Love Knows No Boundaries (28.1/36)
Title: Love Knows No Boundaries (28.1/36)
Author: tikibuddy91
Characters: EXO, BAP (minus Junhong), INFINITE (Howon), former APINK (Yookyung), f(x) (Sunyoung), GOT7 (JB), SS501 (Jungmin), voices of BEAST (Gikwang and Dongwoon)
Word Count: 5760
Genre: College, Drama, AU, Hurt/Comfort, Angst
Rating: PG-13
Summary: College students: Blind, Deaf and Mute. Their lives deal with the ups and downs, like roller coasters. They find relationships and companionships. Life does not always have a happy ending, but they can try to get their own.
Author Note for Chapter 28.1: I’m back after a long hiatus, what with life and all. I still want to finish this, but it’ll take me some time. Thank you for your patience. So in this chapter, we are picking up from Jongdae’s dream, finally revealing the figure! Jongdae realizes something with the aid of the figure. The group in the real world plans out tomorrow.
Masterlist
Walking on a grassy field, the figure looks almost pale, with dirty blonde hair. He is wearing casual attire, a red, loose buttoned-up shirt and denim jeans.
Jongdae does not recognize the person from a distance, but he thinks he knows who it is.
“Yi-Yixing-ge?” Jongdae whispers quietly to himself.
Is this…heaven?
The figure continues to walk towards him. Slowly but surely, as it draws near and Jongdae can make out the figure clearly, he makes the connection between the approaching figure and Yixing’s voice that he had heard in the darkness. He takes a quick intake of breath, tensing up in fright.
“No…”
The man appears to be faceless, like a mannequin.
Jongdae has never felt more scared in his life as he quickly shuts his eyes, turning his face slightly to the left. To his dismay, the image is burned into his eyelids and he brings up his hands to press at his eyes, wanting to erase it.
“It’s not him, it can’t be him…”
I don’t even know what he looks like in real life… Jongdae thinks to himself. I can’t get my hopes up too soon…
…But what happened earlier…? Was it not Yixing that I heard? He told me to find a door, and I did. Isn’t he supposed to be here?
Part of Jongdae does not want to return to the darkness, and another part of him does not want to see the faceless figure again.
…I’m still in the dark, I haven’t stepped out…
I can’t stand being in there now… I need to see… I know I can see.
He turns around and dares a glance as he lowers his hands.
Almost to his relief, there is neither the door nor the darkness as he opens his eyes…only an endless field of grass in front of him, behind him, all around him.
However, to his distress, he realizes that he is now trapped with the faceless figure in this dimension.
Sagging his shoulders in defeat, Jongdae can feel the figure’s presence behind him, and he cannot bring himself to turn around.
Please don’t let it be Xing-ge… Jongdae closes his eyes again. Please don’t let it be him, let it be anyone but him.
Bowing his head he repeats the mantra in his head, begging for this eerie oddity to go away.
He does not realize the lines have crept out between his lips, nor that the figure has heard them.
“Zhongda…?”
With a gasp as his eyes open, Jongdae feels like he is dealt a hard blow to his chest. He tries to move or speak, but he is too overwhelmed to do anything.
That…voice…
“Zhongda…it’s me.”
Jongdae feels a shudder run violently through his body as he hears his name called again ever so endearingly by the soft voice behind him, by the faceless man. Breathing shakily, he slowly turns his head ever so slightly so that the figure appears at the corner of his vision. He wants to look at the figure but is terrified of seeing its face; so the first thing his gaze lands on are the brown casual shoes.
Then the blue denim pants.
The checkered patterns on the buttoned shirt.
As soon as he catches sight of an arm reaching towards him, Jongdae lets out a yelp and turns his head immediately, shutting his eyes tight, and his whole body tenses up. He tries to take a step forward away from the man, but the shock and the sudden fright have left him unable to do further coordination with his body.
Jongdae nearly jumps when he feels the contact. “Zhon-”
“Don’t touch me!” Jongdae finally moves forward, his back arching away from the hand’s reach. His breathing is unsteady with silent cries, and he doesn’t care. He just wants to get out of here.
If emotions can be shown on his blank face, the mannequin-like figure has an expression of amazement and confusion at the outburst; for the mannequin believed he was meeting a Jongdae who was blind.
Jongdae is trying so hard to control his emotions, but he is unable to erase, from his mind, the image of the figure’s arm reaching out towards him, the physical contact.
Except for his shaky breaths, there is a long period of silence following his frantic yell. He hopes for the figure to go away.
“Zhongda…what’s wrong?” The familiar voice makes Jongdae’s body shudder. “Why are you like that? You know who I am…”
Jongdae feels his body going weak at the man’s lines, knowing now that this is what he has to deal with. He mentally berates himself to be brave enough to look the figure properly in the eyes.
Slowly opening his eyes, he turns his head slightly once more, peeking at the corner of his vision. When he finally catches a partial sight of the blank face, Jongdae immediately shuts his eyes, stifling a small gasp.
To his horror, the mental close-up image of the faceless mannequin burns heavily against the darkness of his vision. A glance of only a single second had been all that it took for Jongdae to be scarred with this oddity, and he tries to shake it off, but his attempts end up futile.
He suppresses a small sob, opening his eyes to see the verdant pasture ahead of him. He can feel the warm tears in his eyes, and he lowers his head in despair.
“I-it….it can’t be…” Jongdae hears his quivering voice crack, his face twisted in anguish.
“What do you mean, it can’t be?” The voice is unmistakably Yixing’s; Jongdae would know that voice anywhere after all these years of being attuned to Yixing’s voice. Jongdae feels like the air has gone out of his lungs with a second blow to his chest, and his soul is being shredded to pieces.
“A-Are…Is…I-I…you…” Jongdae stammers as he tries to find the courage to speak, his hands trembling as he curls them into fists. Tears are spilling from his eyes, and something feels heavy in his chest. “A-Are you…r-really…?”
“Really what? …Yixing?”
Jongdae winces at the name, finding it hard to believe in the connection between the figure, the name, and its voice. Sniffling, he feels helpless and trapped; he does not want this kind of eerie dream, even with the landscape so serene.
“Yes, Zhongda, I am Yixing.”
Jongdae takes a deep breath. “I-I…I don’t know what to believe… Y-you…” He gulps in an attempt to control his voice. “You say that you’re…Yixing…” - he shakes his head - “but I can’t see your face.”
The faceless figure chuckles lightly, almost sounding relieved. “Of course you can’t, babe, you’re…well, you know, blind…”
Jongdae feels his throat choking up again with emotions, because this person is wrong, very wrong indeed.
“Turn around, Zhongda, and I’ll let you know it’s me.“
Jongdae cannot help but let out soft cries from his mouth, shaking his head. “I don’t want to, p-please… Please don’t make me… I can’t look at you right now…”
“What?” The figure asks, genuinely confused by the last statement. He reaches out, about to place a hand on Jongdae’s shoulder. “Zhongda, I know you can’t se-”
“I MEAN, I DON’T, AND I CAN’T, SEE YOUR FACE!!” Jongdae interrupts with an anguished yell, turning around sharply as he opens his eyes in the process, and causing Yixing to retract his hand.
Immediately, Jongdae regrets his actions as he lets out a frightened yelp at the sight. He shuts his eyes again, overwhelmed with the blood-chilling sight of the faceless figure standing a couple feet away from him. Hastily taking a few steps backward before turning around, he cries uncontrollably, not bothering to wipe the tears from his face.
“I don’t want to open my eyes a-again, p-please…because all I see i-is…a faceless person, and wh-whether you’re Yi…” - his throat hitches with emotions, and so he takes a breath before continuing on- “…whether y-you’re him or not…I don’t want to see you, okay?!” Jongdae screams the last line with all the air that he has inside him.
Panting, Jongdae takes the moment to wipe the tears from his face. “This is scaring me so bad, please… I can’t bear the sight if it’s you… please don’t ask me to open my eyes…” Jongdae is mumbling to himself, praying over and over that this has to be a mistake.
The figure says nothing, too stunned by the outburst. He slowly makes his way forward to try and reason with him.
“Just go away…”
The so-called Yixing freezes on the spot.
“Please… I want out of here…” Unable to see where he is going as he moves forward, Jongdae trips, stumbling over his feet. He falls to the grass with a small cry, landing to his forearms and knees.
“Zhongd-”
“Don’t. Don’t…call me that. Please.” Jongdae says, his head lowering to touch the grass.
“…I…well, it’s just…I mean…y-you can’t…see my face? As in, you can really see me, and my body, if you open your eyes?
“…But…then why can I see yours…?”
Silence falls heavily again upon the duo, and the Yixing-like figure can only stand there, waiting for Jongdae to respond.
“…Zho-“
Without a warning, Jongdae lets out a loud wail, startling Yixing.
“IT’S. NOT. FAIR!!!” Jongdae shouts angrily, still in a bowed position. With his eyes still closed, and his shoulders shaking, he grabs two fistfuls of grass and throws them out in anger, letting out another strangled sob. He then hits at the grass with his fists before he starts a rant.
“WH-WHY IS IT THAT I CAN’T SEE HIM W-WHEN I HAVE SEEN MY F-FAMILY?? AND I HAD JUST HEARD HIM IN THE DARK.” Jongdae clutches at his head, extremely devastated. “I COULDN’T SEE HIM AT ALL WITH MY EYES OPEN!! I THOUGHT I WAS GOING CRAZY BUT THE OTHER PART OF ME TELLS ME THAT I'M NOT, AND NOW…” He lowers his hands to grab some more clumps of grass, “I’M IN THIS PLACE WHERE I CAN SEE ONCE AGAIN, BUT EVEN WITH MY EYES OPEN, I STILL CANNOT SEE HIM AT ALL!!!” He throws the grass back down again with a pained grunt.
“DON’T I DESERVE TO SEE THE ONE I LOVE?”
If Jongdae could see the face of Yixing and read his expression, Jongdae would see the expression of extreme sympathy and helplessness that he is wearing. Instead, the faceless young man can only offer a gesture of comfort. He walks up to Jongdae, and lowers himself on the grass, kneeling next to him. He reaches out with an intention to rub the crying man’s back.
“DON’T!!” Jongdae screeches as he recoils from the touch, causing the other to retract his hand once more. He coughs a little, his voice strained from the cries.
“Don’t. Touch. Me.” Eyes still closed, Jongdae tries to say it vehemently with an assistance of an angry expression, but his quivering voice, accompanied with a pitiful whine, and weak, teary grimace say otherwise.
The figure begins to speak. “I…I’m sorry, Zho-…” The figure trails off, unsure whether to finish his line or not say it at all. “I’m sorry it’s been hard for you lately…”
Jongdae does not say anything, continuing to cry and shifting his position so that he is sitting with his knees hugged loosely to his chest. He can only weep until he is able to control his emotions. The figure continues to sit there, feeling a little awkward that he can do nothing to console the other.
After a while, Jongdae’s cries have settled down, and the young man is able to utter out a word.
“Myeongdong…” He sniffles.
The figure tilts his head in confusion. “What?” He asks gently.
“Myeongdong… I-in this…dream world…I’ve…been able to see for some time…the first thing I saw was that place, Myeongdong…
“And then m-…my family, I could see them…” The sensations of warmth and happiness bubble inside Jongdae’s chest, and a corner of Jongdae’s mouth lifts up in a small smile. “After…a decade…” He trails off, realizing just how long it has been, “…it’s been a decade since I last saw them… and I could finally see them…” His breathing becomes erratic from the emotions inside, “…and they were smiling and waving at me.” He lets out a breath to regulate his breathing.
In a blink of an eye, the feeling of joy dissipates in his chest, as dread takes over; Jongdae draws his legs closer to hug them, cradling into a ball, as he places his forehead upon his knees.
“…But then I wanted to look for yo-“ Jongdae stops himself, unsure whether to refer to the faceless figure or to his boyfriend not in the dream world, he settles for the latter in a flash. “…Yixing-ge and our friends, so Wufan-ge helped me look, searching the different stores in the area.
“I entered this one store that took me to a different dimension. I ended up by myself in the dark, and it was so scary… And I n-…I’ve never f-felt s-s…so a-…alone, so alone and with no one a-around…” Jongdae’s voice is trembling as he tries to suppress his sadness once again.
“Th-Then I heard Y-Yixing-ge’s vo-voice…” - Jongdae lifts up his head, resting his chin on his forearms, his eyes still wet and closed, a faint smile painted on his face - “…in the dark…a-and his voice led me to here…to this green pasture…and a faceless stranger that calls himself to be the one I love…” His face is scrunching up in anguish, as he lowers it to rest upon his knees again.
“Is it too much to ask for a chance to see him?” is the only phrase the figure hears before it dissolves into crying noises.
“Zhongda…” the figure whispers reassuringly. “Zhongda, it really is me,” he croons softly as he places a hand gently on the back of Jongdae’s head, and Jongdae immediately stiffens, caught unaware and letting out a small whimper of fright. “I’m your boyfriend, Zhang Yixing…”
Silence befalls upon them once again until Jongdae sniffles.
“How can you say that…? Wh…why does it have to be like this? I’ve never seen my boyfriend in real life, because I was already blind before we met…and a teenager…and now that I’m already an adult, you come along in this…dream world…and claim that you’re Yixing, my boyfriend… I don’t know how or what to believe…” Jongdae moans as his body trembles in the spot.
A hand moves to rest tenderly on Jongdae’s shoulder again. Jongdae does not dare to move, trying so hard to calm down.
A light squeeze on Jongdae’s shoulder is felt before a thumb rubs gently on it.
“Zhongda, I assure you; it is me. I don’t know why or how it came to this for you, but…it is me, Zhang Yixing. You have three other siblings, Minseok, Wufan, and Sunyoung. Your mother is Korean, but your father is Chinese. We met in high school; I met your sister, too. We have such a large group of friends at our college. I serenaded to you with my guitar on our special day in the café…
As Jongdae listens to Yixing telling him the details spot-on, he bites on his lower lip, feeling conflicted with believing this guy to be who he is, and not wanting to be with the figure.
“It really is me, Zhongda; don’t be afraid. Touch my arm if you want to. You can close your eyes if it helps.”
Jongdae, with his eyes closed, tentatively moves one hand to rest upon the figure’s hand. It feels so surreal, skin against skin. Little by little, Jongdae’s hand roams across the figure’s arm, shoulder, and hesitates on its neck before feeling its face.
“Go on, Zhongda…”
Jongdae bravely moves his hand around the front of Yixing’s neck, and then upward to feel the side of the figure’s face. For a split second, as he feels the prominent cheekbones that matched the real world Yixing’s, he hopes that Yixing’s face will reveal itself completely; but then he remembers that this figure is not the real world Yixing. He feels for the nose, the curve of his lips, the ears, and the grooves under his eyebrows, and finds all of them there.
Jongdae opens his eyes, only to let out a gasp, when he sees that the faceless figure now has a mold of Yixing’s face, only without the eyes and mouth.
It’s him… Jongdae cannot deny it anymore, because he knew his boyfriend’s body by memory after so many years in the real world. Tears fall copiously from his eyes as Jongdae remembers these moments in his life, especially that day when they confessed their love for each other.
“I miss you…”
He thinks to himself what a beautiful disaster it is; to be able to see everything in its beauty for the first time in what has been far too long, but not the complete face of his Yixing. He starts crying when he closes his eyes again.
“I miss you so much…”
It’s like how it was when I was blind… Exactly how it was, Jongdae thinks to himself as he starts sobbing. The sound of his wails reaches Yixing’s ears again, and the man wraps his arms around Jongdae, embracing him in comfort, letting him cry.
“I’m sorry, Zhongda…for all that has happened to you…” Yixing murmurs softly with the same apology as before. He then cups the side of Jongdae’s head, placing a soft kiss on his temple.
Jongdae does not recoil from the kiss, as he is too lost in his cries to register what has happened. Several minutes have passed with the sound of Jongdae’s cries filling the air, and it is not too long before they have dwindled to snivels.
It is only then that Jongdae realizes he has no clue where he actually is. Yet, it feels like to him, that the location is supposed to be familiar…
“…Wh-…where are we?” He sniffles one last time as he looks around at their surroundings. A sudden thought comes to his mind that causes his body to tense up.
…Am I…in heaven?
Yixing senses Jongdae’s worry and calmly replies, “You don’t recognize it? It’s part of your family’s farm. It’s not your heaven, but close to it.”
Jongdae’s eyes widen and nostalgia hits him hard. “Th-…this is my home? …I’m back home?”
“Mhm,” Yixing chirps soothingly.
Jongdae looks around in hushed awe. “It’s so…huge…I’ve forgotten how it looked…but where’s my house? And…what did you mean by ‘it’s not your heaven, but close to it’?”
There is another soft rustle as Yixing stands up, taking Jongdae’s hand in his.
“Right now, you’re at the edge between death and life…”
Jongdae has never felt such a wave of panic so strongly before. “…Death?”
Yixing nods. “Do you remember what happened before Myeongdong? In your world?”
The younger male takes a moment to recall, closing his eyes to remember the noises he heard.
The sounds of rain on pavement and metal slowly fill his ears, increasing in volume, and Jongdae instinctively opens his eyes. There is no rain around him.
“…Rain…” Jongdae mutters to himself. “I remember the rain…”
Yixing nods. “Keep going…” The other male shuts his eyes again, lost in the silence.
There is only silence for the next few moments.
“YAH! JONGDAE!!!” Jongdae frowns at the voice. He doesn’t recognize it.
“GET BACK!” Another voice, unrecognizable, but its intensity is enough to make an uneasy feeling settle inside Jongdae. “NOOOOO!!!!” He feels panic bubbling inside.
HOOOOOONNNNNNNKKKKKKKKKK!!!!
The formerly blind man lets out a gasp as he opens his eyes, taking in the sight of his surroundings. There is a faint shout of “JONGDAE, WE’RE COMING!” as Jongdae breathes heavily, tears coming to his eyes.
“I…died?” He looks to Yixing for an answer to his question. The other male nods.
“You flatlined thrice…” Jongdae feels a shudder, blinking away the tears in his eyes. “But you barely managed to pull through... You’re in a coma as of right now…”
“Oh no…and Wufan-ge…”
“Your brother reacted the strongest out of anyone to the news about you…” Jongdae feels utter sorrow for his brother, his chest feeling heavy.
“Because you’re in a coma, that's why you’re here. You’re in deep in the side of life. There are things you need to see here before you return to the living.”
Jongdae frowns. “You sound very sure that I will return to the living…I don’t even know how to get back…” If Yixing has a mouth, he is smiling. “But why are you here? You’re not even dead…no offense.”
Yixing chuckles. “None taken…there’s another thing…not only did you flatlined thrice, and received severe injuries…but there is a high chance that your memories will be affected.”
“…Affected how?”
The other male is quiet for a little while.
“….How?” Jongdae insists.
“…They may be lost forever.”
It is as if Jongdae feels his heart stop. “Lost…?”
“That darkness you had been in, that was close to death and nothingness. It was slowly sucking your memories out of you the longer you stayed in there. And it wasn’t long that you were in there.” Yixing reassures the obviously distressed young man.
“But none of that now, you’re here with me, and you’re well on the side of living. Come, my love. I’ll take you to your house…but first we need to go somewhere else.”
Jongdae’s skin tingles at the endearment as he too stands up with the help of Yixing. When he feels another hand placing itself on his lower back area, Jongdae knows it is definitely his Yixing. The way the faceless Yixing held him is exactly how the real life Yixing held him, and Jongdae cannot help but be comforted by the touch. The feeling of spookiness that he initially had with the figure has long subsided.
“G-go where?” Jongdae wipes his face with his free hand, the tears already dried.
“To the memories. Your memories.”
- - - -
Most of the group is waiting outside for the Moon brothers and Yongguk, and Daehyun is the first one to see the said trio approaching the doors. He waves to them with a small smile, and is returned with small smiles as the trio makes their exit out of the building. He glances at Kyungsoo and pats him on the shoulder to get his attention. When Daehyun has his friend looking at him, he indicates to the trio with a look and a tilt of his head.
“Oh hi, you guys!” Kyungsoo exclaims the moment he spots the trio, getting the rest of the group’s attention. The Moon brothers and Yongguk receive casual and warm welcomes from the group, though Himchan is actually surprised that all of their friends have stayed and waited for them.
At some point, Daehyun gets Himchan’s attention and furrows his eyebrows inquiringly, glancing at Kyungsoo briefly.[S-o…”what-up” “for-for”, hyung? Why “take-up” long time?]
“So… what was that all about, Himchan-hyung? Why did you guys have to stay longer?”
Himchan raises his eyebrows, surprised at Daehyun’s bluntness.
“U-uh…” Himchan glances to Yongguk, silently pleading for help. He does not have to worry for long, as his boyfriend is quick to reply.
“Oh, Mrs. Lee just wanted to talk with us about our music collaboration project, and she was impressed with Himchan’s knowledge of musical instruments and my skills in rapping and music production. We were asked to give them a small demo of our piece, so…yeah, sorry it took us a while before we got here,” Yongguk says with a weak chuckle. [M-r-s. L-e-e want chat with ‘us-two’ relate music project, know together project. She ‘whoo’ impress his knowledge about instruments and my skills r-a-p-p-i-n-g and music make-make. Finish ‘someone-request’ we demonstrate ‘little-bit’ our project. Sorry you-all wait-wait long.]
“Yeah, it was really just that, mhmm,” Himchan nods, hoping the group buys the excuse. Though he does not try to show it, he feels grateful that Yongguk has covered it up so smoothly, and at the same time, a little horrible for keeping a secret from the group; they are his and Jongup’s friends after all. He just feels that it may not be the best and most appropriate time to reveal his family’s past.
[Oh-I-see.] Daehyun signs with a wary look, knowing that Yongguk has just made up a lie. His eyes goes to Jongup, who is looking a little glum, with his head hung low and not being his usual happy self. He decides not to press any further questions and goes over to Jongup to cheer him up.
Unlike Daehyun, most of the group seems to take Yongguk’s word for it, but there are two others who are on the same page as Daehyun, Jongin and Sehun. The brothers have noticed Jongup’s behavior, and they share a look of concern before Chanyeol’s voice grabs the attention of everyone.
“Well, we’d like to hear you guys, too…maybe sometime this week?”
“Yeah!”
“That would be awesome!!”
Hearing a lot of anticipated voices from the group, Yongguk and Himchan glance at each other before they agree with half-shrugs. “Well, we have to submit it on Wednesday, so afterwards?” Yongguk suggests with a small smile, and the group nods in excitement.
Joonmyeon then makes an announcement. “Okay guys, so…I wanna let you all know that I will be going to the hospital soon to visit Jongdae, partially because Jongin wants to go too” - Jongin nods quickly, obviously anticipating the visit - “and I told Howon that I may stop by today. Is there anyone who would like to come with us? Kyungsoo, how about you?”
Chewing on his lower lip as he thinks about the offer, Kyungsoo looks to Daehyun, waiting as the latter watches Yongguk interpret Joonmyeon’s words. When Yongguk finishes, Daehyun looks to Kyungsoo with a raised eyebrow, already aware of his friend’s gaze.
[What about our report, Mount H-a-n-r-a? ‘Us-three’ conclude finish-finish slides, right?] Kyungsoo asks his friend, glancing at Jongin for a brief moment. [Probably can visit J-D, but depend progress leftover.] (What about our project, Mt. Halla? We’re just finalizing the presentation slides, right? I might visit Jongdae but it depends on how much we have left of our project.)
Around the same time, Jongin lets out a little gasp as his expression falls. “Oh, yeah…the project. I forgot…” he mumbles, scratching at his nose.
Daehyun, who happens to see Jongin’s reaction while watching Kyungsoo, waves subtly at him to get his attention. It ends up getting everyone’s attention, but Daehyun does not seem to care.
“Ezfaine. dunworwee. Weer okeh. Youn’t miss lot.” Daehyun gives a half-smile. [Fine, not worry. We okay. You not miss much.] (It’s fine, don’t worry. We were okay without you, you didn’t miss much.)
“Oh…okay,” Jongin says, a little reassured.
Daehyun smiles and looks back at Kyungsoo. [But really, fine go-ahead. Little left. ‘Us-three’ strong finish fine. If want, w-e-l-l i-f J-M-hyung ‘not-mind’, can work at his place, o-r prefer when finish visit hospital work other where?] (But really, it’s fine! Go on and visit Jongdae, there’s hardly much left for us to do… We’ve got a pretty solid presentation, so the finalizing will be a cinch. If you want - well, if Joonmyeon-hyung doesn’t mind - we can work at his place, or would you rather somewhere else once you’ve visited Jongdae?)
[You sure? Because w-e-l-l, this week last school then finish, break. Pass class with good grade on project must.] (Are you sure? Well, ‘cause this week is our last week before break. We have to pass it with a good grade.) Kyungsoo looks a little panicky, and everyone can see that.
“’ey!” Daehyun voices out. [Chill-out, K-S. You, me, J-I we have high grades. Us-three fine. This project whoo! Teacher expect, pass. Calm down.] He smiles at his friend. (Hey, Kyungsoo…chill. The three of us, we have good grades in that class. We’re fine. Our project already exceeds what the teacher expects from our class, it’s completely fine. Just relax.)
“Hmm…” Kyungsoo ponders. He does not realize that the whole group is watching him and Daehyun in silence and that Yongguk has respected their privacy by not interpreting their conversation, until he meets Joonmyeon’s eyes, which are full of expectation. He becomes fully aware that he has not given his answer and that everyone has been watching him and Daehyun converse in utter silence.
“Ah, er…Daehyun and I were just talking about our project…” Kyungsoo says meekly; the smirks on some faces are making him even more flustered. “Sorry…” [D-H me only discuss relate project. Sorry.]
“Hey don’t apologize, we’re not holding any judgment against the two of you for shutting us out of the conversation,” Chanyeol says with a gentle smile. “But Baekhyun and I will be going with Joonmyeon-hyung and Jongin, so…do you…wanna come with us?”
“Oh,” Kyungsoo murmurs as he looks to his older twin brother, who shoots him a look encouraging him to join them. He looks back to Daehyun, Joonmyeon, and then Jongin before he gives a small nod. “Alright then, I’ll go. Daehyun said we didn’t have much left to work on our project, so we’re pretty much done for the most part. But Jongin-ah, where would you want us to work at? Whose place though?” He directs the last couple of questions to his younger boyfriend. [‘Oh-i-see’, o-k, will ‘follow-with-four’. D-H finish tell-me ‘us-three’ not lot left work-work on our project, s-o really, done. *Kyungsoo flaps his hand subtly in Jongin’s direction* Where you want ‘us-three’ work? Who address?]
Jongin glances at Joonmyeon. “Maybe Joonmyeon-hyung’s place, since it’s closer to the hospital than our places. What about Daehyun-hyung’s place? How close is it from the hospital?”
After watching Kyungsoo interpret, Daehyun shakes his head with an expression of mild disagreement. “Oh, ez kaina far…owr kempus wiken wawk, but hosp’al drive must.” [‘Ooh’, somewhat far. Arrive campus, can walk fine, not long, but hospital drive must.] (Oh, it’s kinda far, actually. To our campus, we can walk, but to the hospital, we have to drive.)
“Ah, okay…you guys can work at my place then,” Joonmyeon assures. “Anyway, let’s get going, shall we? As for the rest of you, we’ll see you tomorrow at school?”
“Yeah, but we still haven’t figured out what to do about Jongdae-hyung’s professors…” Jaebum asks.
“I thought we already settled that with Zitao and some of us?” Joonmyeon replies back. Zitao whips his head suddenly, completely bemused. The same look of confusion mirrors on almost everyone’s faces.
“…What are you talking about? We never made any decision none whatsoever about that. We were just about to discuss it before Yongguk, Himchan and Jongup came out of the building,” Luhan points out. Zitao nods in agreement.
“…Oh, never mind. It must’ve been in my head.” Joonmyeon scratches the back of his head in thought.
“Tsk tsk…” Upon hearing Baekhyun clicking his teeth, Joonmyeon shoots a weak glare at him.
“So, anyway, now that we’re on this subject, how should we go about this?”
“Someone should talk with Jongdae’s professors…”
Cautious glances are being thrown around as heads are turning and eyebrows are being raised.
“Well?” Joonmyeon inquires, looking around at his group. “Surely someone knows how to reach them…”
Zitao slowly raises his hand, staring hard at Joonmyeon. The fair-skinned male catches the gesture and is surprised at himself with the odd expectance of his result. “Zitao, you sure you want to do something with this?” Joonmyeon gives a small, genuine smile, as heads are turning to look at Zitao. The silent young man glances around meekly before giving a decisive nod, his hand still up in mid-air.
“I’ll join in, too,” Jaebum says, before he turns to Youngjae, “and you’re doing it with me, no questions asked. Otherwise, you’re not getting anything from me for the rest of the week.” The other looks at him oddly.
“Okay…?”
“Thank you…Jaebum-ah,” Joonmyeon tries to make it sound meaningful but fails, chuckling a little, also confused as well. He suspects the two of them must be together, since they haven’t announced their relationship status, unless Youngjae is either oblivious or denying it. Joonmyeon recalls back when he first met them that they seemed to be best friends and nothing else.
“Daehyun and I will help too,” Kyungsoo speaks up, getting his older boyfriend’s attention. [‘Us-two’ same will.]
Daehyun nods for confirmation. [S-o tomorrow, what plan ‘us-all’ do, just talk with professors?]
“W-well…Zitao can talk to the profe- I mean,” Joonmyeon facepalms at his mistake, “well, notify the professors he and Jongdae have together of Jongdae’s absence.” He lowers his hand away from his face. “The others can talk to the remaining of Jongdae’s professors, and do the same thing. You two,” he points to Kyungsoo and Daehyun, “you can email the headmaster or the dean of the math department and inform them as well. I don’t know how much of an effect Jongdae’s incident will place on them…and on his grades, but if they’ll understand that Jongdae will be away for a while, then everything will be all right. Sounds good?”
The members give small nods of agreement as Joonmyeon looks around. He then makes eye contact with the small group that will be accompanying him to the hospital.
“Okay, we better go…” Joonmyeon smiles weakly. “We’ll see the rest of you tomorrow.”
- - -
“Yongguk?” Himchan asks his friend as he, Yongguk and Jongup make their way into the Moons’ house. Jongup is sliding the front door open at the moment, taking off his shoes.
“Hm?” Yongguk turns slightly to face Himchan as he stands at the entryway.
“Thank you…” Himchan watches his brother step onto the raised platform of their house and disappear in the small hallway.
Yongguk gives a crooked smile, knowing what Himchan meant. “It’s not my choice to tell you when or how to tell them, Himchan, but I’d suggest you inform them at some point, maybe soon. This time didn’t seem like the appropriate time, anyways. It was lucky that I was with you, otherwise any excuses from you or Jongup probably wouldn’t be held credible.”
Himchan sighs as he nods. “You’re right, I should at some point…” He chews on his lower lip, pondering for a bit. “I’ll do it…once all of this settles down, and whatnot…y’know? Anytime before Christmas.”
“Mhm…” Yongguk watches as Himchan takes off his shoes. He places a hand on Himchan’s nape, giving a gentle squeeze. “Come on, we gotta finish that album art cover.”
- - -