeSung drew SungMin closer to him.
“Then we’ll wait. And pray for the best.”