Listen (Chapter 20)
Title: ListenChapter: [20/?]
Characters: Kyuhyun, Heechul, Yesung, Siwon, Donghae, other SJ members might join in soon
Pairings: Eventual!KyuChul, YeWook, past!HanChul, KyuSung_friendship, SiChul_friendship and more to come soon
Rating: R
Genre: AU, Supernatural, Drama, Angst, Romance
Type: Multi-Chapter (potentially the start of a series)
Word Count: 2,092
Warning: Character death, ghostly apparitions?
Disclaimer: I own many things, but unfortunately Super Junior isn't one of them.
Summary:
Kyuhyun had always loved to have a window by his bed where he could write by. However, as far as he was concerned, he has not written anything constructive for ages. Not since he could never look at the large glass window pane again and not feel the hairs stand at the back of his neck.Not since he begin to spend every waking moment in fear and every sleeping one restless. And definitely not since the indistinguishable eerie sounds visited him resoundingly by the moonlit window almost every night. Maybe he was listening to more than he can hear.
Masterlist
Prologue | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19
Chapter 20
“Yah!”
He peeked through a crack of his eyelids, surprised he was still capable of it. In front of him a less than friendly face glowered, frowning deeply.
Why am I still here?
“Kid! Wake the damn up!”
Kid? He put in twice the effort to stir awake, but it seemed so hard to achieve.
“What’s your silly name again? Kim Kyuhyun? Yah, get up!” Something was tugging him by the sleeve as he tried to move his body. It didn’t feel right, wasn’t he dead already? And then it suddenly came back to him.
“It’s Cho.”
Kyuhyun sat up just in time for a drop of cold sweat to trickle from his matted bangs into his now-open eyes. They were back in his living room again; miserable TV and Ddangkoma’s container still intact. He looked down from the frowning face and then to his own hands. He was definitely himself again. But he was just about to fall out of his window…what had happened? Kyuhyun grabbed his own wrist, a strange feeling somewhat searing from it.
Heechul…? Everything felt so real before.
“W-what just happened?” he asked uncertainly, but Heechul took no heed of him. The man was, however, clutching his right arm, as if in pain but his pale face trickling with cold sweat remained stoic about it. Kyuhyun’s heart gave a tug at that.
A soft sobbing came from a corner and it broke through the haze of confusion that was Kyuhyun’s mind, standing up with Heechul’s help again but with only one hand offered this time, who had narrowed his eyes at him for a split second as if to ask him if he was alright. But it was so quick that he must have imagined it. Kyuhyun had wanted to ask the same but the words remained stuck somewhere inside him.
“It was my fault, really all my fault. Right down to everything, mine and mine only. And yet I was so engulfed in revenge, wanting to take everyone down with me…even the one I love the most. I deserved this!”
Kyuhyun strained his ears as he began to regain his senses more and more; trying to make out the cracking voice interjected by occasional sobs coming from the same spot. The voice was full of regret that somehow something heavy lugged in Kyuhyun’s chest. It was totally different from the vengeful voice earlier.
“You were confused. Well, most of you are, anyway. It doesn’t matter anymore how you were before, what’s most important is that you realize the truth now,” Heechul said while peering at the figure crouched over on his knees, shaking his head and wincing slightly ; trying to ignore the nagging pain that was gnawing on his right arm.
Kyuhyun’s jaw dropped slightly from where he stood beside the man. Kyuhyun couldn’t believe it, but Kim Heechul was actually trying to make someone -never mind dead or alive- feel less crappy about himself; something he thought the guy was only capable of the opposite.
“It was my fault, yet I blamed it on Eunri. How could I be so stupid? I hurt her over and over again!” Pearly tears spilled from the translucent face, lower lip trembling along.” How is she?!” Shindong cried out suddenly, eyes wide with crazed worry and regret.
Kyuhyun turned his head to Heechul as well, wondering the same. The other shook his head slightly in assurance, leaning back against the couch. “She should be fine, albeit a little drained for sure. My friend Siwon is taking care of her. I’m not too sure if she’s alright emotionally though.”
Shindong slumped back in relief, a lonely tear trickling down one cold chubby cheek that he hated. “I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused the two of you. Really sorry. Especially to Kyuhyun-ssi…I hope you will be alright after what I’ve done. I don’t expect you to forgive me, but I’m just really sorry. And thank you, Heechul-ssi…You made me remember my past and realize all my mistakes.”
“Forget about us. We’ll get over it. Right kid?” Suddenly Kyuhyun felt a nudge on the side, eyes meeting big, intense ones as he turned. He quickly nodded to the air.
“But can I ask for just one more favour from the both of you? Please tell Eunri I’m sorry for everything I’ve done, for real this time. Please make sure she’s safe for me. I beg you, please. I really love her so much…And I’m ready to go now, to whatever hell that’s waiting for such a useless person like me…”
Kyuhyun nodded nervously, heaving a sigh. “We’ll try our best…Shindong-ssi…”
“I don’t know if there’s hell or even a heaven. But if you really love her, don’t you think you should tell her yourself?” Heechul said, peering at Shindong who looked away.
“I don’t deserve to see her again. I can’t face her…after all I’ve done to her…”the voice trailed off sadly.
“It’s not whether you deserve it or not. It’s rather that you owe it to her to see her one last time and apologize. At least be man enough to say a proper goodbye after all you’ve done, after all you’ve had together.” Heechul bit on his lip a little too hard, mind was wandering back against his will to memories he didn’t want to remember at this time. “Then when it’s time to leave, you would have to go.”
Shindong opened his mouth in protest but closed them resignedly, realizing the truth in Heechul’s words.
Kyuhyun watched quietly as the man fished out his phone from his pocket with one good hand, pressing the first speed-dial. He felt somewhat baffled by the bitterness in the voice; because it felt like it was laced with pain as well. He wondered if he was reading too much into things.
“Siwon, bring her back here.”
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“Where’s he?”
Park Eunri’s face was painfully pale, dragging her feet in weakly with Kyuhyun’s help albeit a little reluctantly. That Siwon had somehow refused to come into the apartment again, only guiding her to the front door and then leaving again, worried eyes roving over to Heechul who nodded back reassuringly to him.
“Eunri!”
Shindong reached one hand out to the face he loved yet deceived, feeling a tumble of emotions rushing out at him. He withdrew back sadly, wispy fingers curling into a ball, realizing that no matter what good jokes or loving words he had for her at this moment, they were all useless, now that she was no longer able to hear his voice or see his face again.
“I’m sorry, so sorry…” Shindong whispered, wishing she could hear him. “Please tell her I’m sorry…” Kyuhyun stood beside her and supported her shoulders as she looked around a little frantically; trying to catch the slightest glimpse of the man she had loved and missed so much.
Heechul shuffled over to them and somehow gave a nod to Kyuhyun who nodded back, trying to lend as much strength as he can to her. Kyuhyun creased his eyebrows slightly, wondering why she didn’t seem to hear Shindong’s voice which was literally ringing in his ears. He wished he could somehow transfer his ‘ears’ to her so that she could hear him.
“He’s here, right there…” Heechul said softly, standing beside her on the other side, bowing his head slightly to her height while pointing towards the source of the voice. “He remembers the truth now, and he wants to apologize for all the hurt he’s caused you.”
“S-Shindong? I miss you so much…” her body shook slightly as tears begin to fall. “I’ve never blamed you for anything, alright? Where are you? Why can’t I see him?” she sobbed as she grabbed onto Heechul’s left arm, who could only shake his head.
“I miss you too, Eunri…please don’t cry, not for me, please. I don’t deserve it…It’s all my fault…”
Shindong moved a little closer to them in a jerky motion, but not daring to edge any closer, one shaky hand longing to touch her face so much. If he could do it all over again, he wished he had never met her. Only then she would be saved from all this pain he was giving her.
“He’s telling you not to cry for him…he feels that he doesn’t deserve your tears…” Kyuhyun said gently, trying his best to convey the unheard words.
Heechul pursed his lips when he noticed a strange light radiating from all around Shindong suddenly, something familiar yet he took a few good seconds to remember what it meant; it’s been a long time since the last time he’s seen one.
“You don’t have much time, Shindong. It’s time to go, or else you won’t get the chance again…”Heechul cautioned, coughing slightly and wincing again.
Eunri broke down quietly in tears, causing Shindong to move a little closer yet, face etched with pain as Eunri’s teary eyes continued to search for any signs at all of him. “Why can’t you stay?”
Kyuhyun was surprised when Heechul nodded seemingly in approval to the air, one hand on his shoulder and beckoning him to stand up and move away, which he did obediently.
“I feel him…” Eunri’s face broke into a sad smile a moment later, small delicate hands reaching to touch her own tear-stained cheek. Shindong smiled as he withdrew his hand from her face, ignoring the pain in his hollow chest.
“S-so what happens now?” Shindong’s voice was a little calmer than before yet noticeably shaky. Eunri had ceased her crying, but the air of sadness lingered on around her as she leaned a little helplessly against Kyuhyun, looking on with a broken smile and puffy eyes.
‘It depends, really. Do you see anything unusual?” Heechul asked, lips pursed slightly with one hand pressed down on the couch.
There was a moment of silence before Shindong’s voice finally broke it, the two unseeing ones fidgeting around slightly for a response before it came, but only Kyuhyun heard it, of course.
“There’s a door here, it wasn’t here before. It’s g-glowing.” Kyuhyun picked out the slight awe and surprise from the voice.
Heechul creased his eyebrows into a cleft. “It’s different for everyone. If it feels alright, then open it. It should lead you to where you should go.” Heechul nodded somewhat encouragingly to the thin air.
“Are you sure? Can’t I stay a little longer with Eunri…?”
“Aish, really. If you stay here any longer, you won’t get a second chance. Eunri-ssi will get hers when her time arrives. Do you want to accelerate that? Now go before it disappears,” Heechul’s voice was slightly irritable as he flicked his fringe away from his eyes slightly.
Kyuhyun heard Shindong suck in a deep hollow breath before a surprising small laugh followed. Eunri was tugging at his sleeve, face questioning in urgent silence. He wished he could tell her what was happening exactly but being able to hear the sounds only didn’t quite contribute much.
“It’s beautiful. It’s a beach, with a beautiful blue sea and the sun is shining and- and the breeze, it’s wonderful. It’s exactly where we wanted to have our wedding. Eunri, do you see it?”
“She can’t. None of us here can, except you, because it’s only for you. Now go, I’m serious,” Heechul warned.
“What’s happening to Shindong?” Eunri was about to lunge forward but stumbled on her way, caught back into balance again by Kyuhyun.
“He’s going now…he found a beautiful beach behind a door. It’s where he wants to marry you but if only you promise to live your life here to the fullest first. He wants you to move on and he’s sorry again for everything. He wants you to know he loves you.”
A small tear drop trickled down her face as she smiled longingly. “Goodbye, Shindong... I love you too…”
Shindong gave a bow of thank-you for the last time to Kyuhyun and then Heechul. “Thank you…”
“You’re welcome, but only so to speak. Now go, she’ll be fine,” Heechul said, shaking his head.
Kyuhyun gave a little squeeze on Eunri’s arm gently. “I think he’s really going now…”
Heechul heaved a silent sigh when Shindong finally gave him a grateful smile and turned away after taking one last look at Eunri. His retreating figure from the back slowly glows and bursts into a bright ball of light, causing Heechul to raise a hand to shield his eyes.
And when he opened his eyes again, Shindong was gone.
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A/N : This is the last chapter before the final epilogue. :) thanks for reading, really!