( chapter 2 ) a road in the sky
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CHAPTER 2
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FEBRUARY
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2009
“She just made a chocolate but it looked like as if he had a vendetta toward my kitchen.” Jongin moved his chopstick up and down eagerly as he told Kyungsoo about his sister. “Yoojin noona should stop pretending that she can cook because she can’t.”
“It’s just chocolate, I don’t think it could make your kitchen that bad,” commented Kyungsoo. He took a bit large of his bread and ate it slowly. Jongin had offered him his lunch but Kyungsoo refused it politely. He knew the capacity of Jongin’s stomach after the dancing practice. Not to mention that his lunch was fried chicken, the boy was pretty crazy when it came to chicken.
“But it was really that bad. Hyeyoung noona and I helped her to clean up the kitchen. The splatter was everywhere. Hyeyoung noona then helped her to make the chocolate. Girls and their chocolate ritual are unbelieveable, don’t you think?”
Kyungsoo only gave him a simple nod.
Today was Valentine’s Day and everyone was pretty much in love. Maybe. Also, the expectation of people getting a chocolate - and confession - was pretty high. Kyungsoo wasn’t in for this ritual. The last time a girl gave him chocolate was when he was in sixth grade. The girl was pretty cute and seemed very shy when she gave him the chocolate box. Kyungsoo kind of forget why he rejected her confession, but after that, he didn’t get any confession for years ahead. Maybe the girl cursed him after the rejection. Or maybe because he was just too involved with study and his training days thus he never got a chance to socialize with his classmates.
He wonder what would happen in high school.
“Valentine’s Day…” Jongin let his word hung out in the air. Kyungsoo waited him to complete the sentence but he didn’t. They had already finished their lunch and going to the practice room. Kyungsoo had schedule for public speaking lesson and Jongin had his advanced dance class. He climbed up the rank in dance department easily and Kyungsoo wasn’t surprised. He remembered the magic of his dance when he saw him one year ago.
Enchanting.
That was what Kyungsoo thought about Jongin’s dance.
They parted in the hallway. Kyungsoo walked to the studio 3 while Jongin took the stair to the dance room.
It was a small room and only had two chairs and an electric piano. Kyungsoo sat across the piano and started to warm up his voice. He had been practising Jo Hee sunbae’s song for this week. The teacher was impressed by his interpretation of the song. It wasn’t only because Kyungsoo’s voice, he had personal sentimental with the song. It was his grandmother’s favorite song and she used to sing him the song when he was a child.
Kyungsoo was close with his grandparents. They lived in Daegu and he usually went there in summer. But the visiting ritual stopped when he was in junior high school. His mom took him to a summer class, course, then he had to practice so it was really no time to visit her grandmother. He missed her, so much. Especially now, when she was alone after his grandfather died last year.
The teacher came to the room ten minutes later and they started the practice. It was a smooth and exciting lesson. Kyungsoo always loved the vocal lesson because he could do it well. Not like in that dance class, because that was Jongin’s forte. His ability to learn a dance move was amazing. Kyungsoo wanted to dance like that but always fail miserably.
“He has no bones,” was Yifan’s comment when he and Kyungsoo looked at Jongin’s dancing.
Kyungsoo bowed to his teacher and then left the room quietly after the lesson ended. He planned to spend this afternoon to go to a billiard place with Chanyeol, Suho, and Jongin after the practice ended. The school hadn’t started until March so they all had quite time to enjoy the time by playing before schoolwork and training took their time again. Especially, Kyungsoo. It was well-known that his school had a bunch of homework and project. That made the other questioned him. Because his high school wasn’t invented to produce a singer, it was for those who wanted to pursue their academic excellence, got into Seoul University or maybe KAIST.
“Hyung!” Kyungsoo turned around and found that Jongin had also already finished his practice, sweat all over his clothes but he still managed to smile. They packed their belongings in the locker and went to the lounge, waiting for Chanyeol and Suho finished their acting class. Kyungsoo was playing with his phone when he heard a pack of giggling sound came near. He and Jongin turned their head and found a group of girl trainee, talking and gossiping. He guessed they were excited about this Valentine’s Day. Maybe their love was blooming and somewhat. Jongin looked at them then to Kyungsoo. He shrugged then continue to tap on the floor.
“Actually, I brought you chocolate, hyung.”
“What?” Kyungsoo was surprised. His eyes went wider and his face suddenly turned pale.
“Relax, it’s not I’m gonna confess to you.” Jongin made a face but then stuck out a box of chocolate to Kyungsoo. “It was Hyeyoung noona’s. Yeah, she also gave me the chocolate. She asked me to give it to - ,” Jongin looked anxious,” - girl, I mean, someone.” It was an awkward silence. Kyungsoo didn’t know what he had to do because it was too sudden and confusing. He never got a chocolate from a boy and he never expected before and - “Gosh, hyung, relax! I told you, I’m not going to confess or whatsoever.” Now Jongin seemed irritated.
“Then what’s with this chocolate?”
Jongin looked hesitant at first and then he took a deep breath. “Okay, I’m gonna make a confession - no, not to you.” Jongin corrected his word after seeing the look of horror in Kyungsoo’s face. “So… I know this girl. Uhm, no. I actually don’t know her. Not in the way I know you, Suho, and Chanyeol. But - “
“So you like this girl. And?”
Jongin suddenly blushed. “Yeah…” Kyungsoo took that as an affirmation of ‘ so you like this girl’.
“Go on.”
Jongin looked around, he wanted to make sure that there was no one in the hall besides them. “So, yeah there is this girl, and maybe I have a crush on her. I don’t know.”
“Stop denying, and go on,” Kyungsoo cut off, again.
“Alright, alright, so I like this girl and I have this crazy thought yesterday that maybe I should give her chocolate, today. Especially after Hyeyoung noona made this chocolate. But - “
“Is she someone from our company?”
Jongin fell silent. He didn’t say a yes or a no but Kyungsoo already knew the answer.
“Soojung, isn’t it?”
Jongin looked aghast and became frantic. “Wait, what? No. No, it’s not - “ he went to the panic state, “How did you kn- no. I mean, you - “
“Jongin, relax,” Now it was Kyungsoo turned to tell Jongin to relax. “I guessed it was her because she was the only official couple that happened today. You know, with Minho hyung, and sometimes I saw you glanced at her with that puppy eyes of yours when you saw puppy so yeah, I think it’s her. Right?”
Jongin was speechless. He didn’t know what to express but suddenly he gave in and slowly nodded.
“Yeah… I saw it with my own eyes. Minho gave her flower. And she, in return gave him a box of chocolate. I already had a feeling about them. Their chemistry in Dream Team is just… ” Kyungsoo nodded along. “But I just want to give it, as a friend, perhaps. Maybe I want to try to have a chance? But now she’s already someone else’s, my chocolate doesn’t have any right to go to her. In the end, Juliette would chose Romeo, right?” He grinned pathetically.
Kyungsoo could see his sadness.
“So here, have my chocolate, hyung. I guess I’m stuck with you.”
2012
Kyungsoo was confused seeing his grandmother getting excited with the Valentine’s Day. She took him to stroll around the city, buying pink stuff, chocolate, even The Greatest Love Song of All The Time CD. Now they were heading to have ramyeon in her favorite restaurant, Yuksangyin. They were about to arrive when it turned out there was commotion in front of the restaurant.
His grandmother looked enchanted by the commotion. It was schoolgirls, all busy choosing the right chocolate for their crush or boyfriend. Then there was this girl, she looked she didn’t belong to that crowd. She was wearing a yellow coat and her hair in ponytail; bringing a basket full of chocolate. Kyungsoo spotted the price tag on each chocolate box. His grandmother, however, was very excited when they approached them. And Kyungsoo was surprised when actually, his grandmother knew this girl.
She looked like Christmas Tree in Kyungsoo’s eyes. Her attire was the combination of red, green, and brown. Kyungsoo didn’t know what this girl aim to do with her fashion sense. Not to mention she brought all the chocolate.
“Grandma!” The girl greeted his grandmother in such a tone, full of endearing, as he heard it but he found it irritating. Her eyes beamed and she hugged his grandmother, warmly. They hugged each other for maybe, half a minute. When they released the hug, it turned out the two was in need of catching up each other. So they went chattering outside the restaurant.
Kyungsoo needed to fake a cough to get their attention.
“Ah, right, why won’t we get inside?”
“I can’t. I need to sell these, right?” she pointed to all boxes. His grandmother gave the girl an indescribable look. Kyungsoo tried to decipher that cryptic stare but to no avail. He didn’t know what did that mean, however, he finally spoke out that their real intention was to eat ramyeon.
“Well, we will wait you to sell these things. Just go inside when you finish, alright?”
The girl smiled then nodded eagerly. She went to the customer as Kyungsoo and his grandmother went to the store. Kyungsoo had been in this place twice, first one was in his first summer with grandma, eight years ago. The second one was when his grandfather died. His grandmother took all his grandchildren - Kyungsoo, his cousin, his cousin’s sister - to the store then started to tell them the story of how she and their grandfather met. A classic story between a soldier and a nurse who later went to this small town and started their new life as a farmer and sold classic things.
They waited the girl to finish about one hour later. She came to the store, eyes beaming, and full of smile. But there was something strange with her smile and Kyungsoo already realized what was that. This girl, she had a scar on her face and it was right under his eyes. Weirdly, the scar was a thin line, started from the corner of her eyes and went down near the tip of her mouth. Just like a tear ran down from her face. So it looked like she had permanent tears came from her right eye. It was like the sorrow rested on her face and never wanted to leave her. Even when she laughed, the sorrow dangling on the tip of her lips and made her smile painful.
She sat in front of his grandmother then casted him a sidelong glance. Kyungsoo didn’t say anything and let her and his grandmother chatted in such a great enthusiast.
“He’s my grandchild, Kyungsoo,” finally his grandmother introduced him to her.
“Oh, so, this is Kyungsoo.” She emphasized on the word Kyungsoo. The way you did when you had this personal feeling toward someone but the person who introduced you to this person didn’t have a clue.
“Jieun just moved to this town three years ago. She is such a sweetheart, accompany me and your grandfather. We both felt lonely when you and your parents stopped visiting us.”
Now Kyungsoo started fidgeting in his seat. He could tell that this Jieun girl now was staring at him like his grandmother did. But his grandmother had a face of someone who was feeling nostalgic while Jieun’s face was more curious - and judging, he could tell.
“I always wanted you both to meet, and now it’s happening,” she smiled, warmly. Jieun replied the smiled - sincerely, Kyungsoo thought. But his was an awkward smile, because his grandmother opened the line with his family absent for about four years. It wasn’t a pleasant fact, of course.
They continued talking - Jieun and his grandmother, to be exact - about a lot of stuffs. From this conversation, Kyungsoo caugh a few things : 1. This Jieun was living with her uncle and he was a priest (and this explained her brochure); 2. She was two years younger than Kyungsoo, a sophomore; and 3. His grandmother really really liked this girl.
“You know Jieun, you could ask Kyungsoo to help you.”
Kyungsoo was back into reality upon his name being mentioned. “Me helping her?”
His grandmother seemed quite unpleased with the tone Kyungsoo used when he said those words. “Yes, you can help her in the church. They are going to hold a service for the youth for this month of love.”
Kyungsoo frowned.
“I made that name,” Jieun butted in and Kyungsoo couldn’t help but let out a snicker sound.
His grandmother seemed hated that expression.
“She mostly did it by herself. Young people nowadays didn’t like to do… that stuff.”
Kyungsoo believed his grandmother also didn’t know how to put it into words. Because as far as he remembered, his grandparent wasn’t religious or believe about that thing - which made his mother didn’t believe it either - so when she suddenly talked about helping this girl, in a church, it sounded bizarre and kind of crazy. God and other celestial thing that made Kyungsoo shuddered.
“I don’t believe in that stuff.” Kyungsoo chose to use his grandmother choice of word. He could tell Jieun felt a bit uncomfortable with their way of saying. As if it was something simple, weird, and unnecessary. Stuff, yes, talking about God was merely a stuff.
“It’s okay, Grandma. I usually do it alone anyway.”
“No, no. It’s alright. Kyungsoo doesn’t have any activity either. He has a lot of spare time.” His grandmother concluded his life in one simple sentence. And yes, he had a lot of spare time but he didn’t want to use it over this… stuff.
“But - “
“Saturday, right?” His grandmother cut him off.
Jieun looked at both, his grandmother and Kyungsoo. He gave her a signal by his countenance that he, surely, didn’t want to help her nor did this stuff. Their meeting had already explained it all. There was a hesitation on her face before finally nodded and looked at him gleefully, “It would be interesting. Trust me.”
Yet Kyungsoo knew he shouldn’t believe this girl.
2011
“We are alien.”
After saying that word, Kyungsoo and Jongin burst in laughter. The boys were laying on the rooftop, side by side. They had just had their first practice as a group, preparing for their album and all. It was fun and tiring at the same time. Twelve wasn’t a small number for a group and not everyone could dance well like Jongin or maybe Sehun, or Yixing. So, when they learned the choreography, somehow it turned out like a disharmonious flock. Kyungsoo was happy when he knew Yifan was also in the group. At least there was someone else whom he was close and also bad at dancing. But turned out Yifan and Kyungsoo were lucky, there were other people whose dance was worse than them - Jongdae and Chanyeol.
And the most interesting part was when the staff explained to them about their concept - alien and power.
Kyungsoo cringed when he knew that his power was strength. It seemed so in contrary with his physic. Jongin, though, had teleportation as his. Kyungsoo imagined it would be cool, like a sci-fi movie. He wondered what his strength would do. As far as he knew, the superheroes whose power was strength was Hulk and that guy from Fantastic Four. If he compared his feature with them, hell, it would be a joke.
Jongin also teased him about it but he later apologized when Kyungsoo’s face showed no interest in his joke and looked upset.
“It’s okay, Hyung. Strength is cool.”
By the time Jongin said that, the door in the rooftop was opened and Seulgi emerged to their sight. She was wearing a black t-shirt and a red beanie - her favorite - and looked exhausted. She, too, was preparing hard but it was for the monthly evaluation. She sat besides Jongin and lied down.
“How’s your day, Seulgi?”
“Same old, same old,” she answered curtly. She looked at her side, eye contact with Jongin, “How about yours?”
Jongin lied still and held his gaze to her. “Extraordinary.” Then, he smiled widely. “Guess what, me and Kyungsoo hyun, we are alien.”
“You guys what?”
The next hour was used for Kyungsoo and Jongin explaining their concept to Seulgi, also their first day of practice. Seulgi laughed when they told about the superpower part.
“Kyungsoo hyung got strength?” She chuckled with amusement. Jongin nodded eagerly when Kyungsoo turned somber.
“And yours is teleportation? That’s cool,” added her.
“Everyone said that,” Kyungsoo groaned in annoyance. It was kind of irritating, everyone’s reaction when they knew about his superpower. When people heard that he was in charge of strength, their facial expression would turn confused and some suppressed their chuckle. But whenever people heard that Jongin’s was teleportation, they would praise it and said it suited him. Kyungsoo wasn’t annoyed with that or Jongin, but he actually disliked it. Why it had to be him who had this superpower. They could other member to have it, like, maybe Kris or Chanyeol? The tall guys seemed suit with strength concept. Or maybe Yixing hyung? He was also good at dance, just like Jongin, and his body was well-trained. He had muscle, but the company chose his superpower as healing. Maybe it because his good nature, but Kyungsoo thought he also could pull that concept. Strength was just…
“By the way, I had something for you guys.” Seulgi sat up and then took out two chocolate bars from her bag. “Seungwan gave this to all trainees. I mean, all trainees in her group practice. But she made a lot of chocolate and was confused who else she could give, so I took two and tada, this is for you,“ Seulgi gave one to Jongin,” and this is for you, hyung.”
“Thank you,” Kyungsoo said politely with smile.
Jongin was quiet and inspected the chocolate. He held it up and started to look at it front and back. He then turned to Seugi and said a dry ‘thanks’. Kyungsoo didn’t say anything but he knew why Jongin became that quiet. He saw it, today, in Jongin’s locker, a box he had prepared for someone. He did see whose name on it, and he guessed, tonight, maybe when they were going home, he would give that to her.
finally, i can update something *sobs*