Torments in Powder Pink: Chapter Eight
The Morning After....
“I'm awake” was Sungmin's reply to Kyuhyuns frantic wake up call.
“Oh. Okay. Good. I've made you some coffee, its about drinking temperature now.” asked Kyuhyun.
“oh, okay, thanks. I'll be out in a minute” Sungmin said with a smile. He's so thoughtful. Well I had to get up sooner or later. He proceeded to get out of bed, shimmying his feet into his slippers and shuffling along the floor toward the bedroom door, taking a quick look in his mirror on the way and flattening down any wayward hairs. Kyuhyun was stood in sight of the door and jumped a little when Sungmin came out, walking towards him with his drink.
Outstretching the drink clad arm, he said: “Here you go. Drink it before it gets cold or it won't be very nice”, finishing with a gentle smile.
“Thanks” he accepted.
They both walked over to the sofa and sat down opposite each other. Kyuhyun looked slightly uncomfortable from the way he kept touching his hair and adjusting his t-shirt; pulling on the bottom like it was too short for him. The way he was acting was mirrored in how Sungmin felt. He'd never felt so awkward with him in the whole time they'd been sharing a dorm. They kept looking at each other, quickly looking away every time their eyes met.
Letting out a little laugh, Kyuhyun enquired: “how's your drink? Is it strong enough?”
*Nod *
“Enough sugar?”
*Nod *
“Good” I should stop speaking, I sound like an idiot. But he's so quiet.
Kyuhyun noticed that his friend's eyelids were swollen. He really wanted to talk to him about what happened the previous night. To clear things up and get rid of any awkwardness he had caused between them.
“Um.... About last night, I hope you weren't offended. I panicked, it was the only thing I could think of to do. I hope you don't think I went too far. Its just that it seemed to work and.......”
“Don't..... Thank you.”
Thank you? “So you're okay with it?”
“I am. I thought I didn't need anyone, but I think I really did. I'm thankful you were there for me.” Sungmin finished with a smile, followed by a big gulp of his drink.
Kyuhyun quickly took a drink too, trying to shield the big smile that was forming on his face. He still felt uneasy about the night events at the concert though. About how Heechul had kissed Sungmin. He knew why he'd reacted the way he had but he wanted to know why Sungmin had reacted so badly. He usually took everything in his stride and just got on with it. Kyuhyun wanted to ask but he didn't want a repeat of the previous night. He was trying to think of a gentle way to introduce the topic, but was cut off by Sungmin who introduced it:
“I'm sorry for the way I reacted to Heechul Hyung. I know its all for the fanservice so I shouldn't have reacted like that but I just couldn't help it. Something just felt so wrong about it. I really didn't want him to kiss me. But, I mean, we're friends. It shouldn't have mattered that he kissed me; friends do that all the time and......”, he stopped mid sentence. His eyes were glazed and fixed staring directly ahead of him. He wasn't talking to Kyuhyun, he was in a whole other world. Blinking slowly and bringing his eyes to rest on the floor he spoke once again:
“...... but I don't love him. You're only supposed to kiss people you love... I didn't want to kiss him....”
Kyuhyuns heart jumped into his throat. Why the emphasis on the last word? Sungmin remained in his almost trance-like state, mulling things over like he was stuck on repeat.
“Don't worry about it” Kyuhyun spoke up, “Its happened, nothing you can do about it. Just look forward now; focus on the future.”
As if awakened from a trance, Sungmin looked to Kyuhyun; his eyes still glazed but looking directly at him.
“.... You're right, I shouldn't let my feelings about that drag me down. Thank you.”
*
The sun was slowly setting, sending streams of pink and orange cascading though the open curtains of the shared dorm. It was to be an evening of rest after the tiring training and performance that had dominated their lives for the previous days. Kyuhyun chose to spend in his usual manner, playing Starcraft. It was his personal way of relaxing. Sungmin on the other had was restless still. In an attempt to calm him self he picked up his guitar - the pink one Kyuhyun had bought him. He held it delicately in his hands and gently strummed the strings, playing nothing in particular. Closing his eyes he pictured Kyuhyun, an involuntary action that had been invading his mind since the morning. Carefully he allowed his hands to slide up the neck of the guitar, purposefully groping at the strings to find the right ones to form a cord. When in place he strummed; slowly and deliberately. This action was repeated several times before moving on to another cord, one which complemented the previous one. This continued and before he knew it, he had unconsciously created a tune, He'd simply let his fingers play but the result was beautiful. The whole time his eyes had remained shut and to be perfectly honest, he hadn't even really taken notice of what he was playing. He was just guided by the memories of the previous night.
Then he stopped.
Opening his eyes gently, he stared ahead of him out of the window. Blinking slowly he wondered about Kyuhyun, wondered what he was doing. This was quickly replaced by a curiosity as to why he was wondering about Kyuhyun. If he just thought about it he knew what he'd be doing, but why the urge to go find out anyway? Piercing through his thoughts came a loud knock at the door. Gently putting down his guitar, he made his way to the door, opening it to who was on the other side. It was Eunhyuk, greeting him with a wide welcoming smile.
“Oh hi” Sungmin said, half shocked, stepping aside and opening the door wider to let him come in.
“Hey hyung. Hows everything?” was Eunhyuk's reply, stepping inside and quickly draping his arms over him in a friendly hug.
Reciprocating the hug, Sungmin answered: “Everything's fine Hyuk, thanks” but the look in his eyes said otherwise. There was something deeper there making everything not okay.
“You you sure? Only I'd thought I'd come check after what happened yesterday. Where did you go anyway?” Eunhyuk asked, surveying Sungmin, concern clear.
Thinking carefully about how to reply, Sungmin looked to the side briefly before deciding on: “Oh I just came home, I couldn't stand to be around him when he was being like that.”
Still watching him, Eunhyuk replied “okay. I guess I don't blame you. But what about Kyuhyun? Was he with you?”
“.......... no. I don't know where he went” panic rising. He can't know what happened.
“okay” was Eunhyuks confused reply. “Where is Kyuhyun now?”
“In his room playing Starcraft” Sungmin answered harshly, putting a lot of emphasis on the final word.
Eunhyuk's simple reply was a smile. An the-air-is-clearing smile.
“If you're okay I'll be heading off, Donghae is waiting for me back at the dorm.” Giving him another brief hug he turned to leave. When he reached the door he opened it but, instead of stepping out straight away, he turned his head slightly so that the side of his face was in full view for Sungmin, eyeing him out of his Peripheral. Smiling slyly he announced: “You wanna hear something really strange? I saw Kyuhyun carrying you out of a dark cupboard yesterday. Isn't that weird?” and before a reply could be made he was out with a swiftness that could only be executed by him.
Sungmin just stood in stunned silence, the remnants of a reply hanging from his lips. What's going on?
…....................................................................................