Serendipity
Click to view-continues from Alone Tonight-
Soo Jin was lovely. But something felt incomplete. The memories, like a jigsaw puzzle with its parts shoved into place; the cracks visible.
She knew. The sadness in her eyes as she watched him look out the window and sighed. The fingers clenching into a fist as he passed by a familiar place or street. The reluctance to go beyond superficial levels of affection.
She had asked him one day in a moment of brokenness.
'Do you like me?'
'What do you mean? Of course, I do.'
'Then why? Why are you holding back? We have been going out for a few months now. But it feels like.. I don't know.'
'.. I don't know what you mean. I've taken you out, I've taken care of you. I don't open up easily, you know that.'
Frustration. He had walked to the door and paused, hunched. A heaviness in the room.
And then a quick back hug, fear of pushing him too far, bringing her close to him and sealing her lips but not stopping another crack from branching out on her heart.
'I'm sorry for questioning you. Take your time.'
He sighed again and held her arms against his chest. But funny thing was that, she didn't feel comforted.
---
Yunho's POV:
Changmin?
Are you there?
I miss you so much; I miss you still.
Today, Soo Jin asked me if I liked her. I guess it was coming. She can feel it you know, feel my distance.
My distance because as silly as this is, no matter what, a part of me is waiting for you.
You're probably happy wherever you are.
I know we promised each other not to wait, but my heart is being as stubborn as you.
It would have been our anniversary today.
I miss you.
Yunho carefully folded the note into half and slid it into the locked box which he kept in his drawer. After so long, the box was almost full. It contained his weakness; his brokenness; his sorrow. One day, he promised himself. He would burn the box or give it to Changmin. Or maybe his future lover. It would be the day he really had closure.
But not today, today wasn't the day. He reached for the soju on the side table, knocking over the frame on his table.
A picture of Changmin.
A picture of him.
---
-Changmin-
It was a week after he had seen Yunho but he felt better than he had been in days. He would be returning home in a few days. Away from the ghost of his past relationship, and he intended to spend it well.
Kyuhyun had texted him earlier about coffee in the afternoon and he was on his way. His mood was so good that he had even bought a red rose from a street stall on a whim. Maybe he would give it to Kyuhyun as a joke, as he mentally prepared himself for the punch on the shoulder that he would receive.
'Oof!'
Changmin stumbled as he bumped into a girl around the corner.
'Are you okay?' He bent down hurriedly to help her pick up the books that she had dropped.
'I'm fine, thank you.' Came the response.
He looked up at her, smiling. She was pretty, light sparkled in her eyes and her long hair fluttered gently in the breeze.
He looked at the rose in the hand.
'Here, this is for you.'
'Oh? Why?' A mixture of amusement and confusion.
'A pretty rose deserves an equally pretty owner. And I'm sorry for bumping into you.'
She laughed at that, nodding and taking the rose with thanks.
'My name is Changmin.'
'Nice to meet you. My name is Soo Jin.'
'Ah. Nice to meet you too, Soo Jin-sshi.' Changmin glanced at his watch and noticed the time. Kyuhyun would be kicking up a fuss soon. He bowed again at Soo Jin and walked away in a hurry.
---
Kyuhyun had already ordered him a coffee and was tapping his fingers impatiently when Changmin walked in.
'Sorry bro.' He said he sat himself down. Kyuhyun rolled his eyes before going into a spiel about the latest game he and his housemates were into.
The doorbell of the coffeeshop rang, signalling that a customer had walked in. Changmin's eyes lit up as he recognised the girl with the rose. He put down his cup, eyes bright. Kyuhyun noticed and turned around in his seat.
'Whoa. A girl. And she's pretty too. Not bad, Chwangs.' Kyuhyun muttered approvingly.
Changmin groaned. 'Stop it. I bumped into her in the street. Oh she saw me. She's waving.'
He half-rose, waving back when he suddenly stopped. Soo Jin had turned to greet a man that had followed her into the shop a few steps behind. She tiptoed up to give him a peck on the cheek and waved again at Changmin.
Changmin swallowed, feeling his breath catch in his throat. Kyuhyun was also standing, looking with concern at Changmin.
He was staring straight at Yunho. Both of their gazes locked in a direct exchange. Soo Jin had walked to an empty table, thinking Yunho was behind her. She was now looking confusedly back and forth between Changmin and Yunho, wondering if they knew each other.
Kyuhyun broke the tension first, nervously pulling at Changmin's arm. 'Let's go, Changmin-ah. Come on.'
He was halfway to the door, just past where Yunho was standing, still staring at him. He broke the eye contact and looked at the ground, overwhelmed by the mix of emotions and shock that was whirling around inside.
Then just before he stepped out, he felt a hand tug at his free arm and a voice, a voice that was all too familiar, murmur softly, 'Wait.'
-continues to if only -