078.
Heavily based on Strangers, Again by wongfuproductions -- probably better to actually watch it before reading this but not required.
This is about the seven stages of a relationship. It's more disconnected than I'd like (and missing a scene) but generally happy with it though I'm pretty sure the characterisation leaves a lot to be desired.
Minyoung never deserves this :( ♥ For platypus and porcupine (and Bek even though you won't read this, happy birthday Bek! ♥)
Longest preface I've written for a while.
-
1. The Meeting
It was, in some ways, a coincidence, they met. But then, if Sungmin believed in coincidences, then it was a coincidence he was alive and where he was now. Which was just a plain stupid thing to believe.
"Oh shit-- I mean, shoot, I'm so sorry! Are you alright? I'm so sorry about that!"
Sungmin winced as he straightened in his chair, gently righting the girl who had fallen on him.
"I'm alright, are you okay?" He glanced at her, checking there weren't any telltale sounds of pain. No cuts or bruises, it seemed. Then, he noticed the laptop bag, folder, handbag and cup of coffee she was holding.
"Oh god," he muttered involuntarily, and the passengers on the bus shuffled around as some got off and some got on. Still a good while until his stop, though.
"Oh my god, did I spill some coffee on you? Oh god, I am so sorry, here let me grab some--"
"No," Sungmin said firmly and glanced outside. Red light. He maneuvered himself until he was standing next to her, and he pushed her lightly into her seat, pushing her bags under her feet with his foot.
"I think you need the seat more than me," he said, and she couldn't help but smile gratefully.
"Thank you, so much. I usually don't have so much but there's a presentation today and just, ugh, hate them, with a passion."
"Public speaking," Sungmin said sympathetically, knowing that while he was decent, it wasn't something he'd partake in willingly. Who undergoes pain willingly?
"Yeah, exactly. Like, it's not exactly horrible but if I can avoid them, then yeah, definitely." She juggled around her various things until she had a free hand, and she smiled.
"I'm Sooyoung, Choi Sooyoung." She had a nice smile and looked friendly enough, so Sungmin took her hand, smiling back.
"And I'm Sungmin, Lee Sungmin. It's nice to meet you."
2. The Chase
Sungmin wouldn't say it was love at first sight, because it wasn't. But there was something compelling about her smile as he got off the bus, her number scribbled onto his hand because I want to repay you -- not just for the seat, but just because. Thank you again, by the way, and I really am sorry.
So he tucked the number away until lunch time, when all his collegues were relatively occupied and called the number.
"Shit-- I mean, hello! Choi Sooyoung speaking."
Sungmin couldn't help but laugh a little. "Hey, it's Lee Sungmin -- we met on the bus this morning? Are you free for lunch today?"
"Oh! Oh, you, oh my god yes I am free for lunch! Would you-- do you want to--"
"Yes," Sungmin said, smiling into his phone. "That'd be great. Where do you want to meet?"
"Um, I get off in around twenty minutes, how about I call you back then?"
"Sure."
That had been the start. One lunch date led to another as they realised their lunch breaks coincided and their buildings were right next to each other.
"Rivals," Sungmin said half-seriously, and Sooyoung grinned.
"We would be, if your company actually did anything worth rivaling in."
"Hey!"
"It's okay, when your company fails we would welcome you with open arms."
The lunch dates turned into dinner dates turned into movie dates until one night, they were watching the Han River flow by after dinner, Seoul's night lights reflected in the water.
Sooyoung's head was tucked neatly under Sungmin's chin as his arm rested on her shoulders, the night air biting but refreshing. It was cold, but Sungmin felt strangely at peace, a slow, happy warmth in his chest.
"Sooyoung," he said as he tucked her hair behind her ear, and she shifted minutely.
"Yeah?"
"Be my girlfriend?"
There was a pause in which he almost regretted his words before her arm crept around his waist under his coat.
"Yeah."
He could practically feel the smile in her words, and couldn't resist dropping a kiss on the crown of her head.
3. Honeymoon
There was no one better, no one prettier, no one more perfect than Sooyoung, Sungmin concluded.
The way she smiled when she first spotted him, the way her face lit up when he surprised her, and the way she was so easily pleased.
The morning bus rides they had together, where Sungmin would spot Sooyoung getting on and always offer his seat, trading a smile as they entwined fingers. All their lunch times together, chasing away the bitter winter cold with cups of coffee and tea and chocolate, laughing so easily and so happily. And the nights they spent together, watching the Han River before curling around each other on the couch at home, the TV reflected on their sleeping faces.
On the rare nights she wasn't sleeping over, Sungmin would pass time before her call playing a game with Kyuhyun, eyes straying to the clock every few seconds, fingers twitching just to check if her call had come through, if maybe his message tone had malfunctioned and she'd texted--
"Sooyoung!" Sungmin leapt for his phone and Kyuhyun watched, amused as he paused the game. "I missed you too," Sungmin added breathlessly, and okay, Kyuhyun wasn't staying for this, hello bedroom.
Sungmin didn't think that a relationship could be so easy -- was so easy. The way they knew each other -- the nights away from each other spent talking on the phone about nonsensical things -- to the way his day could be so easily brightened by a text message from her (i have to spend my lunch doing my work, i'm sorry! love, sooyoung).
It seemed so easy, until it became too easy.
4. Comfortable
After a rise, came a fall. Sungmin knew that, but he didn't know the gentle transition, how easily they shifted from being what they had had, to this.
"Hey Sooyoung," he said, motioning for Kyuhyun to start the game again.
"Sure?" Kyuhyun said, and Sungmin nodded before wedging the phone between his shoulder and his ear.
"Mmmhm. Yup, sure. Yeah. No. Okay, love you, bye."
He tossed the phone on the sofa beside him and continued playing the game as if nothing had happened.
Sungmin still felt the same rush of affection when he saw or spoke to her, but it was dulled, as if he'd gotten too used to it. She was still an amazing girl, but it wasn't the same -- the wonder that had overcome him anytime he met her was gone, just replaced by a content glow.
(Sooyoung pushed the pasta around her plate disinterestedly, watching the way the oil spread before gathering at the bottom of the plate again. Sungmin was forking it into his mouth as quickly as possible, though Sooyoung had no idea what he had planned for later on. She never really knew, anymore.
"You know, there are only two more ways to continue on?"
"Yeah?"
"To either get married, or break up?"
Sungmin had to stop at that and he looked up, fork held precariously.
"Do you... want to get married?"
"I think it's too early to tell." She couldn't meet his eyes as she said this, but she knew that no, she didn't. Not at this age, not at this time, not to this man.
"Then, do you want to break up?"
"No," she said, looking up, and he visibly relaxed. Not yet, anyway, she added mentally.)
5. Tolerance
It went from bad to worse. Sungmin had been in his fair share of relationships to know that this was just the natural progression, but it still hurt, even now, looking back on it.
He was standing in the kitchen, deskinning some chicken for dinner later, feeling shitty after a shitty day at work. The boss had yelled at him that his recent performance levels were enough to lose him his job, and then Ryeowook had spilled his coffee. He'd apologised, but afterwards, Sungmin didn't feel like venturing outside for more coffee, and stuck to water. It was enough for him to lose concentration after another hour of work, and he had left early.
"You would not believe the day I've had," Sooyoung said as she strode through the front door, tossing her handbag on the kitchen counter.
"Yeah?" He narrowly missed his finger with the knife, her sudden appearance putting him on the edge.
"The new job is a fucking joke -- all they want me to do is the filing and stamp all the envelopes. Seriously, all I did today was look at manila folders and their titles and stamp envelopes, and apparently all the information inside was classified so I wasn't even allowed a peek."
"Mmmm."
"Is that all you have to say? I had a shitty day and that's the most sympathy you can muster?"
Sometimes, Sungmin thought Sooyoung was a bit spoilt and he let it slide, but he was in a bad mood himself and didn't feel like tolerating her, listening to her heels as she stomped out of the room. He put down the knife carefully before following her out, drying off his hands on his apron as he did so.
"You shouldn't have said that," Sungmin said as he confronted her in the living room, her shoes discarded on the floor next to her as she lay down.
"It's not like you even care anymore!" she cried and stood up again. "All I ever say goes in one ear and out the other -- do you even listen to what I say anymore?"
"Well do you even give a shit about me? Maybe I had a fucked up day too and I didn't feel like making it worse by telling you! Why don't you have some sympathy and stop being so spoilt instead?"
"Oh that's rich, coming from you! Do you even remember half the things you say, anymore? You don't even care about me anymore, why should I care about you!"
"Right, maybe you shouldn't."
6. Downhill
It could go either way -- better or worse. It went worse.
Sungmin couldn't even remember what they fought about anymore, only shouting at each other, hurling insults at each other and avoiding each other. He never picked up the phone when she called anymore, and instead changed her contact name to Never pick up. She stopped coming around to his home after work, and they barely met up for dinner.
It was gradual, but Sungmin could track it until that one, last point.
7. Breaking Up
It was at the same bench that he'd asked her out, but now they were sitting stiffly next to each other, a measurable distance between them. Thirty centimetres -- more. Easily conquered by a brave, sympathetic hand, but it was too late for that now.
"I think we need to break up."
She nodded.
This is about the seven stages of a relationship. It's more disconnected than I'd like (and missing a scene) but generally happy with it though I'm pretty sure the characterisation leaves a lot to be desired.
Minyoung never deserves this :( ♥ For platypus and porcupine (and Bek even though you won't read this, happy birthday Bek! ♥)
Longest preface I've written for a while.
-
1. The Meeting
It was, in some ways, a coincidence, they met. But then, if Sungmin believed in coincidences, then it was a coincidence he was alive and where he was now. Which was just a plain stupid thing to believe.
"Oh shit-- I mean, shoot, I'm so sorry! Are you alright? I'm so sorry about that!"
Sungmin winced as he straightened in his chair, gently righting the girl who had fallen on him.
"I'm alright, are you okay?" He glanced at her, checking there weren't any telltale sounds of pain. No cuts or bruises, it seemed. Then, he noticed the laptop bag, folder, handbag and cup of coffee she was holding.
"Oh god," he muttered involuntarily, and the passengers on the bus shuffled around as some got off and some got on. Still a good while until his stop, though.
"Oh my god, did I spill some coffee on you? Oh god, I am so sorry, here let me grab some--"
"No," Sungmin said firmly and glanced outside. Red light. He maneuvered himself until he was standing next to her, and he pushed her lightly into her seat, pushing her bags under her feet with his foot.
"I think you need the seat more than me," he said, and she couldn't help but smile gratefully.
"Thank you, so much. I usually don't have so much but there's a presentation today and just, ugh, hate them, with a passion."
"Public speaking," Sungmin said sympathetically, knowing that while he was decent, it wasn't something he'd partake in willingly. Who undergoes pain willingly?
"Yeah, exactly. Like, it's not exactly horrible but if I can avoid them, then yeah, definitely." She juggled around her various things until she had a free hand, and she smiled.
"I'm Sooyoung, Choi Sooyoung." She had a nice smile and looked friendly enough, so Sungmin took her hand, smiling back.
"And I'm Sungmin, Lee Sungmin. It's nice to meet you."
2. The Chase
Sungmin wouldn't say it was love at first sight, because it wasn't. But there was something compelling about her smile as he got off the bus, her number scribbled onto his hand because I want to repay you -- not just for the seat, but just because. Thank you again, by the way, and I really am sorry.
So he tucked the number away until lunch time, when all his collegues were relatively occupied and called the number.
"Shit-- I mean, hello! Choi Sooyoung speaking."
Sungmin couldn't help but laugh a little. "Hey, it's Lee Sungmin -- we met on the bus this morning? Are you free for lunch today?"
"Oh! Oh, you, oh my god yes I am free for lunch! Would you-- do you want to--"
"Yes," Sungmin said, smiling into his phone. "That'd be great. Where do you want to meet?"
"Um, I get off in around twenty minutes, how about I call you back then?"
"Sure."
That had been the start. One lunch date led to another as they realised their lunch breaks coincided and their buildings were right next to each other.
"Rivals," Sungmin said half-seriously, and Sooyoung grinned.
"We would be, if your company actually did anything worth rivaling in."
"Hey!"
"It's okay, when your company fails we would welcome you with open arms."
The lunch dates turned into dinner dates turned into movie dates until one night, they were watching the Han River flow by after dinner, Seoul's night lights reflected in the water.
Sooyoung's head was tucked neatly under Sungmin's chin as his arm rested on her shoulders, the night air biting but refreshing. It was cold, but Sungmin felt strangely at peace, a slow, happy warmth in his chest.
"Sooyoung," he said as he tucked her hair behind her ear, and she shifted minutely.
"Yeah?"
"Be my girlfriend?"
There was a pause in which he almost regretted his words before her arm crept around his waist under his coat.
"Yeah."
He could practically feel the smile in her words, and couldn't resist dropping a kiss on the crown of her head.
3. Honeymoon
There was no one better, no one prettier, no one more perfect than Sooyoung, Sungmin concluded.
The way she smiled when she first spotted him, the way her face lit up when he surprised her, and the way she was so easily pleased.
The morning bus rides they had together, where Sungmin would spot Sooyoung getting on and always offer his seat, trading a smile as they entwined fingers. All their lunch times together, chasing away the bitter winter cold with cups of coffee and tea and chocolate, laughing so easily and so happily. And the nights they spent together, watching the Han River before curling around each other on the couch at home, the TV reflected on their sleeping faces.
On the rare nights she wasn't sleeping over, Sungmin would pass time before her call playing a game with Kyuhyun, eyes straying to the clock every few seconds, fingers twitching just to check if her call had come through, if maybe his message tone had malfunctioned and she'd texted--
"Sooyoung!" Sungmin leapt for his phone and Kyuhyun watched, amused as he paused the game. "I missed you too," Sungmin added breathlessly, and okay, Kyuhyun wasn't staying for this, hello bedroom.
Sungmin didn't think that a relationship could be so easy -- was so easy. The way they knew each other -- the nights away from each other spent talking on the phone about nonsensical things -- to the way his day could be so easily brightened by a text message from her (i have to spend my lunch doing my work, i'm sorry! love, sooyoung).
It seemed so easy, until it became too easy.
4. Comfortable
After a rise, came a fall. Sungmin knew that, but he didn't know the gentle transition, how easily they shifted from being what they had had, to this.
"Hey Sooyoung," he said, motioning for Kyuhyun to start the game again.
"Sure?" Kyuhyun said, and Sungmin nodded before wedging the phone between his shoulder and his ear.
"Mmmhm. Yup, sure. Yeah. No. Okay, love you, bye."
He tossed the phone on the sofa beside him and continued playing the game as if nothing had happened.
Sungmin still felt the same rush of affection when he saw or spoke to her, but it was dulled, as if he'd gotten too used to it. She was still an amazing girl, but it wasn't the same -- the wonder that had overcome him anytime he met her was gone, just replaced by a content glow.
(Sooyoung pushed the pasta around her plate disinterestedly, watching the way the oil spread before gathering at the bottom of the plate again. Sungmin was forking it into his mouth as quickly as possible, though Sooyoung had no idea what he had planned for later on. She never really knew, anymore.
"You know, there are only two more ways to continue on?"
"Yeah?"
"To either get married, or break up?"
Sungmin had to stop at that and he looked up, fork held precariously.
"Do you... want to get married?"
"I think it's too early to tell." She couldn't meet his eyes as she said this, but she knew that no, she didn't. Not at this age, not at this time, not to this man.
"Then, do you want to break up?"
"No," she said, looking up, and he visibly relaxed. Not yet, anyway, she added mentally.)
5. Tolerance
It went from bad to worse. Sungmin had been in his fair share of relationships to know that this was just the natural progression, but it still hurt, even now, looking back on it.
He was standing in the kitchen, deskinning some chicken for dinner later, feeling shitty after a shitty day at work. The boss had yelled at him that his recent performance levels were enough to lose him his job, and then Ryeowook had spilled his coffee. He'd apologised, but afterwards, Sungmin didn't feel like venturing outside for more coffee, and stuck to water. It was enough for him to lose concentration after another hour of work, and he had left early.
"You would not believe the day I've had," Sooyoung said as she strode through the front door, tossing her handbag on the kitchen counter.
"Yeah?" He narrowly missed his finger with the knife, her sudden appearance putting him on the edge.
"The new job is a fucking joke -- all they want me to do is the filing and stamp all the envelopes. Seriously, all I did today was look at manila folders and their titles and stamp envelopes, and apparently all the information inside was classified so I wasn't even allowed a peek."
"Mmmm."
"Is that all you have to say? I had a shitty day and that's the most sympathy you can muster?"
Sometimes, Sungmin thought Sooyoung was a bit spoilt and he let it slide, but he was in a bad mood himself and didn't feel like tolerating her, listening to her heels as she stomped out of the room. He put down the knife carefully before following her out, drying off his hands on his apron as he did so.
"You shouldn't have said that," Sungmin said as he confronted her in the living room, her shoes discarded on the floor next to her as she lay down.
"It's not like you even care anymore!" she cried and stood up again. "All I ever say goes in one ear and out the other -- do you even listen to what I say anymore?"
"Well do you even give a shit about me? Maybe I had a fucked up day too and I didn't feel like making it worse by telling you! Why don't you have some sympathy and stop being so spoilt instead?"
"Oh that's rich, coming from you! Do you even remember half the things you say, anymore? You don't even care about me anymore, why should I care about you!"
"Right, maybe you shouldn't."
6. Downhill
It could go either way -- better or worse. It went worse.
Sungmin couldn't even remember what they fought about anymore, only shouting at each other, hurling insults at each other and avoiding each other. He never picked up the phone when she called anymore, and instead changed her contact name to Never pick up. She stopped coming around to his home after work, and they barely met up for dinner.
It was gradual, but Sungmin could track it until that one, last point.
7. Breaking Up
It was at the same bench that he'd asked her out, but now they were sitting stiffly next to each other, a measurable distance between them. Thirty centimetres -- more. Easily conquered by a brave, sympathetic hand, but it was too late for that now.
"I think we need to break up."
She nodded.