Catch Me Chapter 7
“What happened to Yunho Hyung’s leg?” Jonghyun asked when they were playing guitar together.
Changmin dropped his pencil and it rolled away. Jonghyun got it for him. “Thanks.” He mumbled. “Uh… I heard… he injured his ankle during dance practice.”
“Oh, really? Is he okay?” Jonghyun asked warily.
“Yeah… I guess…” Changmin tilted his head. “I don’t really know.”
“Oh, I thought you’re living together, Hyung?”
Changmin bit his lip, tried his hardest to answer that question normally. “We broke up. It’s… almost five months now.”
“Oh!” Jonghyun looked guilty. “I’m… I’m sorry, Hyung. I… don’t know about that.”
“It’s okay.” Changmin lifted his shoulder, smiled to the other man. “It’s… fine.”
No it isn’t.
Changmin itched to help Yunho brought his bag. To get the water for him. To open the door. To help him wearing his jacket. Or just to walked beside him. Changmin would tell Yunho how his day went while Yunho looked down to the street, careful with his crutches, maybe gave some look and smiled to him, responded to his story and asked unimportant questions. And Changmin just gonna held onto Yunho’s jacket because he couldn’t hold his hand.
But he just couldn’t. He was Yunho’s nobody.
*
Junsu was super excited when he heard Yunho played in a Hollywood movie that he let out his dolphin voice. Changmin caught Yoochun blushed while staring at his lover. Maybe it was his fetish or something, Changmin didn’t want to admit he was curious anyway.
“I just danced a bit and that’s all. That’s embarrassing, Junsu-yah, it’s nothing to brag about.” Yunho didn’t lift his head.
“But still, Hyung! Do you think there’s any chance that another producer watch the movie and got interested in you? Gosh, Hyung! What’s the title?” Junsu’s voice was high pitched.
It was somehow decided that they would go to the dvd rental and watched it together in Yunho’s apartment, because Junsu hadn’t been there.
“And Changminnie hasn’t seen Yunho’s new place too, right?” Junsu asked. Now Jaejoong, Junsu, and Yoochun felt a bit more comfortable between the two ex lovers.
Though actually Changmin just played it cool, because actually there was a hurricane in his heart. “I… have an appointment.”
“You mean a date with Julien.” Jaejoong corrected him.
Yoochun gave him a look.
“Yeah, I’m meeting with him.” Changmin wrapped it up. “Now if you excuse me…” he gathered his things and left.
There was an awkward silence before Junsu spoke up. “So! What about that movie, eh? Let’s go!”
Yunho, Junsu, and Jaejoong were in the rental while Yoochun was buying snacks in the convenience store.
“Donghae is approaching Amber.” Jaejoong said casually as he looked at the neat rows of the dvds uninterestedly. “He’s just playing with her. I know that.”
Yunho and Junsu exchanged a look.
“You gonna tell Yoochun?” Junsu asked.
Jaejoong huffed.
“That guy, Jae, can be a future you. So shut your mouth and let Amber be, okay.” Yunho said.
Junsu gave a firm nod, agreed with Yunho’s words.
Jaejoong looked at Junsu and Yunho alternately. “Gosh. I feel like Amber has three brothers instead of just one.” He rolled his eyes. “I hate seeing Yoochun angry, okay! But it’s real!”
“I’m sure Amber has ways to protect herself.” Junsu said, patted Jaejoong’s shoulder.
“But she really have a bad taste in men,” and that made Jaejoong afraid that the girl would let Donghae into her world easily.
“Then she sure will like you.” Yunho said, and Junsu gave him a high five.
Jaejoong could only pout because Yoochun came back from the store and asked if they had pick the movie yet.
*
“Changmin?”
Changmin blinked and looked at the man in front of him. “Yes?”
“Are you okay?”
There was this one time when Changmin was waiting for Yunho in this café. Yunho taught dance for high school students and they had a competition. As a good teacher, Yunho came to give his support for his students. He said he could make it on time to meet Changmin for their late night movie date. It was this newest sci-fi movie Changmin wanted to watch so much.
It was 9 and the movie would start at 9.25 and Yunho was nowhere in sight, dammit.
“They closed the subway, Min. An electricity problem, they said.”
It was raining hard and Changmin disconnected the call after Yunho told him the reason why he wasn’t there yet. Fuck, Yunho should’ve just let him watched alone, since he always slept in the “I… I mean, it’s not boring, Minnie. It’s just… not understandable,” movie.
Changmin was so pissed he wanted to smash the wall. He could see the pouring rain and hard wind blew in the entire city through the glass wall. And he was stuck for sure.
Time passed, and the rain calmed down a bit. So did his anger.
But then Yunho came, drenched wet, fingers cold, and tapped his shoulder. Gave him his wide, stupid grin. “I got the ticket for midnight. Still up for it?”
Changmin just looked at the man. His black coat and entire clothes clung to his wet body. Drops of water fell from his hair and chin.
“The taxi is waiting.” Yunho added.
That was one of many moments when Changmin felt confused. Whether he should punch, hug, hit, slap, or just kissed the man senseless. So he did all of it after Yunho’s apologizes when there were only two (three plus the taxi driver) of them in the taxi.
Changmin looked at the man in front of him. And blinked.
“You feel okay? Are you feeling sick?” Julien asked warily.
“I’m fine.” Changmin gave him a small smile. “Just… there’s something I suddenly remember. But that’s not important.”
Julien smiled. “Yeah. It happens to me too, sometimes.”
Later, Julien walked him to his apartment and Changmin had been contemplating whether he should invite Julien in or not.
“Maybe I shouldn’t. I have stacks of paper I should grade.” Julien shrugged.
Changmin nodded. “Okay, then.”
Julien suddenly leaned closer and their chests touched, Changmin could feel Julien’s rough stubble brushed his cheek, and the older man pulled back.
Changmin was confused.
Julien face was red. “I’m…” he let out an awkward laugh. “I was about to kiss you but… I don’t know if I should, but…”
Changmin face turned red too. And he laughed awkwardly as well.
Julien laughed went slower until he stopped. “Can I… may I kiss you?”
Changmin couldn’t refuse. But he couldn’t say yes either.
Julien waited for the answer that yet to come from Changmin’s mouth. “Wow, this is awkward.”
Changmin smiled nervously.
“Well… so Changmin,” Julien said. “Just in case you haven’t figured it out,” he looked at Changmin’s eyes. “I like you.”
Changmin froze.
“Yeah. So. There.” Julien exhaled heavily. “Guess… I’ll take my leave now.” He smiled. “See you,” he turned and walked away.
“Julien,” Changmin called, after he came to his senses.
Julien stopped and turned around to look at the younger man.
“Just an advice,” Changmin said. “If you were to kiss someone, just kiss them. To prevent any other awkward events like… well, just now.”
Julien looked at Changmin for a while. “Is that a permission?” he asked cheekily.
“It’s an advice.” Changmin replied, grinned mischievously.
Julien laughed. “Okay.”
“See you, then,” Changmin watched the man disappeared in the elevator and found his smiling self was unstoppable.
*
It was one evening that Jaejoong just finished his classes and ready for home when he spotted someone from the second floor. Near the warehouse, Amber was smoking. And he wasted no time to rush to that place.
It wasn’t like Jaejoong was against that, but the girl seemed pretty upset as he blew the smoke out from her lips.
Just like Yoochun.
“What’s up?” Jaejoong asked, sat next to her. He promised he’d kill Donghae if he really would hurt this girl.
Amber looked away.
Jaejoong lit up a cigarette for himself, inhaled it and let the nicotine flew through his nerves and system. “You promised me to tell me anything, Amber.”
“I promised nothing.” She replied.
“Boys?” he carefully asked.
Amber didn’t answer.
“I won’t leave you alone if you don’t tell me.” Jaejoong threatened.
“No, it’s just… my grade.”
Jaejoong looked at her confusedly.
Amber chuckled. “I know it sounds stupid. But if my score for every classes slide any lower, they can take the scholarship away.”
Jaejoong knew the Park was working really hard with the financial matter without a father in the family. They lived well and happy that made Jaejoong almost forgot about their hardships.
“It’s no big deal. I’ll be better next time.” Amber said.
“I know you will.” Jaejoong proud of her. “And hey, how about you and Yoochun?”
“We’re fine. We’ll fight again later. But yeah, we’re good.” Amber said.
Jaejoong hummed and he felt curious about something. “Did Yoochun talk to you about me?”
Amber inhaled the smoke deeply. “Yeah. I have to thank you, by the way, for taking a good care of my brother.”
Jaejoong waved his hand in dismissal. “Heh. It’s nothing.” He shrugged.
“He said you’re a nice person. A very good Hyung.”
If Yoochun categorized him as a nice person, was it nice enough to let Jaejoong date his sister.
“And you’re a good cook. And despite your cold look, you’re actually a caring person.” Amber continued.
“Wow, I don’t expect him to talk that good about me.” Jaejoong snorted.
“He also said you’re a player.” Amber added.
“I’m not!” Jaejoong quickly retorted.
Amber gave him a look. “I have eyes too, you know. I can see it.”
No, no, no! Although it was a yes, Jaejoong was still need to claim it, he couldn’t look bad in Amber’s eyes! “But I-“
“It’s okay, I don’t give a damn about it.” Amber smiled to calm him down.
Jaejoong screamed in his heart. He wanted Amber to give a damn.
*
Yunho head a sobbing sound in the bathroom. Then he stopped peeing to hear it carefully. Heard nothing. So he continued to pee in peace but then it could be heard again after he zipped his pants.
Yunho went to the university much earlier, since he thought his leg would be a problem to make him got to places in time. But he arrived so early that the university was so empty and the first person he met was the janitor.
Sure, he was a grownup man and it was morning already, but he still felt scared being alone in the bathroom with sobbing sounds.
“Somebody in there?” Yunho asked, tried to face the horror, since running away was out of the options because of his injured leg.
The sobbing stopped.
“Hello?” Yunho asked again.
There was a sound of snot and a man clearing his throat, and Yunho convinced himself that it was a human being in there, not an unknown object. Then he left the bathroom after he thought that maybe the man didn’t want to be disturbed.
Yunho left the bathroom hurriedly that he forgot he left his bag there. He tsked annoyingly, and when he opened the door, a man came out and bumped into him. He was unstable and with his weak leg, Yunho fell to the floor.
“Hyung!”
Yunho looked up and saw the man. “Kai?”
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Yunho Hyung. I didn’t expect… here, let me help you,” he held Yunho’s arms and lifted him, brought him back up.
“No, no, it’s okay. It’s a silly accident.”
Kai hummed and looked down, brushed his nose. When he looked at Yunho, he realized the senior was staring and he asked, “Are you going somewhere, Hyung?”
“Ah. Well, I left my bag in the bathroom.” Yunho just remembered. He noticed Kai’s red eyes and nose. Was the kid crying?
“I’ll get that for you.” Kai said and he disappeared to the bathroom to retrieve Yunho’s bag.
“Thanks,”
“Oh, just let me hold onto it, Hyung.” Kai offered.
“Please don’t.” Yunho reached for his bag.
“No, really, Hyung. I know your shoulder hurts too from wearing the crutches.” Kai said. “Just… as an apology because I make you fall just now.”
“Okay.” It wasn’t the first time Kai helped Yunho to bring his bag anyway. The boy had helped him a lot. “When I did ballet, I injured my knee once and had to wear crutches for eight months. I know how hard it is, Hyung,” Kai said once, when Yunho showed his gratitude to him after helping Yunho carrying the groceries.
“Why you come so early?”
“I… came to the dance studio. The dorm is quite small and it doesn’t have enough empty space to dance, so…” Kai rubbed the back of his neck.
“So you always come this early?”
“Only for the past two months after the janitor let me to borrow the key.”
Yunho admired Kai’s young and hardworking soul. “It’s still too early. Do you drink coffee?”
Kai nodded slowly.
“Let’s go to the café for a while.” Yunho suggested, and Kai happily agreed.
Ten minutes later, they were in the nearby café with hot coffee in both hands.
“Kai, can I ask you something?” Yunho asked the younger man who was staring emptily to the table.
Kai looked up. “Yes, Hyung?”
“Do you… have any problem?” Yunho asked carefully. Why did this young boy cried early in the morning in the university’s bathroom?
Kai bit his lip insecurely.
“You can tell me and I promise I won’t tell anybody.” Yunho added.
Kai took a deep breath. “It’s… it’s…” his breath hitched. “People think… that I’m a sucker.”
Yunho’s eyes widened. He didn’t understand, but said nothing to let the man continue.
“They say that… I’m trying too hard that it’s fake.” Kai was still looking at the table. “No matter how hard you try, you’re still nothing, they said.”
Yunho didn’t expect that people saw Kai that way.
“They think I’m an ass kisser because I hang out with you too much. I’m so shameless, trying to steal your spot. Stab you from behind…” Kai mumbled. “But I really- I’m not like that, Hyung. I know I’m nothing compare to you, so I’m not trying to steal your spotlight because I know it’s just not for me.” His eyes were teary again.
Yunho could sense that the man was being honest as he wiped his tears.
“And I love being with you… because I admire you, Hyung. I’m not being an ass-“
“I understand, Kai.” Yunho calmed him. “And I believe in you.”
Kai looked at him.
His eyelashes were wet and he had those big eyes, made him looked innocent and it reminded Yunho of someone else. That certain someone who could make his heart ached only with the look of his eyes. Because when he was sad, Yunho was even sadder. Yunho would cry with him, and after the time passed, he’d wipe those tears away and promised himself to make the man happy. Never let him shed another tears, unless it was happiness.
Yunho leaned across the table and wiped the younger’s wet cheek. “Don’t let people bring you down. And even if you cry, it doesn’t mean that you’re weak.”
Kai nodded and smiled.
And Yunho wondered if that man, could smile again without Yunho being there, drying his tears.
They walked back to the university and Kai was going to another way to his dorm.
“Thank you so much, Hyung.” Kai said.
“Promise me that you’ll stay strong, okay.” Yunho gave Kai a light hug.
But then the younger hugged him tighter and Yunho’s crutches fell and he let them. Hugged Kai back and rubbed the man’s back.
“I… really like you, Hyung.”
Changmin dropped his pencil and it rolled away. Jonghyun got it for him. “Thanks.” He mumbled. “Uh… I heard… he injured his ankle during dance practice.”
“Oh, really? Is he okay?” Jonghyun asked warily.
“Yeah… I guess…” Changmin tilted his head. “I don’t really know.”
“Oh, I thought you’re living together, Hyung?”
Changmin bit his lip, tried his hardest to answer that question normally. “We broke up. It’s… almost five months now.”
“Oh!” Jonghyun looked guilty. “I’m… I’m sorry, Hyung. I… don’t know about that.”
“It’s okay.” Changmin lifted his shoulder, smiled to the other man. “It’s… fine.”
No it isn’t.
Changmin itched to help Yunho brought his bag. To get the water for him. To open the door. To help him wearing his jacket. Or just to walked beside him. Changmin would tell Yunho how his day went while Yunho looked down to the street, careful with his crutches, maybe gave some look and smiled to him, responded to his story and asked unimportant questions. And Changmin just gonna held onto Yunho’s jacket because he couldn’t hold his hand.
But he just couldn’t. He was Yunho’s nobody.
*
Junsu was super excited when he heard Yunho played in a Hollywood movie that he let out his dolphin voice. Changmin caught Yoochun blushed while staring at his lover. Maybe it was his fetish or something, Changmin didn’t want to admit he was curious anyway.
“I just danced a bit and that’s all. That’s embarrassing, Junsu-yah, it’s nothing to brag about.” Yunho didn’t lift his head.
“But still, Hyung! Do you think there’s any chance that another producer watch the movie and got interested in you? Gosh, Hyung! What’s the title?” Junsu’s voice was high pitched.
It was somehow decided that they would go to the dvd rental and watched it together in Yunho’s apartment, because Junsu hadn’t been there.
“And Changminnie hasn’t seen Yunho’s new place too, right?” Junsu asked. Now Jaejoong, Junsu, and Yoochun felt a bit more comfortable between the two ex lovers.
Though actually Changmin just played it cool, because actually there was a hurricane in his heart. “I… have an appointment.”
“You mean a date with Julien.” Jaejoong corrected him.
Yoochun gave him a look.
“Yeah, I’m meeting with him.” Changmin wrapped it up. “Now if you excuse me…” he gathered his things and left.
There was an awkward silence before Junsu spoke up. “So! What about that movie, eh? Let’s go!”
Yunho, Junsu, and Jaejoong were in the rental while Yoochun was buying snacks in the convenience store.
“Donghae is approaching Amber.” Jaejoong said casually as he looked at the neat rows of the dvds uninterestedly. “He’s just playing with her. I know that.”
Yunho and Junsu exchanged a look.
“You gonna tell Yoochun?” Junsu asked.
Jaejoong huffed.
“That guy, Jae, can be a future you. So shut your mouth and let Amber be, okay.” Yunho said.
Junsu gave a firm nod, agreed with Yunho’s words.
Jaejoong looked at Junsu and Yunho alternately. “Gosh. I feel like Amber has three brothers instead of just one.” He rolled his eyes. “I hate seeing Yoochun angry, okay! But it’s real!”
“I’m sure Amber has ways to protect herself.” Junsu said, patted Jaejoong’s shoulder.
“But she really have a bad taste in men,” and that made Jaejoong afraid that the girl would let Donghae into her world easily.
“Then she sure will like you.” Yunho said, and Junsu gave him a high five.
Jaejoong could only pout because Yoochun came back from the store and asked if they had pick the movie yet.
*
“Changmin?”
Changmin blinked and looked at the man in front of him. “Yes?”
“Are you okay?”
There was this one time when Changmin was waiting for Yunho in this café. Yunho taught dance for high school students and they had a competition. As a good teacher, Yunho came to give his support for his students. He said he could make it on time to meet Changmin for their late night movie date. It was this newest sci-fi movie Changmin wanted to watch so much.
It was 9 and the movie would start at 9.25 and Yunho was nowhere in sight, dammit.
“They closed the subway, Min. An electricity problem, they said.”
It was raining hard and Changmin disconnected the call after Yunho told him the reason why he wasn’t there yet. Fuck, Yunho should’ve just let him watched alone, since he always slept in the “I… I mean, it’s not boring, Minnie. It’s just… not understandable,” movie.
Changmin was so pissed he wanted to smash the wall. He could see the pouring rain and hard wind blew in the entire city through the glass wall. And he was stuck for sure.
Time passed, and the rain calmed down a bit. So did his anger.
But then Yunho came, drenched wet, fingers cold, and tapped his shoulder. Gave him his wide, stupid grin. “I got the ticket for midnight. Still up for it?”
Changmin just looked at the man. His black coat and entire clothes clung to his wet body. Drops of water fell from his hair and chin.
“The taxi is waiting.” Yunho added.
That was one of many moments when Changmin felt confused. Whether he should punch, hug, hit, slap, or just kissed the man senseless. So he did all of it after Yunho’s apologizes when there were only two (three plus the taxi driver) of them in the taxi.
Changmin looked at the man in front of him. And blinked.
“You feel okay? Are you feeling sick?” Julien asked warily.
“I’m fine.” Changmin gave him a small smile. “Just… there’s something I suddenly remember. But that’s not important.”
Julien smiled. “Yeah. It happens to me too, sometimes.”
Later, Julien walked him to his apartment and Changmin had been contemplating whether he should invite Julien in or not.
“Maybe I shouldn’t. I have stacks of paper I should grade.” Julien shrugged.
Changmin nodded. “Okay, then.”
Julien suddenly leaned closer and their chests touched, Changmin could feel Julien’s rough stubble brushed his cheek, and the older man pulled back.
Changmin was confused.
Julien face was red. “I’m…” he let out an awkward laugh. “I was about to kiss you but… I don’t know if I should, but…”
Changmin face turned red too. And he laughed awkwardly as well.
Julien laughed went slower until he stopped. “Can I… may I kiss you?”
Changmin couldn’t refuse. But he couldn’t say yes either.
Julien waited for the answer that yet to come from Changmin’s mouth. “Wow, this is awkward.”
Changmin smiled nervously.
“Well… so Changmin,” Julien said. “Just in case you haven’t figured it out,” he looked at Changmin’s eyes. “I like you.”
Changmin froze.
“Yeah. So. There.” Julien exhaled heavily. “Guess… I’ll take my leave now.” He smiled. “See you,” he turned and walked away.
“Julien,” Changmin called, after he came to his senses.
Julien stopped and turned around to look at the younger man.
“Just an advice,” Changmin said. “If you were to kiss someone, just kiss them. To prevent any other awkward events like… well, just now.”
Julien looked at Changmin for a while. “Is that a permission?” he asked cheekily.
“It’s an advice.” Changmin replied, grinned mischievously.
Julien laughed. “Okay.”
“See you, then,” Changmin watched the man disappeared in the elevator and found his smiling self was unstoppable.
*
It was one evening that Jaejoong just finished his classes and ready for home when he spotted someone from the second floor. Near the warehouse, Amber was smoking. And he wasted no time to rush to that place.
It wasn’t like Jaejoong was against that, but the girl seemed pretty upset as he blew the smoke out from her lips.
Just like Yoochun.
“What’s up?” Jaejoong asked, sat next to her. He promised he’d kill Donghae if he really would hurt this girl.
Amber looked away.
Jaejoong lit up a cigarette for himself, inhaled it and let the nicotine flew through his nerves and system. “You promised me to tell me anything, Amber.”
“I promised nothing.” She replied.
“Boys?” he carefully asked.
Amber didn’t answer.
“I won’t leave you alone if you don’t tell me.” Jaejoong threatened.
“No, it’s just… my grade.”
Jaejoong looked at her confusedly.
Amber chuckled. “I know it sounds stupid. But if my score for every classes slide any lower, they can take the scholarship away.”
Jaejoong knew the Park was working really hard with the financial matter without a father in the family. They lived well and happy that made Jaejoong almost forgot about their hardships.
“It’s no big deal. I’ll be better next time.” Amber said.
“I know you will.” Jaejoong proud of her. “And hey, how about you and Yoochun?”
“We’re fine. We’ll fight again later. But yeah, we’re good.” Amber said.
Jaejoong hummed and he felt curious about something. “Did Yoochun talk to you about me?”
Amber inhaled the smoke deeply. “Yeah. I have to thank you, by the way, for taking a good care of my brother.”
Jaejoong waved his hand in dismissal. “Heh. It’s nothing.” He shrugged.
“He said you’re a nice person. A very good Hyung.”
If Yoochun categorized him as a nice person, was it nice enough to let Jaejoong date his sister.
“And you’re a good cook. And despite your cold look, you’re actually a caring person.” Amber continued.
“Wow, I don’t expect him to talk that good about me.” Jaejoong snorted.
“He also said you’re a player.” Amber added.
“I’m not!” Jaejoong quickly retorted.
Amber gave him a look. “I have eyes too, you know. I can see it.”
No, no, no! Although it was a yes, Jaejoong was still need to claim it, he couldn’t look bad in Amber’s eyes! “But I-“
“It’s okay, I don’t give a damn about it.” Amber smiled to calm him down.
Jaejoong screamed in his heart. He wanted Amber to give a damn.
*
Yunho head a sobbing sound in the bathroom. Then he stopped peeing to hear it carefully. Heard nothing. So he continued to pee in peace but then it could be heard again after he zipped his pants.
Yunho went to the university much earlier, since he thought his leg would be a problem to make him got to places in time. But he arrived so early that the university was so empty and the first person he met was the janitor.
Sure, he was a grownup man and it was morning already, but he still felt scared being alone in the bathroom with sobbing sounds.
“Somebody in there?” Yunho asked, tried to face the horror, since running away was out of the options because of his injured leg.
The sobbing stopped.
“Hello?” Yunho asked again.
There was a sound of snot and a man clearing his throat, and Yunho convinced himself that it was a human being in there, not an unknown object. Then he left the bathroom after he thought that maybe the man didn’t want to be disturbed.
Yunho left the bathroom hurriedly that he forgot he left his bag there. He tsked annoyingly, and when he opened the door, a man came out and bumped into him. He was unstable and with his weak leg, Yunho fell to the floor.
“Hyung!”
Yunho looked up and saw the man. “Kai?”
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Yunho Hyung. I didn’t expect… here, let me help you,” he held Yunho’s arms and lifted him, brought him back up.
“No, no, it’s okay. It’s a silly accident.”
Kai hummed and looked down, brushed his nose. When he looked at Yunho, he realized the senior was staring and he asked, “Are you going somewhere, Hyung?”
“Ah. Well, I left my bag in the bathroom.” Yunho just remembered. He noticed Kai’s red eyes and nose. Was the kid crying?
“I’ll get that for you.” Kai said and he disappeared to the bathroom to retrieve Yunho’s bag.
“Thanks,”
“Oh, just let me hold onto it, Hyung.” Kai offered.
“Please don’t.” Yunho reached for his bag.
“No, really, Hyung. I know your shoulder hurts too from wearing the crutches.” Kai said. “Just… as an apology because I make you fall just now.”
“Okay.” It wasn’t the first time Kai helped Yunho to bring his bag anyway. The boy had helped him a lot. “When I did ballet, I injured my knee once and had to wear crutches for eight months. I know how hard it is, Hyung,” Kai said once, when Yunho showed his gratitude to him after helping Yunho carrying the groceries.
“Why you come so early?”
“I… came to the dance studio. The dorm is quite small and it doesn’t have enough empty space to dance, so…” Kai rubbed the back of his neck.
“So you always come this early?”
“Only for the past two months after the janitor let me to borrow the key.”
Yunho admired Kai’s young and hardworking soul. “It’s still too early. Do you drink coffee?”
Kai nodded slowly.
“Let’s go to the café for a while.” Yunho suggested, and Kai happily agreed.
Ten minutes later, they were in the nearby café with hot coffee in both hands.
“Kai, can I ask you something?” Yunho asked the younger man who was staring emptily to the table.
Kai looked up. “Yes, Hyung?”
“Do you… have any problem?” Yunho asked carefully. Why did this young boy cried early in the morning in the university’s bathroom?
Kai bit his lip insecurely.
“You can tell me and I promise I won’t tell anybody.” Yunho added.
Kai took a deep breath. “It’s… it’s…” his breath hitched. “People think… that I’m a sucker.”
Yunho’s eyes widened. He didn’t understand, but said nothing to let the man continue.
“They say that… I’m trying too hard that it’s fake.” Kai was still looking at the table. “No matter how hard you try, you’re still nothing, they said.”
Yunho didn’t expect that people saw Kai that way.
“They think I’m an ass kisser because I hang out with you too much. I’m so shameless, trying to steal your spot. Stab you from behind…” Kai mumbled. “But I really- I’m not like that, Hyung. I know I’m nothing compare to you, so I’m not trying to steal your spotlight because I know it’s just not for me.” His eyes were teary again.
Yunho could sense that the man was being honest as he wiped his tears.
“And I love being with you… because I admire you, Hyung. I’m not being an ass-“
“I understand, Kai.” Yunho calmed him. “And I believe in you.”
Kai looked at him.
His eyelashes were wet and he had those big eyes, made him looked innocent and it reminded Yunho of someone else. That certain someone who could make his heart ached only with the look of his eyes. Because when he was sad, Yunho was even sadder. Yunho would cry with him, and after the time passed, he’d wipe those tears away and promised himself to make the man happy. Never let him shed another tears, unless it was happiness.
Yunho leaned across the table and wiped the younger’s wet cheek. “Don’t let people bring you down. And even if you cry, it doesn’t mean that you’re weak.”
Kai nodded and smiled.
And Yunho wondered if that man, could smile again without Yunho being there, drying his tears.
They walked back to the university and Kai was going to another way to his dorm.
“Thank you so much, Hyung.” Kai said.
“Promise me that you’ll stay strong, okay.” Yunho gave Kai a light hug.
But then the younger hugged him tighter and Yunho’s crutches fell and he let them. Hugged Kai back and rubbed the man’s back.
“I… really like you, Hyung.”