I’m Coming Here To Stay
Title: I’m Coming Here To Stay
Pairing: Suho/D.O.
Rating: G
Word Count: 6,395 words
Summary: Kyungsoo may never know but he makes Junmyeon realize there is more to “perspective” than he already knows.
A/N: My suholiday entry written for hoen. More notes at the end of the fic (semi warning: self-betaed aka I reread my fic but I didn't catch any errors but there are actually a lot) (thanks to Sam for the definition). Also posted here.
Vacations are supposed to happen during summer, or at least according to Junmyeon’s planner. This means his stay here in Manila is unplanned, totally out of his schedules. He’s supposed to be finishing a new project in his office at the perceived comforts of his desk 1,628 miles away from where he is right now. Yet on a Monday of February he finds himself in a hotel’s restaurant at eight in the morning, a cup of coffee, bread and butter on his table.
Junmyeon sips on his cup as he stares at the window next to him, adoring the clock tower of the city hall visible from where he is. He’s got no itinerary for his whole five-day vacation in the Philippines. He’s bored that his appreciation of the view quickly dies down and he’s simply staring blankly, mind wandering aimlessly and thinking of many different things.
“Excuse me?”
The questions sends him back to earth, jerking awkwardly as he shifts to his side. There is a guy standing next to him, holding a plate of loaf and a couple of vegetables on one hand, a glass of fresh milk on the other. Junmyeon blinks and the stranger smiles.
“I’m sorry but is the other seat taken?” the stranger asks. Junmyeon notices a struggling tone of English (although it isn’t bad) and a familiar Korean accent. There is a funny jump in his chest, like a sudden homey nostalgia. But he isn’t really sure if the stranger is Korean so he drops his assumption.
“No,” he says blankly.
“Can I take it?”
When Junmyeon sees his hand shake while trying to keep a grip of the plate, he quickly nods and extends an arm in an offering gesture.
“Thank you,” the stranger says in a relieved tone, placing the plate on the table with a loud clunk. “I hope I'm not bothering you.”
“No, not really,” Junmyeon says, shaking his head. “Enjoy your breakfast,” he says in his native language. The stranger, who is in the middle of putting butter on his loaf, stops and stares at him with wide eyes. Junmyeon thinks it’s amusingly creepy, the way his eyes grow widely more than the typical, and he chuckles.
“You’re Korean!” the stranger exclaims. There is delight in his expression, his voice growing significantly louder than earlier.
“I am,” Junmyeon says blankly although he tries to make it as jolly as the other person is. The stranger doesn’t seem to notice though because he still has his bright smile and excited eyes locked on him.
“I’ve been here for two days and I’ve never met any Korean,” he says. “Or in the hotel at least.”
Junmyeon nods. “I just arrived yesterday. I’m glad I’m not alone,” he says and he follows up with a smile. He isn’t normally this friendly, or approachable at least, but he resolves that it won’t hurt making friends. Besides he needs company when his itinerary is basically non-existent.
“I’m Junmyeon by the way,” he says, extending an arm for a handshake.
“I’m Kyungsoo. Nice to meet you,” the stranger says, taking Junmyeon’s hand.
Kyungsoo is talkative and to his surprise, Junmyeon is more amused than annoyed. He nods as he listens to Kyungsoo's stories and extensive knowledge about the Philippines. He knows he’s staying in Intramuros and that it's the old walled Manila but that’s everything to his knowledge about the capital city. With Kyungsoo’s interest, Junmyeon is somehow in some way thankful he’s met him.
“I’m an Asian history teacher by the way,” Kyungsoo says in the middle of his story about churches. “I’m sorry,” he continues in a lower, less excited tone. “It’s my first time in the Philippines and I am just…thrilled.”
Junmyeon feels a bit guilty. No matter how hard he tries to show interest in Kyungsoo’s stories (he really is in all honesty), his face seems to always have a blank, lukewarm expression. He shakes his head. “No, no. Don’t be sorry. I really like your stories. I hardly know anything about Manila. It’s my first time, too, here.”
“Oh. Really?”
Junmyeon nods enthusiastically. “I don’t have any plans to be honest,” he says. For a second he contemplates if he should tell Kyungsoo about his boss forcing him to go on a vacation because he’s “overworking” but he decides to have it as a reserve story. He might need it if they run out of topics to talk about. “You could be my tour guide, you know. Sort of.”
Kyungsoo’s eyes grow bigger (not that they aren’t wide enough) to Junmyeon’s proposal. Then he smiles wide, delighted. “That’d be great! I am not really familiar with the places though.”
Junmyeon laughs. “It’s okay. We can get lost together.”
“Getting lost together sounds fun,” Kyungsoo says, his delight quickly becoming more pleased, almost excited.
Junmyeon keeps his smile. But not as easy and natural as he usually does.
He wants to see Manila. He’s there already and what else is for him to do but to see the city. But he isn’t really fond of the idea getting lost around a place he hardly knows, alone or with somebody else, no matter how fun Kyungsoo makes it seem like. It’s a joke but it sounds a little uncomfortable. The fact that it’s actually very possible given how much of a geographic idiot he is (not getting lost from the airport to the hotel is already a feat for Junmyeon) makes it a lot unsettling yet he can’t stop himself from having an unusual liking towards Kyungsoo’s spontaneous character. He’s in a free travel and most likely than not, his only company will be Kyungsoo. If Junmyeon stays stubborn he’ll never make the best out of this trip.
“You seem a little bothered?” Kyungsoo asks as he puts down his glass of milk. Junmyeon points at his mouth, telling the other that he’s gotten a white line of milk on his upper lip at which Kyungsoo hurriedly wipes away.
This is good, Junmyeon thinks. He’s getting comfortable.
“Not really,” he says. It’s a step outside a comfort zone but he thinks it’s worth giving a shot. “Tour around Intramuros tonight?”
Kyungsoo nods a little enthusiastically. “Sure.”
They meet at the lobby at seven but with rumbling stomachs. As much as Junmyeon wants to see Intramuros at night, they both decide to put off the tour and head to a decent restaurant. “What do you want?” Kyungsoo suggests and Junmyeon shrugs. “I’ll take what we can get.”
Kyungsoo hails a cab. “Ristorante delle Mitre,” Kyungsoo tells the driver as soon as they get in and Junmyeon looks at him, surprised and amused at how natural his Italian sounds like. Awesome, Junmyeon whispers and Kyungsoo just smiles.
A few minutes later, they find themselves standing on cobblestone roads in front of a line of restaurants, its colonial design blending well with the heritage district.
“Are you sure you’ve never been to Manila before?” Junmyeon asks, roaming his eyes as he catches glimpse of the other restaurants, the old refurbished stone houses, and the church right next to them.
Kyungsoo chuckles. “Yep. I swear to…” he trails off. “There’s a church next to us so I’m gonna stop it right there.” Junmyeon finds it actually funny but dismisses it right away because Kyungsoo gets inside the restaurant and he follows suit.
Interesting is the first word Junmyeon thinks when he steps inside. The yellow lights accentuate its strong colonial ambiance. The interiors are really classic, furnitures traditional yet elegant. But what makes it a lot more interesting is its unusual set-up. It’s as if everything is intentionally designed for a religious dining experience. The walls are adorned with portraits of priests and bishops. One corner displays different mitres or ceremonial hats (Kyungsoo tells him the restaurant’s name actually translates to Restaurant of the Mitres) while other corners are basically anything about the Church. They find the place a little creepy yet a lot amusing.
“Their staff are deaf,” Kyungsoo tells him as soon as they take their seats. Junmyeon gives him a confused look, not entirely sure if he’s being sarcastic or not. Then he taps on a small notice on the table: “We provide equal employment opportunity and have hired deaf persons as food servers. Should you need their services, please don't hesitate to give them a tap on the shoulder. They may communicate with you through pen and paper.”
Junmyeon mumbles a “wow” as he reads through the whole of it. “How did you even know about this place?” he asks. There is a satisfied smile on Kyungsoo’s lips before he answers with a “I just Googled”.
The menu is quite peculiar, too, named after the favorite meal sets of past archbishops. But Junmyeon doesn’t care much about it now that their stomachs grumble louder than earlier. They quickly tell (more of like point and write because the server is indeed deaf) their orders and were told to wait for at most twenty minutes.
“So,” Kyungsoo sighs when the staff leaves them. He interlaces his fingers, elbows on the table,
“Uh, I’m actually curious. What do you do for a living?”
It’s a question Junmyeon expects yet he still finds himself a little unprepared. It’s not like he doesn’t like telling people what his job is, that is if he’s just simply to tell what he does for a living and nothing comes after it. What he actually minds is dealing with misconceptions because debunking them is annoying and he may sound annoyingly rude.
“If you mind it’s okay. I’m just… curious, you know,” Kyungsoo says quickly when Junmyeon’s face remain blank.
Junmyeon shakes his head. It’ll be unfair if he judges without trying so he’s giving Kyungsoo a chance. “No, I don’t. I’m an architect.”
Kyungsoo’s lips form an “oh”, nodding slowly as if letting the fact slowly sink in him. “You draft buildings,” he says. “Interesting. Really.”
Draft buildings. Junmyeon nods in agreement and smiles. At least he didn’t get a “Oh makes a lot of money” or “You don’t look so arrogant” this time. Kyungsoo doesn’t seem to be a person who easily falls for stereotypes anyway. He gives off such impression.
“Well, it’s actually… yes interesting but boring at the same time,” he clarifies, shrugging.
Kyungsoo raises a brow and shakes his head. “Why? Well I know it’s not easy, no job is easy. But I don’t think it’s boring?”
"Believe me it is.” Junmyeon answers promptly, a little confidently. “We design buildings, structures. If it’s built, then good. If not, then it’s pretty okay, too. That’s what we only do."
Junmyeon becomes a little wary when Kyungsoo’s face shows apparent disagreement. He remains silent; he doesn’t need to be defensive.
“But you design people, too,” Kyungsoo says calmly, as if a matter of fact. Junmyeon is confused but he doesn’t say anything. He knows the other has more to say so he listens. “You design relationships. Interactions. You place a glass window next to a cafe so people can see. people can smile. A smile can make someone else’s day."
If there is one thing Junmyeon is sure he is feeling right now, it’s utter amazement. He blinks, lips parted as if wanting to say something but he finds himself speechless so he chuckles instead. “Where did that suddenly come from?” he asks, smile still etched on his face.
“Nothing. I just think people in general shape other people. I don’t know how exactly but I’m pretty sure in one way or another, we do,” Kyungsoo says with a slight raise of his shoulders. Junmyeon poses no more questions, not that he still has. He feels a little embarrassed. It’s a total rebuttal of a perspective but Junmyeon quickly discerns how Kyungsoo has his way of saying things that would sound neither argumentative nor offensive. Ideas that are actually simple yet something worth to ponder on. When he falls silent, Kyungsoo begins to apologize and Junmyeon shakes his head saying there’s nothing to be sorry about.
Food arrives and their conversation is swayed to a snowball of topics. They get too absorbed with their stories that their cheeks hurt from laughing, jaws almost giving up from talking. It’s a good ice breaker as they find themselves in a comfortable zone, a significant move away from being strangers to good acquaintances. When dinner ends and they agree to see each other again, it neither comes as an awkward invitation nor a surprise anymore. Kyungsoo seems excited and Junmyeon doesn’t really mind. Or that’s what he says.
Junmyeon actually looks forward to it.
“Thanks for tonight,” Junmyeon says when they return back to their hotel, an arm over Kyungsoo’s shoulder, a friendly embrace with a contented smile.
“Sorry about the… thing I mentioned earlier. I thought I made you uncomfortable,” Kyungsoo mumbles, his words drowning as he . Apparently, with all the shared laughter over dinner, he still hasn’t gotten over it. “I sometimes blurt out unnecessary things.”
Junmyeon shakes his head fervently because he thinks those are words he actually need to hear. “Nah Kyungsoo. Really. It’s totally fine,” he says, his hand still on Kyungsoo’s shoulder. “At least I’ll have something to think about before I sleep,” Junmyeon kids and Kyungsoo whines, like a kid, which he thinks is adorable.
“I don’t want to make you feel awkward,” Kyungsoo says shyly.
“I didn’t so don’t worry.”
Kyungsoo then brings himself, finally, to a comfy smile, at which Junmyeon delights. “See you tomorrow then,” he says. Junmyeon nods, squeezing Kyungsoo’s shoulder gently before letting go.
“Definitely.”
“There’s nothing really much within Intramuros but I want to see the churches,” Kyungsoo says when he meets Junmyeon at the lobby one morning before going out yet again together. His voice is high and excited, delighted that Junmyeon is more than okay to accompany him in what he thinks are boring endeavors. “I’m sorry if I am dragging you with me.”
Junmyeon shakes his head. “If you keep on apologizing I’m going to leave you,” he kids. It doesn’t come off as a sarcastic remark, all thanks to his perfect breakfast his self-control is working fine. He chuckles when Kyungsoo gives him a pout.
“You sure know when to use your aegyo,” Junmyeon says. In a snap, Kyungsoo’s cheeks flush. He averts his gaze away from Junmyeon followed by a shake of his head. “Shut up. I don’t have aegyo,” he mumbles with a funny smile as he walks toward the exit in small, rushed steps. Junmyeon, amused, paces after Kyungsoo and places an arm over him when he’s finally caught up. He feels Kyungsoo’s shoulder jerk in surprise.
“I was kidding,” he says and Kyungsoo looks at him with wide, jumpy eyes. “But really I think that pout was cute.”
Kyungsoo gives Junmyeon a light jab to the stomach.
The first stop is Manila Cathedral. They stand right in front of it, phones fished out taking photos of and with the church as their gaze in awe at the whole facade. It’s predominantly grey with white limestone statues on the corners of its doors. A little boring at least in color but the designs are wonderful, its aged moldy surface adding more beauty to its highly valued antiquity.
Junmyeon is a little absorbed in taking pictures when he feels a poke on his shoulder. He turns around and hears a shutter, stepping a foot back when his face almost hits the back of a phone. He sees Kyungsoo laughing and when he asks what it is about, Kyungsoo shows him a shot of Junmyeon’s face scrunched up.
“Hey delete that!” Junmyeon exclaims but Kyungsoo just sticks his tongue out, carefully but quickly running away from Junmyeon and inside the church.
“Kyungsoo come ba-” Junmyeon follows after him but stops calling out halfway when he finds himself inside the cathedral, too. He sees a couple of people kneeling on pews, hands clasped together with their heads rested on it. “Oops,” he mutters and bows apologetically. But no one seems to have been bothered by how loud he was earlier. Relieved, he carries on inside and searches for Kyungsoo whom he finds standing beside a pillar, arms stretched up as he takes a photo of the dome.
Kyungsoo doesn’t notice Junmyeon take the closest seat next to him, watching as the other takes several shots of the stained glass windows, the columns and the life-size bronze statue of the Immaculate Conception at the center.
“Hey,” Junmyeon calls out.
Kyungsoo looks at him and smiles. “I’m done,” he says as he sits down beside Junmyeon, eyes still glued to his phone, checking his shots. “This is awesome.”
“Never been to a church?” Junmyeon asks. He actually wonders after seeing how curious and excited Kyungsoo is.
Kyungsoo bites on his lower lip and nods. “Not really. The old ones just fascinate me. I’m… excited.”
“You’ve mentioned that once but do churches really excite you that much?” Junmyeon tries his best to hide in his chuckle but he fails, muffling the sounds with a hand over his mouth. “Kyungsoo, I swear you’re one of the weirdest persons I’ve met.”
Kyungsoo’s reaction is awkward and funny. He laughs, too, but with the way his brows raise, he obviously is unsure whether to take Junmyeon’s remark as an insult or a compliment. “I am not weird,” he says defensively. He doesn’t sound like he has taken offense on Junmyeon’s words, though.
“You are,” Junmyeon says and Kyungsoo looks at him with another pout. Junmyeon stops laughing and clears his throat. Pouts should be disturbing, at least for him, but it seems like he’s grown some liking to it now.
Junmyeon sighs, a little lost in his reverie, and mumbles, “In an adorable way, you know.” When Kyungsoo smiles back at him, Junmyeon isn’t sure if his pinkish cheeks are brought by the tropical heat or not.
They remain silent, with Junmyeon roaming his eyes around the church while Kyungsoo still checking his photos. From time to time Junmyeon hears Kyungsoo utter weak ooh's and aah's as he sees his camera roll, deleting the blurry while keeping the good ones. Junmyeon sometimes takes peeks and he doesn't stop himself from nodding because Kyungsoo's shots are actually nice.
"Look at the things you guys build," Kyungsoo says as he continuously but slowly slides his fingers on his phone screen, showing a series of shots of the church’s ceilings and columns.
Junmyeon looks at him, a little confused. "We what?"
"You architects build," Kyungsoo clarifies. "They're magnificent."
Junmyeon can feel where this conversation is heading to. “We did not,” he says, shaking his head. “Somebody else did. We just designed.”
“But Junmyeon, the buildings won’t be this awesome if the designs aren’t!” Kyungsoo exclaims.
“You see,” Junmyeon begins with a sigh. He shifts to Kyungsoo so that they’re facing each other. “The process counts but customers don’t get passionate about the concepts. They hardly understand it only because they want the end not the means.”
“That’s kind of a harsh truth,” It’s like a rain on Kyungsoo’s parade when he takes a couple of seconds for silence, as if thoroughly contemplating on Junmyeon’s words. But then no words are bad enough to completely put Kyungsoo down.
“But I still think it’s interesting.”
“Huh?”
Kyungsoo continues to scroll on his camera roll. “I think designs are as a lot exciting as building it. You create things out of a blank paper, or screen perhaps. When you do the drafts, you see the unrealized physical form.”
He pauses, looks at Junmyeon and smiles. “I think the processes of both design and construction are inseparable. I mean, I am no architect but I believe one cannot design without continually contemplating the construction process.”
“But the process always begins with you guys. You create potentials, what is to happen, or at least what could possibly happen. Which makes it a lot interesting.”
And yet again Kyungsoo has done it. A gentle hit on Junmyeon face. It’s probably fate playing games on Junmyeon, making him meet a certain wide-eyed Korean teacher in a tropical country so he realizes things he’s never realized before until now. They sound foreign coming from somebody who is of a different profession but Junmyeon always finds himself appreciating the random outburst of thoughts. They never sound bad; always innocent, no intention of outsmarting the other. They’re true, anyway.
He is left almost speechless, bewildered yet amused. He shakes his head in utter fascination. “Thanks. You’re a good teacher.”
“What?”
“Yes,” Junmyeon nods, placing a hand on Kyungsoo’s knee and patting it gently. The latter keeps a confused look but Junmyeon dismisses it with a shake of his head. He hopes he doesn’t sound sarcastic.
I like it.
“Never mind.”
“Tell me!”
“No.”
“Why won’t you tell me?”
They hear a loud hush from their side and sees a young lady glaring at them, her index finger on her pouted lips telling them to tone down their voices. They promptly bow their heads in apology and chuckles to themselves, muffling the sounds with their hands. Suddenly, Kyungsoo pinches him on the side and Junmyeon flinches.
“Giving up. I’m going out,” Junmyeon says in defeat, standing up with both hands slightly raised. He walks toward the exit and Kyungsoo follows after him. “Are you mad?” he asks. He’s obviously worried and Junmyeon feels a little guilty yet also giddy about it.
“No. I’m not.”
“I think you are.”
“No. Really, I am not!”
“I’m sorry.”
A little desperate to convince Kyungsoo that he’s perfectly fine, he puts an arm over Kyungsoo’s shoulder and pulls him close. “You always apologize. I am not mad. Come on, let’s have ice cream? My treat.”
When Kyungsoo’s shy smile comes back, Junmyeon knows he’s finally succeeded.
Junmyeon doesn’t think he’ll hate Kyungsoo. Not what he does, not what he says, not even when he makes Junmyeon stay up late at night, thinking about his actions, his words as if they’re serious matter. Maybe if they keep this kind of company, he’ll hear more things he needs to hear, learn things he needs to learn.
If all goes well, hopefully, Junmyeon will also find something he’s never found yet.
The next day is a jampacked schedule for Kyungsoo and Junmyeon, or at least the one they planned last night. Kyungsoo has done most of the itinerary as their unofficial “tour guide” and Junmyeon’s contribution is a single nod at the end of the talk. Perfect.
“I’m your responsibility so don’t get us lost,” Junmyeon kids while having their early breakfast.
“You always say that. Thanks for the reminder,” Kyungsoo reacts quickly, hissing and faking an annoyed face at Junmyeon. He finishes his mango cream pie dessert quickly, drinks a glass of water in a straight gulp and stands up, grinning. “I actually wonder how you’d react if I suddenly disappear while we’re touring around.”
Junmyeon laughs as he stands up, too. “You’re too kind to do that.”
“Which,” Kyungsoo says and then pauses, patting Junmyeon’s shoulder lightly. “Is actually true.”
Junmyeon feels a giddy swell in his chest down to his stomach as he stares at Kyungsoo smiling at him. It’s a recurring sensation since perhaps a day or two ago, like a new but default reaction whenever Kyungsoo’s does things that are simply innocent but to Junmyeon has become the slightest confusing.
He wants to know why because it can be a small relief to understand but he can probably think about it next time. Not now when Kyungsoo already has both of his hands on Junmyeon’s shoulder, squeezing them gently before pushing him forward to move.
“Hey, let’s go?”
Junmyeon chuckles, nodding. He’s just probably excited.
They start with Casa Manila, a Spanish colonial home reconstructed years back as a museum, which is a practical start since they’re still in Intramuros. Everything inside is authentic antique, the furniture, the artworks, the fixtures. It’s basically a warp back in time, something that makes the house interesting and eerily attractive. They didn’t take a guide, just the two of them roaming inside the casa on their own. They start from the courtyard, into the main receiving area, up to the rooms of the upper floors, the kitchen, bedrooms, then down back to the courtyard. They hang out there for a moment, taking pictures of the casa and a couple of selfies together.
Kyungsoo of course is as eager as usual, his hold of the camera never lost, the sound of shutter almost endless. His excitement for anything within the Walls has never faltered since day one. When Junmyeon feels a funny roll inside, he concludes that Kyungsoo’s enthusiasm is just catching.
They leave early, realizing that the Casa Manila tour isn’t actually that long. They take a cab and head to Rizal Park, the second in their to-go list. It’s eleven in the morning. The sun is high but the breeze is cold and strong. Junmyeon is thankful that their visit, or the whole vacation basically, is not during a tropical summer because they would probably drench their clothes in sweat and burn their skins in the heat. But that seems to be less of Kyungsoo’s concern when Junmyeon notices he’s gone missing.
He panics, turning around in hurried search of his company. He’s torn between staying in his spot or running around the park searching. He deems the first choice as a better option, knowing that he might end up getting lost himself if he leaves his place, he stays but with a lingering eye.
“Hey!” Junmyeon jerks in surprise. When he turns around, it’s deja vu. The sound of shutter greets him and a smiling Kyungsoo appears when he puts the camera down.
“What’s with the face?” Kyungsoo asks when he checks Junmyeon’s shot. “You looked...anxious.”
Junmyeon doesn’t say anything because he hardly hears Kyungsoo. His head is too blurry as the sudden wave of relief washes over his panic. The desire to punch Kyungsoo square in the face and hug him at the same time is strong. But he controls himself and lets the calm sink in instead. He sighs.
"Nothing. Where were you?"
Kyungsoo gives him a curious look. When he grins, Junmyeon is sure what is to come. "You were scared right? You thought I left you!" He exclaims confidently, his voice high almost set to laugh.
"I wasn't!" Of course Junmyeon denies.
Kyungsoo giggles and pokes him in the arm. "You were scared."
"I said I wasn't!" Junmyeon repeats, swatting Kyungsoo's hand away. He narrows his eyes, faking a sharp stare. They quickly widen though when Kyungsoo grabs his hand and holds it firmly.
"Yes you were. Look, your hands are cold and sweaty," Kyungsoo notes, raising both their hands at chest level. Junmyeon doesn't deny anymore and laughs instead, not even bothering to pull his hand away from the other’s grip. When Kyungsoo puts it down, Junmyeon assumes he’s finally dropped the issue.
The next thing Junmyeon knows, he is being dragged by Kyungsoo towards a huge bronze statue of a native warrior meters away from where they were. He almost trips at the first tug but regains balance right away as he tightens his grip on Kyungsoo’s hand.
Kyungsoo doesn’t seem to notice but Junmyeon is actually staring at him more than where they are actually headed to.
They return to the hotel for lunch upon Kyungsoo’s suggestion (since hotel food is free and most of the nearby fastfood restaurants are full anyway). They make it quick though because they’re sticking to their schedules.
“Where we going next?” Junmyeon asks, putting down a glass of water he just emptied in a gulp.
Kyungsoo takes his planner out and checks the list. “Uh… it says shopping. But we didn’t set a place yet. Are you sure we’re gonna shop again? We just had one yesterday.”
“Oh. In Green-something?”
“Greenhills.”
“Yeah. It’s for my friends. I want stuff for myself.”
Kyungsoo smiles at him before fishing his phone out. Junmyeon is a little confused on what Kyungsoo does but decides to remain silent and wait for the other to give a proper reaction.
“It’s either we go to SM Manila just across the highway or this, uh SM Mall of Asia-hold up it’s too huge,” Kyungsoo apparently is searching for nearby malls and Junmyeon nods in appreciation. “Are you looking for…”
“I’m good with anything,” Junmyeon supplies.
“We could go to this uh Ayala thing in the CBD. It’s a bulk of malls,” Kyungsoo tells him a few seconds later. It doesn’t come as a surprise to him when Junmyeon agrees without further questions. Well, Kyungsoo’s pretty much okay with it, too. He’s leaving the day after tomorrow anyway so another half-day splurge on shopping shouldn’t hurt.
They try the trains which aren’t as bad as what they expected (the concierge staff told them how Manila trains can be jampacked almost everyday at every hour). The coaches, surprisingly, are almost empty probably because it’s past one in the afternoon and it’s a weekday which means lesser people outside. They arrive at their station in forty-five minutes and reach the malls ten minutes later.
Junmyeon enumerates what he actually wants to have: caps, perfumes, and wallet. Kyungsoo sees his excitement. And although his plans for today’s shopping are simply on the shirt and pants section, Kyungsoo decides to help Junmyeon choose styles first, saying confidently that he “trusts his fashion senses.” Junmyeon gives him a weird look, somewhat close to disbelief.
“Don’t judge me! I may look…unfashionable but I know the trends, okay!” Kyungsoo defensively reacts, slapping Junmyeon but gently on the arm. The latter doesn’t say anything; he just chuckles and decides to give Kyungsoo a chance to prove what he says.
Which Kyungsoo doesn’t fail.
They first go for the snapbacks. Junmyeon is a little nervous when Kyungsoo stands a few feet away from him, arms across his chest as if judging his choices. When Junmyeon takes one and Kyungsoo shakes his head, he is quick to drop it. The same happens for the next three choices, a series of “No not that,” and “Doesn’t suit you,” remarks almost harshly coming out of Kyungsoo’s mouth.
“You sure take this shopping seriously, huh?” Junmyeon says with a grin, looking at Kyungsoo who picks a black snapback with white visor and puts it on Junmyeon.
“I better be because I feel like I’m dressing up a model except that they’re not really clothes,” Kyungsoo answers and Junmyeon isn’t sure if he is to take it seriously or as a joke. Still, he feels giddy and flattered about it. “Well, this is simple but it looks good on you,” Kyungsoo follows up. Junmyeon doesn’t pose any contention because when he checks it out on a mirror, he agrees..
Choosing the perfume is just the same. Kyungsoo does the smelling tests first (Junmyeon lets him) until he comes back with a Christian Doir one. Looking for a man purse isn’t much of a difference, too. Kyungsoo picks a J-Fold wallet with racing stripes on it which Junmyeon also buys without hesitation. He doesn’t say it but he likes it.
Surprisingly, Junmyeon doesn’t find the whole sudden fashion guru transformation annoying. Totally not. He’s enjoying how Kyungsoo’s so enthusiastic about picking the “right style” for him, ending up with a huge amazement at how he seems to know Junmyeon’s exact likings.
“You’ll definitely look manlier with those stuff,” Kyungsoo says confidently as they head towards the cashier.
“Are you implying that I’m not?” Junmyeon reacts but in an apparently kidding tone.
Kyungsoo laughs. “I said manlier. Which means you’re already manly.”
“Finally taking something as a compliment,” Junmyeon says sarcastically.
“I’ve been complimenting you since like forever!”
Junmyeon taps his shoulder and smiles. He has his lips already parted, about to say something but pauses when they pass by the underwear section. Kyungsoo gives him a wondering look. “Hey what are you…”
Junmyeon turns to his right and takes a Spongebob-designed boxers, holding it by the garters on head-level, stretching it and touching the hems. Kyungsoo doesn’t see it first when he follows after but when he finally does, he makes a funny, short gasp.
“Look, Kyungsoo this is cute!” Junmyeon says and he sounds genuinely amused at the design. “I like it.”
Kyungsoo nods slowly, a little hesitantly. “It’s… yeah, cute.”
“Do you think this will look good on me, too?”
That’s when Kyungsoo makes another gasp, a louder one, and he isn’t sure if he is to shake his head or nod. And no he isn’t imagining Junmyeon wearing a Spongebob boxers because that would be really inappropriate for somebody he considers bordering acquaintance and friend. He tries to ignore the warm sting on his cheeks. His face is probably pink, or red he isn’t entirely sure either, and the desire to bury his face in his hands, or in that pile of clothes next to him, is growing fast.
“It’ll look good on me, right?” Junmyeon asks naively, blinking, waiting patiently for an answer.
"I... I don't know. Maybe?" Kyungsoo says, words rolling hurriedly. "Are you gonna buy that, too?"
"If you think it's good then I will."
"It's not like people will gonna peek inside your pants to see Spongebob you know," Kyungsoo says with a shrug. "But if it's gonna be comfy for you then sure." He is grateful he's finally composed back.
Junmyeon gives him a satisfied grin. "Alright. I'll buy you one, too."
There is a sudden wave of awkward panic in Kyungsoo's face. He stutters as he tries to stop Junmyeon but the other seems to be enjoying his embarrassment. He doesn’t let go of the boxers and seriously brings it to the cashier. “This is a thank you gift you know.”
Kyungsoo sighs and finally buries his face in his hands. If this is Junmyeon’s way of friendship upgrade, well, there’s nothing he can really do about it. He’s willing to accept it anyway (not that he has a choice).
Junmyeon doesn’t see Kyungsoo again since breakfast the next day. Although a part of him feels a little disappointed, he understands. Kyungsoo is leaving tomorrow morning and he’s probably busy packing stuff and preparing his luggage for his return to Korea.
“I’m sorry if I have to leave early,” Kyungsoo says when he stands up and places his napkin back on the table. Junmyeon shakes his head.
“No. It’s totally fine. Wanna go to the roofdeck for dinner later? If I can still see you. They got good view,” Junmyeon suggests although he doesn’t look straight at Kyungsoo. He wishes he doesn’t sound awkward.
“Ooh! Skydeck, yes! That’d be awesome,” Kyungsoo exclaims. He is excited, as usual, and Junmyeon is simply happy about it. He smiles back. “Cool! I’ll see you then!”
“I’ll see you in dinner then.”
Junmyeon arrives fifteen minutes earlier than the agreed time. He doesn’t really mind though because he’s too fascinated by the view. It’s the roofdeck restaurant so it’s basically a clear 360-degree view of the entire city of Manila and the skylines of its surrounding suburbs. He’s pretty sure the morning view would be wonderful, given the greenery that is just below them, but he can’t say it’d be as pretty and awesome as seeing an unobstructed nighttime skyline.
He’s glad there isn’t much people at the deck so he’s got the leisure of choosing which table is perfect for a send-off dinner. He takes the table at a far end overlooking the the city hall brightly illuminated in white and yellow lights, a blur of skyscrapers as its backdrop. He orders for a bottle of wine while waiting.
Kyungsoo arrives ten minutes later and sees Junmyeon staring into the skylines with a glass of wine in one hand.
“Junmyeon,” Kyungsoo calls and he bows. “Sorry I’m late.”
“No, it’s okay,” Junmyeon shakes his head, lips slowly pulling to a smile. He extends an arm, pointing at the empty seat across him, and Kyungsoo gladly takes it.
“Had to pack the smaller stuff,” Kyungsoo says with a sigh. When he turns to his left and sees the view, he mouths a wow. The amusement on his face delights Junmyeon.
“This is pretty,” Kyungsoo says, looking at the other still with his fascinated expression. “I like this.”
Junmyeon doesn’t say anything. Instead he keeps a contented smile, watching Kyungsoo wander his eyes over the expanse of city lights before them. He raises a hand so he can tell the waiter to serve the food he’s ordered earlier. When Kyungsoo reacts why Junmyeon’s ordered already (basically spent money on him), it doesn’t come as a surprise anymore. When the food arrives, Kyungsoo still insists he owes Junmyeon a meal in Korea.
“So that means we’ll still see each other in Korea?” Junmyeon asks as the food is served one by one. Kyungsoo’s cheeks suddenly flush pink and stutters.
“It’s not like… we don’t normally go out here in the Philippines so of course I’ll still see you in Seoul,” Kyungsoo says, checking out the food on the table as an excuse to not look at Junmyeon who’s never steered his eyes away from Kyungsoo’s face. Also, the grin on his face makes Kyungsoo feel funny churns on the inside.
“Is this your way of asking people out?” Kyungsoo follows up and Junmyeon almost chokes on his wine.
“Why?”
Kyungsoo smirks. Probably a mini revenge. “Nothing. Clever.”
“If I say yes, what would you say?”
“It’s okay. I don’t really mind.”
Junmyeon feels his heart race. When he smiles, he shakes a little but in a good way. It probably is time to revel on this newfound fact that he’s completely grown comfortable with Kyungsoo’s company. When he said to himself he only likes Kyungsoo’s kickass smartness, he thought it would just be a temporary fondness for some words that send him thinking. Thoughts he doesn’t normally reflect on only because no one’s spoken to him that way until Kyungsoo. Now Junmyeon’s gone beyond words and although he is yet to actually admit it to himself, he has liked more than what Kyungsoo says and does.
He’s moving at a quicker pace, fast for his liking, but he thinks it isn’t a bad thing either.
1. Every place mentioned in this fic exists. Believe me.
2. This is a little difficult but I still enjoyed writing it.
3. Thanks to R, C, and J for always being there while I write this.
Pairing: Suho/D.O.
Rating: G
Word Count: 6,395 words
Summary: Kyungsoo may never know but he makes Junmyeon realize there is more to “perspective” than he already knows.
A/N: My suholiday entry written for hoen. More notes at the end of the fic (semi warning: self-betaed aka I reread my fic but I didn't catch any errors but there are actually a lot) (thanks to Sam for the definition). Also posted here.
Vacations are supposed to happen during summer, or at least according to Junmyeon’s planner. This means his stay here in Manila is unplanned, totally out of his schedules. He’s supposed to be finishing a new project in his office at the perceived comforts of his desk 1,628 miles away from where he is right now. Yet on a Monday of February he finds himself in a hotel’s restaurant at eight in the morning, a cup of coffee, bread and butter on his table.
Junmyeon sips on his cup as he stares at the window next to him, adoring the clock tower of the city hall visible from where he is. He’s got no itinerary for his whole five-day vacation in the Philippines. He’s bored that his appreciation of the view quickly dies down and he’s simply staring blankly, mind wandering aimlessly and thinking of many different things.
“Excuse me?”
The questions sends him back to earth, jerking awkwardly as he shifts to his side. There is a guy standing next to him, holding a plate of loaf and a couple of vegetables on one hand, a glass of fresh milk on the other. Junmyeon blinks and the stranger smiles.
“I’m sorry but is the other seat taken?” the stranger asks. Junmyeon notices a struggling tone of English (although it isn’t bad) and a familiar Korean accent. There is a funny jump in his chest, like a sudden homey nostalgia. But he isn’t really sure if the stranger is Korean so he drops his assumption.
“No,” he says blankly.
“Can I take it?”
When Junmyeon sees his hand shake while trying to keep a grip of the plate, he quickly nods and extends an arm in an offering gesture.
“Thank you,” the stranger says in a relieved tone, placing the plate on the table with a loud clunk. “I hope I'm not bothering you.”
“No, not really,” Junmyeon says, shaking his head. “Enjoy your breakfast,” he says in his native language. The stranger, who is in the middle of putting butter on his loaf, stops and stares at him with wide eyes. Junmyeon thinks it’s amusingly creepy, the way his eyes grow widely more than the typical, and he chuckles.
“You’re Korean!” the stranger exclaims. There is delight in his expression, his voice growing significantly louder than earlier.
“I am,” Junmyeon says blankly although he tries to make it as jolly as the other person is. The stranger doesn’t seem to notice though because he still has his bright smile and excited eyes locked on him.
“I’ve been here for two days and I’ve never met any Korean,” he says. “Or in the hotel at least.”
Junmyeon nods. “I just arrived yesterday. I’m glad I’m not alone,” he says and he follows up with a smile. He isn’t normally this friendly, or approachable at least, but he resolves that it won’t hurt making friends. Besides he needs company when his itinerary is basically non-existent.
“I’m Junmyeon by the way,” he says, extending an arm for a handshake.
“I’m Kyungsoo. Nice to meet you,” the stranger says, taking Junmyeon’s hand.
Kyungsoo is talkative and to his surprise, Junmyeon is more amused than annoyed. He nods as he listens to Kyungsoo's stories and extensive knowledge about the Philippines. He knows he’s staying in Intramuros and that it's the old walled Manila but that’s everything to his knowledge about the capital city. With Kyungsoo’s interest, Junmyeon is somehow in some way thankful he’s met him.
“I’m an Asian history teacher by the way,” Kyungsoo says in the middle of his story about churches. “I’m sorry,” he continues in a lower, less excited tone. “It’s my first time in the Philippines and I am just…thrilled.”
Junmyeon feels a bit guilty. No matter how hard he tries to show interest in Kyungsoo’s stories (he really is in all honesty), his face seems to always have a blank, lukewarm expression. He shakes his head. “No, no. Don’t be sorry. I really like your stories. I hardly know anything about Manila. It’s my first time, too, here.”
“Oh. Really?”
Junmyeon nods enthusiastically. “I don’t have any plans to be honest,” he says. For a second he contemplates if he should tell Kyungsoo about his boss forcing him to go on a vacation because he’s “overworking” but he decides to have it as a reserve story. He might need it if they run out of topics to talk about. “You could be my tour guide, you know. Sort of.”
Kyungsoo’s eyes grow bigger (not that they aren’t wide enough) to Junmyeon’s proposal. Then he smiles wide, delighted. “That’d be great! I am not really familiar with the places though.”
Junmyeon laughs. “It’s okay. We can get lost together.”
“Getting lost together sounds fun,” Kyungsoo says, his delight quickly becoming more pleased, almost excited.
Junmyeon keeps his smile. But not as easy and natural as he usually does.
He wants to see Manila. He’s there already and what else is for him to do but to see the city. But he isn’t really fond of the idea getting lost around a place he hardly knows, alone or with somebody else, no matter how fun Kyungsoo makes it seem like. It’s a joke but it sounds a little uncomfortable. The fact that it’s actually very possible given how much of a geographic idiot he is (not getting lost from the airport to the hotel is already a feat for Junmyeon) makes it a lot unsettling yet he can’t stop himself from having an unusual liking towards Kyungsoo’s spontaneous character. He’s in a free travel and most likely than not, his only company will be Kyungsoo. If Junmyeon stays stubborn he’ll never make the best out of this trip.
“You seem a little bothered?” Kyungsoo asks as he puts down his glass of milk. Junmyeon points at his mouth, telling the other that he’s gotten a white line of milk on his upper lip at which Kyungsoo hurriedly wipes away.
This is good, Junmyeon thinks. He’s getting comfortable.
“Not really,” he says. It’s a step outside a comfort zone but he thinks it’s worth giving a shot. “Tour around Intramuros tonight?”
Kyungsoo nods a little enthusiastically. “Sure.”
They meet at the lobby at seven but with rumbling stomachs. As much as Junmyeon wants to see Intramuros at night, they both decide to put off the tour and head to a decent restaurant. “What do you want?” Kyungsoo suggests and Junmyeon shrugs. “I’ll take what we can get.”
Kyungsoo hails a cab. “Ristorante delle Mitre,” Kyungsoo tells the driver as soon as they get in and Junmyeon looks at him, surprised and amused at how natural his Italian sounds like. Awesome, Junmyeon whispers and Kyungsoo just smiles.
A few minutes later, they find themselves standing on cobblestone roads in front of a line of restaurants, its colonial design blending well with the heritage district.
“Are you sure you’ve never been to Manila before?” Junmyeon asks, roaming his eyes as he catches glimpse of the other restaurants, the old refurbished stone houses, and the church right next to them.
Kyungsoo chuckles. “Yep. I swear to…” he trails off. “There’s a church next to us so I’m gonna stop it right there.” Junmyeon finds it actually funny but dismisses it right away because Kyungsoo gets inside the restaurant and he follows suit.
Interesting is the first word Junmyeon thinks when he steps inside. The yellow lights accentuate its strong colonial ambiance. The interiors are really classic, furnitures traditional yet elegant. But what makes it a lot more interesting is its unusual set-up. It’s as if everything is intentionally designed for a religious dining experience. The walls are adorned with portraits of priests and bishops. One corner displays different mitres or ceremonial hats (Kyungsoo tells him the restaurant’s name actually translates to Restaurant of the Mitres) while other corners are basically anything about the Church. They find the place a little creepy yet a lot amusing.
“Their staff are deaf,” Kyungsoo tells him as soon as they take their seats. Junmyeon gives him a confused look, not entirely sure if he’s being sarcastic or not. Then he taps on a small notice on the table: “We provide equal employment opportunity and have hired deaf persons as food servers. Should you need their services, please don't hesitate to give them a tap on the shoulder. They may communicate with you through pen and paper.”
Junmyeon mumbles a “wow” as he reads through the whole of it. “How did you even know about this place?” he asks. There is a satisfied smile on Kyungsoo’s lips before he answers with a “I just Googled”.
The menu is quite peculiar, too, named after the favorite meal sets of past archbishops. But Junmyeon doesn’t care much about it now that their stomachs grumble louder than earlier. They quickly tell (more of like point and write because the server is indeed deaf) their orders and were told to wait for at most twenty minutes.
“So,” Kyungsoo sighs when the staff leaves them. He interlaces his fingers, elbows on the table,
“Uh, I’m actually curious. What do you do for a living?”
It’s a question Junmyeon expects yet he still finds himself a little unprepared. It’s not like he doesn’t like telling people what his job is, that is if he’s just simply to tell what he does for a living and nothing comes after it. What he actually minds is dealing with misconceptions because debunking them is annoying and he may sound annoyingly rude.
“If you mind it’s okay. I’m just… curious, you know,” Kyungsoo says quickly when Junmyeon’s face remain blank.
Junmyeon shakes his head. It’ll be unfair if he judges without trying so he’s giving Kyungsoo a chance. “No, I don’t. I’m an architect.”
Kyungsoo’s lips form an “oh”, nodding slowly as if letting the fact slowly sink in him. “You draft buildings,” he says. “Interesting. Really.”
Draft buildings. Junmyeon nods in agreement and smiles. At least he didn’t get a “Oh makes a lot of money” or “You don’t look so arrogant” this time. Kyungsoo doesn’t seem to be a person who easily falls for stereotypes anyway. He gives off such impression.
“Well, it’s actually… yes interesting but boring at the same time,” he clarifies, shrugging.
Kyungsoo raises a brow and shakes his head. “Why? Well I know it’s not easy, no job is easy. But I don’t think it’s boring?”
"Believe me it is.” Junmyeon answers promptly, a little confidently. “We design buildings, structures. If it’s built, then good. If not, then it’s pretty okay, too. That’s what we only do."
Junmyeon becomes a little wary when Kyungsoo’s face shows apparent disagreement. He remains silent; he doesn’t need to be defensive.
“But you design people, too,” Kyungsoo says calmly, as if a matter of fact. Junmyeon is confused but he doesn’t say anything. He knows the other has more to say so he listens. “You design relationships. Interactions. You place a glass window next to a cafe so people can see. people can smile. A smile can make someone else’s day."
If there is one thing Junmyeon is sure he is feeling right now, it’s utter amazement. He blinks, lips parted as if wanting to say something but he finds himself speechless so he chuckles instead. “Where did that suddenly come from?” he asks, smile still etched on his face.
“Nothing. I just think people in general shape other people. I don’t know how exactly but I’m pretty sure in one way or another, we do,” Kyungsoo says with a slight raise of his shoulders. Junmyeon poses no more questions, not that he still has. He feels a little embarrassed. It’s a total rebuttal of a perspective but Junmyeon quickly discerns how Kyungsoo has his way of saying things that would sound neither argumentative nor offensive. Ideas that are actually simple yet something worth to ponder on. When he falls silent, Kyungsoo begins to apologize and Junmyeon shakes his head saying there’s nothing to be sorry about.
Food arrives and their conversation is swayed to a snowball of topics. They get too absorbed with their stories that their cheeks hurt from laughing, jaws almost giving up from talking. It’s a good ice breaker as they find themselves in a comfortable zone, a significant move away from being strangers to good acquaintances. When dinner ends and they agree to see each other again, it neither comes as an awkward invitation nor a surprise anymore. Kyungsoo seems excited and Junmyeon doesn’t really mind. Or that’s what he says.
Junmyeon actually looks forward to it.
“Thanks for tonight,” Junmyeon says when they return back to their hotel, an arm over Kyungsoo’s shoulder, a friendly embrace with a contented smile.
“Sorry about the… thing I mentioned earlier. I thought I made you uncomfortable,” Kyungsoo mumbles, his words drowning as he . Apparently, with all the shared laughter over dinner, he still hasn’t gotten over it. “I sometimes blurt out unnecessary things.”
Junmyeon shakes his head fervently because he thinks those are words he actually need to hear. “Nah Kyungsoo. Really. It’s totally fine,” he says, his hand still on Kyungsoo’s shoulder. “At least I’ll have something to think about before I sleep,” Junmyeon kids and Kyungsoo whines, like a kid, which he thinks is adorable.
“I don’t want to make you feel awkward,” Kyungsoo says shyly.
“I didn’t so don’t worry.”
Kyungsoo then brings himself, finally, to a comfy smile, at which Junmyeon delights. “See you tomorrow then,” he says. Junmyeon nods, squeezing Kyungsoo’s shoulder gently before letting go.
“Definitely.”
“There’s nothing really much within Intramuros but I want to see the churches,” Kyungsoo says when he meets Junmyeon at the lobby one morning before going out yet again together. His voice is high and excited, delighted that Junmyeon is more than okay to accompany him in what he thinks are boring endeavors. “I’m sorry if I am dragging you with me.”
Junmyeon shakes his head. “If you keep on apologizing I’m going to leave you,” he kids. It doesn’t come off as a sarcastic remark, all thanks to his perfect breakfast his self-control is working fine. He chuckles when Kyungsoo gives him a pout.
“You sure know when to use your aegyo,” Junmyeon says. In a snap, Kyungsoo’s cheeks flush. He averts his gaze away from Junmyeon followed by a shake of his head. “Shut up. I don’t have aegyo,” he mumbles with a funny smile as he walks toward the exit in small, rushed steps. Junmyeon, amused, paces after Kyungsoo and places an arm over him when he’s finally caught up. He feels Kyungsoo’s shoulder jerk in surprise.
“I was kidding,” he says and Kyungsoo looks at him with wide, jumpy eyes. “But really I think that pout was cute.”
Kyungsoo gives Junmyeon a light jab to the stomach.
The first stop is Manila Cathedral. They stand right in front of it, phones fished out taking photos of and with the church as their gaze in awe at the whole facade. It’s predominantly grey with white limestone statues on the corners of its doors. A little boring at least in color but the designs are wonderful, its aged moldy surface adding more beauty to its highly valued antiquity.
Junmyeon is a little absorbed in taking pictures when he feels a poke on his shoulder. He turns around and hears a shutter, stepping a foot back when his face almost hits the back of a phone. He sees Kyungsoo laughing and when he asks what it is about, Kyungsoo shows him a shot of Junmyeon’s face scrunched up.
“Hey delete that!” Junmyeon exclaims but Kyungsoo just sticks his tongue out, carefully but quickly running away from Junmyeon and inside the church.
“Kyungsoo come ba-” Junmyeon follows after him but stops calling out halfway when he finds himself inside the cathedral, too. He sees a couple of people kneeling on pews, hands clasped together with their heads rested on it. “Oops,” he mutters and bows apologetically. But no one seems to have been bothered by how loud he was earlier. Relieved, he carries on inside and searches for Kyungsoo whom he finds standing beside a pillar, arms stretched up as he takes a photo of the dome.
Kyungsoo doesn’t notice Junmyeon take the closest seat next to him, watching as the other takes several shots of the stained glass windows, the columns and the life-size bronze statue of the Immaculate Conception at the center.
“Hey,” Junmyeon calls out.
Kyungsoo looks at him and smiles. “I’m done,” he says as he sits down beside Junmyeon, eyes still glued to his phone, checking his shots. “This is awesome.”
“Never been to a church?” Junmyeon asks. He actually wonders after seeing how curious and excited Kyungsoo is.
Kyungsoo bites on his lower lip and nods. “Not really. The old ones just fascinate me. I’m… excited.”
“You’ve mentioned that once but do churches really excite you that much?” Junmyeon tries his best to hide in his chuckle but he fails, muffling the sounds with a hand over his mouth. “Kyungsoo, I swear you’re one of the weirdest persons I’ve met.”
Kyungsoo’s reaction is awkward and funny. He laughs, too, but with the way his brows raise, he obviously is unsure whether to take Junmyeon’s remark as an insult or a compliment. “I am not weird,” he says defensively. He doesn’t sound like he has taken offense on Junmyeon’s words, though.
“You are,” Junmyeon says and Kyungsoo looks at him with another pout. Junmyeon stops laughing and clears his throat. Pouts should be disturbing, at least for him, but it seems like he’s grown some liking to it now.
Junmyeon sighs, a little lost in his reverie, and mumbles, “In an adorable way, you know.” When Kyungsoo smiles back at him, Junmyeon isn’t sure if his pinkish cheeks are brought by the tropical heat or not.
They remain silent, with Junmyeon roaming his eyes around the church while Kyungsoo still checking his photos. From time to time Junmyeon hears Kyungsoo utter weak ooh's and aah's as he sees his camera roll, deleting the blurry while keeping the good ones. Junmyeon sometimes takes peeks and he doesn't stop himself from nodding because Kyungsoo's shots are actually nice.
"Look at the things you guys build," Kyungsoo says as he continuously but slowly slides his fingers on his phone screen, showing a series of shots of the church’s ceilings and columns.
Junmyeon looks at him, a little confused. "We what?"
"You architects build," Kyungsoo clarifies. "They're magnificent."
Junmyeon can feel where this conversation is heading to. “We did not,” he says, shaking his head. “Somebody else did. We just designed.”
“But Junmyeon, the buildings won’t be this awesome if the designs aren’t!” Kyungsoo exclaims.
“You see,” Junmyeon begins with a sigh. He shifts to Kyungsoo so that they’re facing each other. “The process counts but customers don’t get passionate about the concepts. They hardly understand it only because they want the end not the means.”
“That’s kind of a harsh truth,” It’s like a rain on Kyungsoo’s parade when he takes a couple of seconds for silence, as if thoroughly contemplating on Junmyeon’s words. But then no words are bad enough to completely put Kyungsoo down.
“But I still think it’s interesting.”
“Huh?”
Kyungsoo continues to scroll on his camera roll. “I think designs are as a lot exciting as building it. You create things out of a blank paper, or screen perhaps. When you do the drafts, you see the unrealized physical form.”
He pauses, looks at Junmyeon and smiles. “I think the processes of both design and construction are inseparable. I mean, I am no architect but I believe one cannot design without continually contemplating the construction process.”
“But the process always begins with you guys. You create potentials, what is to happen, or at least what could possibly happen. Which makes it a lot interesting.”
And yet again Kyungsoo has done it. A gentle hit on Junmyeon face. It’s probably fate playing games on Junmyeon, making him meet a certain wide-eyed Korean teacher in a tropical country so he realizes things he’s never realized before until now. They sound foreign coming from somebody who is of a different profession but Junmyeon always finds himself appreciating the random outburst of thoughts. They never sound bad; always innocent, no intention of outsmarting the other. They’re true, anyway.
He is left almost speechless, bewildered yet amused. He shakes his head in utter fascination. “Thanks. You’re a good teacher.”
“What?”
“Yes,” Junmyeon nods, placing a hand on Kyungsoo’s knee and patting it gently. The latter keeps a confused look but Junmyeon dismisses it with a shake of his head. He hopes he doesn’t sound sarcastic.
I like it.
“Never mind.”
“Tell me!”
“No.”
“Why won’t you tell me?”
They hear a loud hush from their side and sees a young lady glaring at them, her index finger on her pouted lips telling them to tone down their voices. They promptly bow their heads in apology and chuckles to themselves, muffling the sounds with their hands. Suddenly, Kyungsoo pinches him on the side and Junmyeon flinches.
“Giving up. I’m going out,” Junmyeon says in defeat, standing up with both hands slightly raised. He walks toward the exit and Kyungsoo follows after him. “Are you mad?” he asks. He’s obviously worried and Junmyeon feels a little guilty yet also giddy about it.
“No. I’m not.”
“I think you are.”
“No. Really, I am not!”
“I’m sorry.”
A little desperate to convince Kyungsoo that he’s perfectly fine, he puts an arm over Kyungsoo’s shoulder and pulls him close. “You always apologize. I am not mad. Come on, let’s have ice cream? My treat.”
When Kyungsoo’s shy smile comes back, Junmyeon knows he’s finally succeeded.
Junmyeon doesn’t think he’ll hate Kyungsoo. Not what he does, not what he says, not even when he makes Junmyeon stay up late at night, thinking about his actions, his words as if they’re serious matter. Maybe if they keep this kind of company, he’ll hear more things he needs to hear, learn things he needs to learn.
If all goes well, hopefully, Junmyeon will also find something he’s never found yet.
The next day is a jampacked schedule for Kyungsoo and Junmyeon, or at least the one they planned last night. Kyungsoo has done most of the itinerary as their unofficial “tour guide” and Junmyeon’s contribution is a single nod at the end of the talk. Perfect.
“I’m your responsibility so don’t get us lost,” Junmyeon kids while having their early breakfast.
“You always say that. Thanks for the reminder,” Kyungsoo reacts quickly, hissing and faking an annoyed face at Junmyeon. He finishes his mango cream pie dessert quickly, drinks a glass of water in a straight gulp and stands up, grinning. “I actually wonder how you’d react if I suddenly disappear while we’re touring around.”
Junmyeon laughs as he stands up, too. “You’re too kind to do that.”
“Which,” Kyungsoo says and then pauses, patting Junmyeon’s shoulder lightly. “Is actually true.”
Junmyeon feels a giddy swell in his chest down to his stomach as he stares at Kyungsoo smiling at him. It’s a recurring sensation since perhaps a day or two ago, like a new but default reaction whenever Kyungsoo’s does things that are simply innocent but to Junmyeon has become the slightest confusing.
He wants to know why because it can be a small relief to understand but he can probably think about it next time. Not now when Kyungsoo already has both of his hands on Junmyeon’s shoulder, squeezing them gently before pushing him forward to move.
“Hey, let’s go?”
Junmyeon chuckles, nodding. He’s just probably excited.
They start with Casa Manila, a Spanish colonial home reconstructed years back as a museum, which is a practical start since they’re still in Intramuros. Everything inside is authentic antique, the furniture, the artworks, the fixtures. It’s basically a warp back in time, something that makes the house interesting and eerily attractive. They didn’t take a guide, just the two of them roaming inside the casa on their own. They start from the courtyard, into the main receiving area, up to the rooms of the upper floors, the kitchen, bedrooms, then down back to the courtyard. They hang out there for a moment, taking pictures of the casa and a couple of selfies together.
Kyungsoo of course is as eager as usual, his hold of the camera never lost, the sound of shutter almost endless. His excitement for anything within the Walls has never faltered since day one. When Junmyeon feels a funny roll inside, he concludes that Kyungsoo’s enthusiasm is just catching.
They leave early, realizing that the Casa Manila tour isn’t actually that long. They take a cab and head to Rizal Park, the second in their to-go list. It’s eleven in the morning. The sun is high but the breeze is cold and strong. Junmyeon is thankful that their visit, or the whole vacation basically, is not during a tropical summer because they would probably drench their clothes in sweat and burn their skins in the heat. But that seems to be less of Kyungsoo’s concern when Junmyeon notices he’s gone missing.
He panics, turning around in hurried search of his company. He’s torn between staying in his spot or running around the park searching. He deems the first choice as a better option, knowing that he might end up getting lost himself if he leaves his place, he stays but with a lingering eye.
“Hey!” Junmyeon jerks in surprise. When he turns around, it’s deja vu. The sound of shutter greets him and a smiling Kyungsoo appears when he puts the camera down.
“What’s with the face?” Kyungsoo asks when he checks Junmyeon’s shot. “You looked...anxious.”
Junmyeon doesn’t say anything because he hardly hears Kyungsoo. His head is too blurry as the sudden wave of relief washes over his panic. The desire to punch Kyungsoo square in the face and hug him at the same time is strong. But he controls himself and lets the calm sink in instead. He sighs.
"Nothing. Where were you?"
Kyungsoo gives him a curious look. When he grins, Junmyeon is sure what is to come. "You were scared right? You thought I left you!" He exclaims confidently, his voice high almost set to laugh.
"I wasn't!" Of course Junmyeon denies.
Kyungsoo giggles and pokes him in the arm. "You were scared."
"I said I wasn't!" Junmyeon repeats, swatting Kyungsoo's hand away. He narrows his eyes, faking a sharp stare. They quickly widen though when Kyungsoo grabs his hand and holds it firmly.
"Yes you were. Look, your hands are cold and sweaty," Kyungsoo notes, raising both their hands at chest level. Junmyeon doesn't deny anymore and laughs instead, not even bothering to pull his hand away from the other’s grip. When Kyungsoo puts it down, Junmyeon assumes he’s finally dropped the issue.
The next thing Junmyeon knows, he is being dragged by Kyungsoo towards a huge bronze statue of a native warrior meters away from where they were. He almost trips at the first tug but regains balance right away as he tightens his grip on Kyungsoo’s hand.
Kyungsoo doesn’t seem to notice but Junmyeon is actually staring at him more than where they are actually headed to.
They return to the hotel for lunch upon Kyungsoo’s suggestion (since hotel food is free and most of the nearby fastfood restaurants are full anyway). They make it quick though because they’re sticking to their schedules.
“Where we going next?” Junmyeon asks, putting down a glass of water he just emptied in a gulp.
Kyungsoo takes his planner out and checks the list. “Uh… it says shopping. But we didn’t set a place yet. Are you sure we’re gonna shop again? We just had one yesterday.”
“Oh. In Green-something?”
“Greenhills.”
“Yeah. It’s for my friends. I want stuff for myself.”
Kyungsoo smiles at him before fishing his phone out. Junmyeon is a little confused on what Kyungsoo does but decides to remain silent and wait for the other to give a proper reaction.
“It’s either we go to SM Manila just across the highway or this, uh SM Mall of Asia-hold up it’s too huge,” Kyungsoo apparently is searching for nearby malls and Junmyeon nods in appreciation. “Are you looking for…”
“I’m good with anything,” Junmyeon supplies.
“We could go to this uh Ayala thing in the CBD. It’s a bulk of malls,” Kyungsoo tells him a few seconds later. It doesn’t come as a surprise to him when Junmyeon agrees without further questions. Well, Kyungsoo’s pretty much okay with it, too. He’s leaving the day after tomorrow anyway so another half-day splurge on shopping shouldn’t hurt.
They try the trains which aren’t as bad as what they expected (the concierge staff told them how Manila trains can be jampacked almost everyday at every hour). The coaches, surprisingly, are almost empty probably because it’s past one in the afternoon and it’s a weekday which means lesser people outside. They arrive at their station in forty-five minutes and reach the malls ten minutes later.
Junmyeon enumerates what he actually wants to have: caps, perfumes, and wallet. Kyungsoo sees his excitement. And although his plans for today’s shopping are simply on the shirt and pants section, Kyungsoo decides to help Junmyeon choose styles first, saying confidently that he “trusts his fashion senses.” Junmyeon gives him a weird look, somewhat close to disbelief.
“Don’t judge me! I may look…unfashionable but I know the trends, okay!” Kyungsoo defensively reacts, slapping Junmyeon but gently on the arm. The latter doesn’t say anything; he just chuckles and decides to give Kyungsoo a chance to prove what he says.
Which Kyungsoo doesn’t fail.
They first go for the snapbacks. Junmyeon is a little nervous when Kyungsoo stands a few feet away from him, arms across his chest as if judging his choices. When Junmyeon takes one and Kyungsoo shakes his head, he is quick to drop it. The same happens for the next three choices, a series of “No not that,” and “Doesn’t suit you,” remarks almost harshly coming out of Kyungsoo’s mouth.
“You sure take this shopping seriously, huh?” Junmyeon says with a grin, looking at Kyungsoo who picks a black snapback with white visor and puts it on Junmyeon.
“I better be because I feel like I’m dressing up a model except that they’re not really clothes,” Kyungsoo answers and Junmyeon isn’t sure if he is to take it seriously or as a joke. Still, he feels giddy and flattered about it. “Well, this is simple but it looks good on you,” Kyungsoo follows up. Junmyeon doesn’t pose any contention because when he checks it out on a mirror, he agrees..
Choosing the perfume is just the same. Kyungsoo does the smelling tests first (Junmyeon lets him) until he comes back with a Christian Doir one. Looking for a man purse isn’t much of a difference, too. Kyungsoo picks a J-Fold wallet with racing stripes on it which Junmyeon also buys without hesitation. He doesn’t say it but he likes it.
Surprisingly, Junmyeon doesn’t find the whole sudden fashion guru transformation annoying. Totally not. He’s enjoying how Kyungsoo’s so enthusiastic about picking the “right style” for him, ending up with a huge amazement at how he seems to know Junmyeon’s exact likings.
“You’ll definitely look manlier with those stuff,” Kyungsoo says confidently as they head towards the cashier.
“Are you implying that I’m not?” Junmyeon reacts but in an apparently kidding tone.
Kyungsoo laughs. “I said manlier. Which means you’re already manly.”
“Finally taking something as a compliment,” Junmyeon says sarcastically.
“I’ve been complimenting you since like forever!”
Junmyeon taps his shoulder and smiles. He has his lips already parted, about to say something but pauses when they pass by the underwear section. Kyungsoo gives him a wondering look. “Hey what are you…”
Junmyeon turns to his right and takes a Spongebob-designed boxers, holding it by the garters on head-level, stretching it and touching the hems. Kyungsoo doesn’t see it first when he follows after but when he finally does, he makes a funny, short gasp.
“Look, Kyungsoo this is cute!” Junmyeon says and he sounds genuinely amused at the design. “I like it.”
Kyungsoo nods slowly, a little hesitantly. “It’s… yeah, cute.”
“Do you think this will look good on me, too?”
That’s when Kyungsoo makes another gasp, a louder one, and he isn’t sure if he is to shake his head or nod. And no he isn’t imagining Junmyeon wearing a Spongebob boxers because that would be really inappropriate for somebody he considers bordering acquaintance and friend. He tries to ignore the warm sting on his cheeks. His face is probably pink, or red he isn’t entirely sure either, and the desire to bury his face in his hands, or in that pile of clothes next to him, is growing fast.
“It’ll look good on me, right?” Junmyeon asks naively, blinking, waiting patiently for an answer.
"I... I don't know. Maybe?" Kyungsoo says, words rolling hurriedly. "Are you gonna buy that, too?"
"If you think it's good then I will."
"It's not like people will gonna peek inside your pants to see Spongebob you know," Kyungsoo says with a shrug. "But if it's gonna be comfy for you then sure." He is grateful he's finally composed back.
Junmyeon gives him a satisfied grin. "Alright. I'll buy you one, too."
There is a sudden wave of awkward panic in Kyungsoo's face. He stutters as he tries to stop Junmyeon but the other seems to be enjoying his embarrassment. He doesn’t let go of the boxers and seriously brings it to the cashier. “This is a thank you gift you know.”
Kyungsoo sighs and finally buries his face in his hands. If this is Junmyeon’s way of friendship upgrade, well, there’s nothing he can really do about it. He’s willing to accept it anyway (not that he has a choice).
Junmyeon doesn’t see Kyungsoo again since breakfast the next day. Although a part of him feels a little disappointed, he understands. Kyungsoo is leaving tomorrow morning and he’s probably busy packing stuff and preparing his luggage for his return to Korea.
“I’m sorry if I have to leave early,” Kyungsoo says when he stands up and places his napkin back on the table. Junmyeon shakes his head.
“No. It’s totally fine. Wanna go to the roofdeck for dinner later? If I can still see you. They got good view,” Junmyeon suggests although he doesn’t look straight at Kyungsoo. He wishes he doesn’t sound awkward.
“Ooh! Skydeck, yes! That’d be awesome,” Kyungsoo exclaims. He is excited, as usual, and Junmyeon is simply happy about it. He smiles back. “Cool! I’ll see you then!”
“I’ll see you in dinner then.”
Junmyeon arrives fifteen minutes earlier than the agreed time. He doesn’t really mind though because he’s too fascinated by the view. It’s the roofdeck restaurant so it’s basically a clear 360-degree view of the entire city of Manila and the skylines of its surrounding suburbs. He’s pretty sure the morning view would be wonderful, given the greenery that is just below them, but he can’t say it’d be as pretty and awesome as seeing an unobstructed nighttime skyline.
He’s glad there isn’t much people at the deck so he’s got the leisure of choosing which table is perfect for a send-off dinner. He takes the table at a far end overlooking the the city hall brightly illuminated in white and yellow lights, a blur of skyscrapers as its backdrop. He orders for a bottle of wine while waiting.
Kyungsoo arrives ten minutes later and sees Junmyeon staring into the skylines with a glass of wine in one hand.
“Junmyeon,” Kyungsoo calls and he bows. “Sorry I’m late.”
“No, it’s okay,” Junmyeon shakes his head, lips slowly pulling to a smile. He extends an arm, pointing at the empty seat across him, and Kyungsoo gladly takes it.
“Had to pack the smaller stuff,” Kyungsoo says with a sigh. When he turns to his left and sees the view, he mouths a wow. The amusement on his face delights Junmyeon.
“This is pretty,” Kyungsoo says, looking at the other still with his fascinated expression. “I like this.”
Junmyeon doesn’t say anything. Instead he keeps a contented smile, watching Kyungsoo wander his eyes over the expanse of city lights before them. He raises a hand so he can tell the waiter to serve the food he’s ordered earlier. When Kyungsoo reacts why Junmyeon’s ordered already (basically spent money on him), it doesn’t come as a surprise anymore. When the food arrives, Kyungsoo still insists he owes Junmyeon a meal in Korea.
“So that means we’ll still see each other in Korea?” Junmyeon asks as the food is served one by one. Kyungsoo’s cheeks suddenly flush pink and stutters.
“It’s not like… we don’t normally go out here in the Philippines so of course I’ll still see you in Seoul,” Kyungsoo says, checking out the food on the table as an excuse to not look at Junmyeon who’s never steered his eyes away from Kyungsoo’s face. Also, the grin on his face makes Kyungsoo feel funny churns on the inside.
“Is this your way of asking people out?” Kyungsoo follows up and Junmyeon almost chokes on his wine.
“Why?”
Kyungsoo smirks. Probably a mini revenge. “Nothing. Clever.”
“If I say yes, what would you say?”
“It’s okay. I don’t really mind.”
Junmyeon feels his heart race. When he smiles, he shakes a little but in a good way. It probably is time to revel on this newfound fact that he’s completely grown comfortable with Kyungsoo’s company. When he said to himself he only likes Kyungsoo’s kickass smartness, he thought it would just be a temporary fondness for some words that send him thinking. Thoughts he doesn’t normally reflect on only because no one’s spoken to him that way until Kyungsoo. Now Junmyeon’s gone beyond words and although he is yet to actually admit it to himself, he has liked more than what Kyungsoo says and does.
He’s moving at a quicker pace, fast for his liking, but he thinks it isn’t a bad thing either.
1. Every place mentioned in this fic exists. Believe me.
2. This is a little difficult but I still enjoyed writing it.
3. Thanks to R, C, and J for always being there while I write this.