INSOMNIA (1/?)
Title: INSOMNIA
Author: JINKItama
Pairings: Jongkey
Ratings: PG - PG13 (for now)
Chapters: Prologue and Chapter One
Genre: Angst, romance
Summary: Jonghyun tried, but no girl will help him get over his roommate
PAST; prologue
Jonghyun hung his head as he let out a loud sigh. It had already been three months since he posted up those ads and yet, no response. He didn't know what to do if this were to drag on longer - he was unable to manage paying for the apartment on his own. He should have listened to Jinki's advice and found a cheaper one ?but he was in love with this apartment as soon as he stepped into it.
The small living space felt cozy, the kitchen was efficient and reminded him of the kitchen in his parents' house - not that he ever cooked in it - but it was nice. He took the bedroom facing the front of the apartment, right across from the park so that he could watch people enjoying their daily lives. They inspired him to write his lyrics. The extra bedroom was empty except for a few boxes he stored in there. And now he would have to give it up.
A knock from his front door startled him and he jumped, Jonghyun glanced around the room and was glad no one was there to see him scared like a little girl.
"Can I help you?" He asked when the door swung open.
The boy on the other side was stylishly dressed: skinny jeans and some sort of high-end designed t-shirt. His hair was dyed dark brown, but there were a dazzle of different highlights in all sorts of colors. His gaze was strong enough to chill bones, but when he smiled, Jonghyun stumbled backwards. He had never seen anyone smile like that, which was silly because his best friend was known as the "smiling angel." Still, Jinki had nothing on this boy.
"My name is Kim Kibum - but I prefer Key," the boy replied, holding up what Jonghyun recognized as one of his ads. "I'm here to be your roommate."
Though he almost danced from joy, something deep inside Jonghyun's gut told him that this would be a bad idea.
"Uh, great," he shoved his hands inside the safety of his pockets, "do you have any reference?"
Kibum grinned at him, and he felt the blood drained slowly from his brain. "I could call my mom if that's what you want. Or would you like to personally search me? I promise I'm neither armed nor dangerous."
At that moment, Kim Kibum seemed very dangerous. And the remark to "personally search him" left Jonghyun's throat a bit too dry for his liking. He nodded awkwardly, knowing a losing battle when he saw one.
"All right, so, when can you move in?"
Kibum held up what clearly was an overnight bag and dangled it, "right now."
And that was how Kim Jonghyun's life forever changed.
PRESENT:
"So, will I see you tomorrow?" She asked. He nodded.
Kim Jonghyun watched as his girlfriend of two months walked into her house before he made his way down the dark street. He could see the light of the lamp down the street, but it seemed so far away. Its glow gave off a warm feeling as his breath puffed out in a swirl of white smoke. He felt the chill tingled down his body and wished he had listened to Key about wearing a thicker jacket on the outside. That had always been the problem: he knew good advice when he heard it, but he never followed it.
He smiled when the he caught the sight of his apartment, one that he shared with Kim Kibum (a.k.a the Almighty Key, as he referred to be called, something that pleased him because it fed his narcissistic ego). Carefully Jonghyun twisted the doorknob and tiptoed into the shared living space. It was tiny but clustered free, thanks to Key's excessive nagging and little toleration for even a hint of dust, Jonghyun thought as he smiled at his luck. But his smile was soon replaced by a curse when he saw a familiar figure emerged from the kitchen.
"You were out late," Key said sternly, hands on hips, lips pursed, eyebrows drew together to form a frown. He reminded Jonghyun of his mom - Key was the perfect image. "And on a school night no less, Kim Jonghyun! Have you lost your mind"
"You're up late..." Jonghyun pointed out, and pouted slightly - it was an involuntary reaction to Key's "mom moment."
"And whose fault do you think that is?" The Almighty sneered and crossed his arms together. "I was going to send out a search party. How are you going to take notes if you are drooling on your notebook?"
Jonghyun shrugged, "I don't want notes anyways - less to read."
"YAH KIM JONGHYUN!"
Oh damn. He really shouldn't have opened his mouth. Jonghyun ran into his room as fast as his legs could take him and slammed the door shut before the diva king could whacked him over the head with the giant spatula - wait, Key was carrying a cooking utensil, he groaned mentally; he knew that despite whatever delicious things Key was cooking, he, the insolent idiot who dared to argue back to the Almighty Kim Kibum, would not be fed tomorrow. Jonghyun shrugged off his jacket which landed on the floor with a muffled thud, then striped off his jeans. He scanned around his room and winced when he came across the picture he dreaded.
She was smiling up at the camera, at him, with a bright expression that could rival the sun rays. In the picture, she was so happy, contented. Her eyes shone like a jewel. All for him. Jonghyun lowered himself to the floor and buried his head in his arms to let the guilt consume him. In the privacy of his bedroom, he could face them ? the emotions that battered at him like constant waves beating against a rocky shore. Jonghyun didn't know what to do with them, nor did he know how to face them - no, that was not true. He was too cowardly to do something with them.
Jonghyun rummaged through his jacket when he heard the sound of his beeping cell phone and read the message that he knew would come - she always texted him before she went to bed.
"I had fun today, thank you. Give me a call tomorrow? I'll miss you - thinking of you!"
He didn't ask for it, Jonghyun thought bitterly. Though he wasn't prepared for the initial attraction, he knew he was in trouble the moment Kim Kibum waltzed through the door, announcing that he needed a place to stay and that he saw Jonghyun's "roommate wanted ad." He should have kicked the younger boy out of the door the moment he felt his body tingled in a way that was entirely too pleasant and left him a lot too warm. Jonghyun was an idiot to let the boy stayed, to gave into the need to get to know him better, to allow himself to become so dependent upon a single being...to...Jonghyun choked, to fall in love with his best friend. That was his mistake, and he was paying for it every day.
"I'll be over tomorrow... I need to talk to you."
Jonghyun hit the "reply" button and sighed.He should have listened to Minho's advice, no matter how ill-sounding it was at first.
"Don't go out with her," Minho had said; his voice deep and slurred, half-asleep. "You know she's not Key and you don't want to be with her. No girl - no matter how many - is going to change how you feel. You'll just end up hurting yourself."
Yes, that was always the problem with him: he knew good advice when he heard it, but he never followed it.
CHAPTER ONE;things I want to say
CHAPTER ONE;
Kim Kibum whistled as he tried to dust the stupid ceramic whatever-it-was. It was a gift from his mom, so he proudly displayed it on the coffee table, not knowing what else to do with it. Now he hated the thing because it meant one more thing to dust. Though he might just be in a sour mode because a certain dinosaur had returned home late at night and then left early this morning; he just came back a few minutes ago and had shut himself in his room.
Though more than anything, he was worried, this wasn't normal behavior for Jonghyun. With a deep breath, he walked over to Jonghyun's room and knocked on the door.
"Jjong? Are you okay?"
"Fine," came a muffled replied.
"Jjong?" Kibum got annoyed by the wooden barrier and kicked his way in. The room was dark but he could make out a dark outline on the bed. Jonghyun was lying faced down on the bed, the blanket pulled over his head. "I made dumplings! Maybe you could call," he paused, "uh, whatever your girl friend's name is and we can all have dinner?"
"Can't. Not together anymore."
That explained his mood, Kibum thought.
"Oh. Did you guys fight?" He swallowed, "did she...break up with you?"
Jonghyun groaned into his pillow and Kibum frowned. He thought everything was going well with them, though he only met her once?very briefly. He knew Jonghyun tried to hide his discomfort whenever he was around one of his girl friends, so he kept away from them. Though he really didn't know why since they were such close friends, but maybe it was because he had some bad experience with his friend stealing his girl friend? Well, not that Kibum cared so he never asked.
"Ugh!" Kibum was losing his patience and fast. "Kim Jonghyun! You will get up and take a shower. Meet me in the kitchen when you are done. Go!go go go!"
The Almighty smiled when he heard the water running. He rolled up his sleeves as he chopping a carrot and began making Jonghyun?s favorite stew. He frowned into the pot, he had never seen Jjong's sad over a break up before, though he did see the boy go through plenty of them. He wondered if she was really special or something.
---
The water was a nice comfort, it warmed his skin and he allowed his mind to wander. Her tears stabbed at him, little shards of guilt that dug themselves deep into his skin. He waited for some part of him to regret his decision, but the dread never came. Not one part of him wanted to keep the relationship going, but he was sorry he had made her cry.
Now that it was over, he was left in the same place he found himself six months ago when Kim Kibum waltzed himself into his apartment and saved him from being evicted. He was bewildered and his emotions were raw. Jonghyun wrapped one towel around his waist and another used to dry his hair. He stepped out of the bathroom and took an appreciative whiff. Something smelled delicious.
"Why is it?"
Jonghyun blinked, "why is what?"
"Why don't you ever introduce me to any one of your girl friends?" Kibum asked as he ladled stew into a small bowl.
"I introduce you," he replied defensively.
"Yeah, for about two seconds! And you always look like a kid caught stealing from the cookie jar."
How could he not realize? Kim Kibum was, after all, Almighty. But how could he explain that he was awkward for him to introduce girls to Kibum? He guessed that no normal person would feel comfortable having the person they love and their girl friend all in one room.
"Key...don't be ridiculous."
Kibum shrugged, "just asking. Eat before it gets cold."
"I thought you wouldn't feed me today."
"Well," his roommate crossed his arms. "I wasn't but since you look like you are so~ heartbroken, I'll let it go."
Kibum touched his shoulder and smiled. Jonghyun's skin burned so uncomfortably that he had to shift away.
"Any plans...today...Kibum?" He asked; his breathing not entirely normal.
Only a fool could not see Jonghyun acting odd. But Kibum was used to these sorts of things. Jonghyun didn?t like being touched by people, and he should have known better. But he couldn?t help it because his mothering instincts came out.
"Uh. I'm going shopping later with Taemin!" Kibum announced as he pulled away, giving Jonghyun his space.
Lee Taemin was the door next door whom Kibum had taken a liking to, like a little boy who had found his favorite teddy bear. It was almost odd because Jonghyun swore Kibum would adopt him if his parents had allowed it.
Just as he was about to turn to leave, he felt Jonghyun grabbing his hand and he jolted from the surprise. "W-what?"
"You...cut yourself!?"
"It's nothing. Eat your stew, gosh!"
"Why don't have you a band-aid on it?"
Kibum frowned, "why are you so hysterical? It's just a scratch."
"You stubborn...Kim Kibum!" Jonghyun only held on tighter when he felt his roommate resist. He pulled him to the sink and turned on the faucet at full blast. The cold water washed away the blood that only made him angry. He glared at the knife in the kitchen sink for hurting his - his....oh God, what in the world was he doing?
"I'm....sorry," Jonghyun said, finally letting go of Kibum's hand and stepped back. "I don't know what came over me."
"Exactly what I was thinking!" Kibum muttered as he dried his hand with a paper towel. "You are so weird, Kim Jonghyun."
"I'm sorry..."
"Ugh. Is that all you can say?" Then his voice turned gentle as Kibum finally grasped the situation. "You must really liked her, right?"
"What?"
"Well....I don't know but people say that those who are in love tend to act really strangely. You are in love, aren?t you?"
Jonghyun stared at the kitchen table. He swallowed. Then swallowed again.
"I'm right, aren't I!? Of course! I mean I am the Almighty Kim Key after all! Oh by the way, I told you to call me Key, didn't I? Stop calling me Kibum!"
It wasn't funny but he laughed anyways. He could just imagine the look on Kim "Key's" face if he were to tell him the truth. Yes, he was in love - but not with the person Key was thinking of. He wondered what the Almighty Key would say then.
Author: JINKItama
Pairings: Jongkey
Ratings: PG - PG13 (for now)
Chapters: Prologue and Chapter One
Genre: Angst, romance
Summary: Jonghyun tried, but no girl will help him get over his roommate
PAST; prologue
Jonghyun hung his head as he let out a loud sigh. It had already been three months since he posted up those ads and yet, no response. He didn't know what to do if this were to drag on longer - he was unable to manage paying for the apartment on his own. He should have listened to Jinki's advice and found a cheaper one ?but he was in love with this apartment as soon as he stepped into it.
The small living space felt cozy, the kitchen was efficient and reminded him of the kitchen in his parents' house - not that he ever cooked in it - but it was nice. He took the bedroom facing the front of the apartment, right across from the park so that he could watch people enjoying their daily lives. They inspired him to write his lyrics. The extra bedroom was empty except for a few boxes he stored in there. And now he would have to give it up.
A knock from his front door startled him and he jumped, Jonghyun glanced around the room and was glad no one was there to see him scared like a little girl.
"Can I help you?" He asked when the door swung open.
The boy on the other side was stylishly dressed: skinny jeans and some sort of high-end designed t-shirt. His hair was dyed dark brown, but there were a dazzle of different highlights in all sorts of colors. His gaze was strong enough to chill bones, but when he smiled, Jonghyun stumbled backwards. He had never seen anyone smile like that, which was silly because his best friend was known as the "smiling angel." Still, Jinki had nothing on this boy.
"My name is Kim Kibum - but I prefer Key," the boy replied, holding up what Jonghyun recognized as one of his ads. "I'm here to be your roommate."
Though he almost danced from joy, something deep inside Jonghyun's gut told him that this would be a bad idea.
"Uh, great," he shoved his hands inside the safety of his pockets, "do you have any reference?"
Kibum grinned at him, and he felt the blood drained slowly from his brain. "I could call my mom if that's what you want. Or would you like to personally search me? I promise I'm neither armed nor dangerous."
At that moment, Kim Kibum seemed very dangerous. And the remark to "personally search him" left Jonghyun's throat a bit too dry for his liking. He nodded awkwardly, knowing a losing battle when he saw one.
"All right, so, when can you move in?"
Kibum held up what clearly was an overnight bag and dangled it, "right now."
And that was how Kim Jonghyun's life forever changed.
PRESENT:
"So, will I see you tomorrow?" She asked. He nodded.
Kim Jonghyun watched as his girlfriend of two months walked into her house before he made his way down the dark street. He could see the light of the lamp down the street, but it seemed so far away. Its glow gave off a warm feeling as his breath puffed out in a swirl of white smoke. He felt the chill tingled down his body and wished he had listened to Key about wearing a thicker jacket on the outside. That had always been the problem: he knew good advice when he heard it, but he never followed it.
He smiled when the he caught the sight of his apartment, one that he shared with Kim Kibum (a.k.a the Almighty Key, as he referred to be called, something that pleased him because it fed his narcissistic ego). Carefully Jonghyun twisted the doorknob and tiptoed into the shared living space. It was tiny but clustered free, thanks to Key's excessive nagging and little toleration for even a hint of dust, Jonghyun thought as he smiled at his luck. But his smile was soon replaced by a curse when he saw a familiar figure emerged from the kitchen.
"You were out late," Key said sternly, hands on hips, lips pursed, eyebrows drew together to form a frown. He reminded Jonghyun of his mom - Key was the perfect image. "And on a school night no less, Kim Jonghyun! Have you lost your mind"
"You're up late..." Jonghyun pointed out, and pouted slightly - it was an involuntary reaction to Key's "mom moment."
"And whose fault do you think that is?" The Almighty sneered and crossed his arms together. "I was going to send out a search party. How are you going to take notes if you are drooling on your notebook?"
Jonghyun shrugged, "I don't want notes anyways - less to read."
"YAH KIM JONGHYUN!"
Oh damn. He really shouldn't have opened his mouth. Jonghyun ran into his room as fast as his legs could take him and slammed the door shut before the diva king could whacked him over the head with the giant spatula - wait, Key was carrying a cooking utensil, he groaned mentally; he knew that despite whatever delicious things Key was cooking, he, the insolent idiot who dared to argue back to the Almighty Kim Kibum, would not be fed tomorrow. Jonghyun shrugged off his jacket which landed on the floor with a muffled thud, then striped off his jeans. He scanned around his room and winced when he came across the picture he dreaded.
She was smiling up at the camera, at him, with a bright expression that could rival the sun rays. In the picture, she was so happy, contented. Her eyes shone like a jewel. All for him. Jonghyun lowered himself to the floor and buried his head in his arms to let the guilt consume him. In the privacy of his bedroom, he could face them ? the emotions that battered at him like constant waves beating against a rocky shore. Jonghyun didn't know what to do with them, nor did he know how to face them - no, that was not true. He was too cowardly to do something with them.
Jonghyun rummaged through his jacket when he heard the sound of his beeping cell phone and read the message that he knew would come - she always texted him before she went to bed.
"I had fun today, thank you. Give me a call tomorrow? I'll miss you - thinking of you!"
He didn't ask for it, Jonghyun thought bitterly. Though he wasn't prepared for the initial attraction, he knew he was in trouble the moment Kim Kibum waltzed through the door, announcing that he needed a place to stay and that he saw Jonghyun's "roommate wanted ad." He should have kicked the younger boy out of the door the moment he felt his body tingled in a way that was entirely too pleasant and left him a lot too warm. Jonghyun was an idiot to let the boy stayed, to gave into the need to get to know him better, to allow himself to become so dependent upon a single being...to...Jonghyun choked, to fall in love with his best friend. That was his mistake, and he was paying for it every day.
"I'll be over tomorrow... I need to talk to you."
Jonghyun hit the "reply" button and sighed.He should have listened to Minho's advice, no matter how ill-sounding it was at first.
"Don't go out with her," Minho had said; his voice deep and slurred, half-asleep. "You know she's not Key and you don't want to be with her. No girl - no matter how many - is going to change how you feel. You'll just end up hurting yourself."
Yes, that was always the problem with him: he knew good advice when he heard it, but he never followed it.
CHAPTER ONE;things I want to say
CHAPTER ONE;
Kim Kibum whistled as he tried to dust the stupid ceramic whatever-it-was. It was a gift from his mom, so he proudly displayed it on the coffee table, not knowing what else to do with it. Now he hated the thing because it meant one more thing to dust. Though he might just be in a sour mode because a certain dinosaur had returned home late at night and then left early this morning; he just came back a few minutes ago and had shut himself in his room.
Though more than anything, he was worried, this wasn't normal behavior for Jonghyun. With a deep breath, he walked over to Jonghyun's room and knocked on the door.
"Jjong? Are you okay?"
"Fine," came a muffled replied.
"Jjong?" Kibum got annoyed by the wooden barrier and kicked his way in. The room was dark but he could make out a dark outline on the bed. Jonghyun was lying faced down on the bed, the blanket pulled over his head. "I made dumplings! Maybe you could call," he paused, "uh, whatever your girl friend's name is and we can all have dinner?"
"Can't. Not together anymore."
That explained his mood, Kibum thought.
"Oh. Did you guys fight?" He swallowed, "did she...break up with you?"
Jonghyun groaned into his pillow and Kibum frowned. He thought everything was going well with them, though he only met her once?very briefly. He knew Jonghyun tried to hide his discomfort whenever he was around one of his girl friends, so he kept away from them. Though he really didn't know why since they were such close friends, but maybe it was because he had some bad experience with his friend stealing his girl friend? Well, not that Kibum cared so he never asked.
"Ugh!" Kibum was losing his patience and fast. "Kim Jonghyun! You will get up and take a shower. Meet me in the kitchen when you are done. Go!go go go!"
The Almighty smiled when he heard the water running. He rolled up his sleeves as he chopping a carrot and began making Jonghyun?s favorite stew. He frowned into the pot, he had never seen Jjong's sad over a break up before, though he did see the boy go through plenty of them. He wondered if she was really special or something.
---
The water was a nice comfort, it warmed his skin and he allowed his mind to wander. Her tears stabbed at him, little shards of guilt that dug themselves deep into his skin. He waited for some part of him to regret his decision, but the dread never came. Not one part of him wanted to keep the relationship going, but he was sorry he had made her cry.
Now that it was over, he was left in the same place he found himself six months ago when Kim Kibum waltzed himself into his apartment and saved him from being evicted. He was bewildered and his emotions were raw. Jonghyun wrapped one towel around his waist and another used to dry his hair. He stepped out of the bathroom and took an appreciative whiff. Something smelled delicious.
"Why is it?"
Jonghyun blinked, "why is what?"
"Why don't you ever introduce me to any one of your girl friends?" Kibum asked as he ladled stew into a small bowl.
"I introduce you," he replied defensively.
"Yeah, for about two seconds! And you always look like a kid caught stealing from the cookie jar."
How could he not realize? Kim Kibum was, after all, Almighty. But how could he explain that he was awkward for him to introduce girls to Kibum? He guessed that no normal person would feel comfortable having the person they love and their girl friend all in one room.
"Key...don't be ridiculous."
Kibum shrugged, "just asking. Eat before it gets cold."
"I thought you wouldn't feed me today."
"Well," his roommate crossed his arms. "I wasn't but since you look like you are so~ heartbroken, I'll let it go."
Kibum touched his shoulder and smiled. Jonghyun's skin burned so uncomfortably that he had to shift away.
"Any plans...today...Kibum?" He asked; his breathing not entirely normal.
Only a fool could not see Jonghyun acting odd. But Kibum was used to these sorts of things. Jonghyun didn?t like being touched by people, and he should have known better. But he couldn?t help it because his mothering instincts came out.
"Uh. I'm going shopping later with Taemin!" Kibum announced as he pulled away, giving Jonghyun his space.
Lee Taemin was the door next door whom Kibum had taken a liking to, like a little boy who had found his favorite teddy bear. It was almost odd because Jonghyun swore Kibum would adopt him if his parents had allowed it.
Just as he was about to turn to leave, he felt Jonghyun grabbing his hand and he jolted from the surprise. "W-what?"
"You...cut yourself!?"
"It's nothing. Eat your stew, gosh!"
"Why don't have you a band-aid on it?"
Kibum frowned, "why are you so hysterical? It's just a scratch."
"You stubborn...Kim Kibum!" Jonghyun only held on tighter when he felt his roommate resist. He pulled him to the sink and turned on the faucet at full blast. The cold water washed away the blood that only made him angry. He glared at the knife in the kitchen sink for hurting his - his....oh God, what in the world was he doing?
"I'm....sorry," Jonghyun said, finally letting go of Kibum's hand and stepped back. "I don't know what came over me."
"Exactly what I was thinking!" Kibum muttered as he dried his hand with a paper towel. "You are so weird, Kim Jonghyun."
"I'm sorry..."
"Ugh. Is that all you can say?" Then his voice turned gentle as Kibum finally grasped the situation. "You must really liked her, right?"
"What?"
"Well....I don't know but people say that those who are in love tend to act really strangely. You are in love, aren?t you?"
Jonghyun stared at the kitchen table. He swallowed. Then swallowed again.
"I'm right, aren't I!? Of course! I mean I am the Almighty Kim Key after all! Oh by the way, I told you to call me Key, didn't I? Stop calling me Kibum!"
It wasn't funny but he laughed anyways. He could just imagine the look on Kim "Key's" face if he were to tell him the truth. Yes, he was in love - but not with the person Key was thinking of. He wondered what the Almighty Key would say then.