009. GREEN EARTH
There's this boy in Sungmin's music class, though that isn't a great indicator since his class is made up of fifteen boys.
But he's a small, delicate thing with the most cheerful eyes and delicate hands, ready to play out a melody and sing along with the most joyous smile.
Sungmin's got a bit of a crush on him. As in the: I-want-you-so-badly-I-would-beg-for-you-and-then-suck-you-off-if-I-thought-you-liked-it-like-that way.
But he's shy so Sungmin's a bit cautious about approaching him even as Jongwoon tells him he's really nice, don't be afraid and Kyuhyun laughs at him and tells him to just confess already, god damn it.
Still, Sungmin doesn't do anything until he's walking back from his required maths class on Thursday, hands curled around a cup of coffee and his mind whirling around the different formulae.
"Hey," he says suddenly, surprising himself even as Ryeowook looks up from a grey buggy.
"Hey, Sungmin, right?" Ryeowook says back, sponge dripping from his right hand. Sungmin nods.
"And Ryeowook?"
"Yeah."
Sungmin's hands tighten around his coffee, and he smiles a bit unconsciously.
"Is this where you work?"
Ryeowook shakes his head and wipes at his forehead with his wrist.
"Nah, just some volunteer work with the Green Earth group, promoting eco-friendly cleaning products and all that. Do you have a car you'd like us to wash?"
Sungmin shakes his head. The silence is a bit unnerving, but it isn't uncomfortable, and Sungmin likes that.
"You're part of the Green Earth group?"
Ryeowook nods, smiling earnestly, and Sungmin wants to coo, pinch his cheeks. Why so cute? his mind cries at him.
"Not too much work?"
"Nah, it's okay. Bit tiring at times but you know, good to get out of a room and into the fresh air. How about you, do you work?"
Sungmin tilts his head.
"Some volunteer work in the theatre department; mainly manage the lights. Work at the convenience store sometimes on the weekend."
Ryeowook nods.
"And that? Is that tiring?"
Sungmin laughs. "Um, sometimes? Theatre's good, I like it, but the store usually gives me the graveyard shift, which sucks." He wrinkles his nose and Ryeowook laughs, eyes crinkling in delight.
"That can't be good." He looks down as a soap spud lands on his shoe, and makes a face. "Sorry, but I should be getting back to this. I'll see you in class?"
Sungmin nods.
"Yeah, see you later."
"Have a good day!" is the chirpy reply, and Sungmin sets off, grinning.
"He really likes you," Hyukjae says as they lean on the counter of the convenience store, all dark outside.
Sungmin sighs and flicks his hair back, annoyance written all over his face.
"No he doesn't, he was just being nice."
Hyukjae snorts at the words. "Come on, Junsu saw you guys, and Ryeowook was totally blushing at you. It was sort of... cute?" He's wrinkling his nose.
Sungmin laughs. "Maybe because he was doing physical work, something you never do?"
Hyukjae throws a packet of gum at him.
"You just wait, I bet he's going to confess to you in a few days."
"Let's make a bet."
Hyukjae laughs.
"On your love life? Please, that's childish and immature, what are you, four?" he says, imitating Jungsu's voice, and Sungmin grins.
"Yeah I am actually. Ten thousand won he won't do it."
"Ten thousand he will."
"We got a deal?"
"Deal."
The next week trudges by slowly, dragging its feet even as the obligatory music lessons rush by.
"Morning," Ryeowook always chirps when he enters the room, and the rest of them say some kind of greeting in return, ranging from dead to zombie.
"How're you always so awake?" Kyuhyun protests, and Ryeowook laughs. Sungmin loves the sound.
"I don't stay awake until four a. m., gaming, Cho Kyuhyun," he says back.
"Wasn't exactly gaming," Jongwoon whispers, and the tips of Ryeowook's turn red.
"Class!" the teacher calls, and they all turn to the front. Sungmin stares at Ryeowook's head for the rest of the class.
"Owe me ten thousand won," Sungmin says on Saturday night/Sunday morning when Hyukjae finally walks into the store, yawning and stinking of sweat.
"AND PLEASE, LEARN TO SHOWER," Sungmin screams and throws a can of deodorant towards him.
Hyukjae laughs. "Sorry, fell asleep after practise and just ran from there." He sprays himself.
"Still. Ten thousand won, pay up."
Hyukjae sighs. "Are you sure you're not lying, sure he didn't say anything?"
Sungmin looks at him. "The most he said to me this week was what he said to you; 'morning.'"
Hyukjae pulls out his wallet and slides the bill across the counter, and Sungmin beams. "You'll also need to pay for the deo." Hyukjae scowls and pushes another note across the counter.
"Do you live to make my life a living hell?"
"Nope, just an added bonus."
A month after the car washing incident, Sungmin can count the words Ryeowook has spoken to him on two hands. Without the 'mornings!' the count dwindles to three ('Is this your's?') which is quite sad, considering how he internally gushes how much he loves Ryeowook everytime he sees him.
"Your crush is kind of cute," Hyukjae says as he arranges the candy bars again.
Sungmin groans and puts his head to the counter.
"Your FACE is kind of cute."
Hyukjae pauses and the plastic rustles.
"Is that a compliment?"
"I don't know, leave me alone. Let me wallow in my misery."
Hyukjae sighs and swaps the pink and green gum around.
"You're pathetic, just confess yourself."
Sungmin shakes his head on the counter, his hair making swishy noises.
"Don't want to."
Hyukjae throws a piece of candy at his head.
"Do it. Or stop complaining. You look like a fag."
There's a pause.
"Yeah, well, so do you," comes out weakly, and Hyukjae grins.
"Ryeowook has a recital at eleven on Saturday. He'll probably be staying back with the organisers for a few hours, so get your stuff ready at around four," Kyuhyun tells him, not looking up from his laptop.
"In the hall?"
"Yeah, and he'll probably be coming out at the south entrance. You have the keys, right?"
Sungmin checks his pocket.
"Yep."
"Okay, I'll get Jongwoon to call you when Ryeowook's coming out, yeah?"
"You. Are the best friend. Ever."
Kyuhyun throws a smirk over his shoulder.
"Yeah I know."
At half-past three, when everyone's left and there are only the organisers and a few of the performers left, Sungmin tiptoes through the entrance, looking around until he sees the coast is clear. He then drags his two amps, the keyboard stand and the keyboard itself, before checking his sheet music, heart stuttering, before smiling. It's all there and ready.
He's sitting on the stairs after having checked everything five times, and the volume is enough to travel to the top of the stairs, he knows from experience.
Ten past four, he gets a text message from Jongwoon.
- he's coming.
The note resounds, and Sungmin breathes, a bit calmer as he looks at the music and places his hands on the keyboard, taking a breath and counting a mental one, two, three, four.
It's one of his favourite songs, and one they've played in class a few times. Sungmin's heard Ryeowook sing it, and fallen in love, and he attempts to sing it. He knows it isn't that same as when Ryeowook does, but the words and melody wash over him, and leaves him with a warm feeling in his chest.
Footsteps sound on the stairs, but Sungmin ignores it, instead misses a quaver and curses.
"Sungmin?" Ryewook's voice asks and he turns, smiling even as he utters the words.
Don't you know how much I love you?
Sungmin doesn't know if Ryeowook picks up the lyrics, but he sees Ryeowook's grip on the handrail slacken as he approaches Sungmin, putting a hand on top of his.
"Is this a confession?" Ryeowook says softly, and Sungmin attempts a smile, his heart on the line.
"Maybe?"
Ryeowook's smile is gorgeous in the light, and Sungmin smiles back, even as his hands clench in anticipation.
"I like you too," Ryeowook says, and Sungmin's fingers trace his jawline before kissing him softly.
"And I like you."