Fairytale Of Baby Bunny And Little Fox

A la la land where a rabbit and a fox are made for each other to save the world.

[shineemoon]

240401 TAEMIN • Big Planet Made 240403 ONEW • GRIFFIN Entertainment

[onkey-bedtime-stories]

Hi, peeps! How are yaah?

If you’ve been wondering where did I go, I’m still here and yes, I’m surprisingly still writing! :)) I actually really want to update some stories here, but tumblr been messing with me and I cannot put the keep reading in my post which I hate it. And I hate it more because if I forced myself to post stories and not putting keep reading it would be flooding your dash and would make everyone uncomfortable, including me.

So if you still want to read my stories, you can check my AFF account. I will be there for a while, at least until I can find out how to put this keep reading back.

As always, hope you’re happy and healthy! XOXO

[onkey-bedtime-stories]

my heart breaks when I saw Taem left the stage

[worshiponew]

[iceamericanoventi]

So this morning I stumbled upon a picture of 5HINee and asked @gwiyonew from which photoshoot was that.

Followed up by my curiosity and the idea of 5HINee rich kids, because THE PHOTO SAYS IT ALL. And of course because I miss them too much.

So here we go.

5HINee British Rich Kids

JINKI:

Science genius, join chemistry decathlon team just for fun. His initial plan of learning chemistry was to mix his own cocktail back home.

Interested in molecule gastronomy. Built proper kitchen in their dorm, fully stocked and open for anyone, to have a private class with one of the chef.

Founder of the book club at the school, he needs a place to dump his multiple limited edition books. Got presents from relatives but already bought it himself.

His sneakers game is on point, sometimes he already wore it before it’s even ready on the display.

JONGHYUN:

Captain of baseball team. Secretely the main sponsor as well.

School choir main group. One time he paid all the expenses of the choir, including the teachers, to go to Athens for a competition just because he turned 17.

Changing his snapback in between periods to match the mood of the class.

Invested one of the best psychiatrist on the school infirmary.

KIBUM:

Bought stock of Twinnings just for opening one shop inside the school.

Have a marvelous collection of bow tie from famous designers. The only one has and allowed to wear velvet blazer at school.

Changes the whole ingredients for the school cafeteria into the organics ones when he got bored once in a while.

Gives Hermes scarfs for his class mates for Christmas presents.

MINHO:

Star of the athletic club. Bought a piece of land near the school to make proper track field for them.

Went to Barcelona with his private jet, his - not his father’s, to watch a football match right after school hours.

Invited Ed Sheeran during the school anniversary festival.

He keeps Leica SOFORT in his bag and spends at least three boxes of instant film every day.

TAEMIN:

His school uniforms are customized by Alexander Wang. Asked Virgil Abloh personally to design the school dance club outfit.

Keeps his Porsche in his dorm even if student is not allowed to bring their rides

Renovates one of the school gym with his own pocket money because the dance club needed a studio for practice.

Changing his phone every week because either he dropped it, crushed it, or leaving it somewhere.

[kegu]

[fuckyeahleaderonew]

190114 Soldiers mentioned Onew in their two-line letters

Soldier 2:  Today during ‘Soldiers’ night’, though everyone did amazing, listened to “Last Love” from Lee Jinki Company Commander. My ears are really in luxury

Soldier 21: Today we had a soldiers’ night. To be able to see the celebrity, watched our squad leaders sang and dance, it’s really nice. Also really Lee Jinki soldier (Onew) and our squad leaders, everyone really had fun.

Soldier 24: Lee Jinki hyung-nim is so cool

Soldier 50: Onew (Lee Jinki Soldier) batchmate sang. Singer is really a singer.

Soldier 78: Today soldiers’ night is so fun~ Lee Jinki’s squad was really cool ^v^

Soldier 79: Today we did practice for completion ceremony and during solders’ night Onew sang for us~

Soldier 106: Today soldiers’ night is really so fun~ Jinki hyung finally sang…!!

Soldier 125: It was good that everyone enjoyed the soldiers’ night. Jinki hyung-nim’s song was really cool

Soldier 131: Today Jinki hyung sang, as expected world class!!

[iceamericanoventi]

Sore

One. Praaangg!

Two. Praaangg!

Three. Praaangg!

Four. Praaangg!

Keep reading

[likeasoup]

i’m sending minho a big hug i hope he gets it

[positivity-roses]

Making fun of girls who dream of being a wife and stay-at-home-mom actually doesn’t make you progressive or feminist or cool, it just makes you a person who shits on someone else’s dream, a.k.a an asshole 

[weirdhumansweallare]

Whenever someone says that I say “Okay, whatever floats your boat, I guess” and then I think “Why would she want that? Isn’t it boring to just sit around all day and do nothing?”

[ablogforyoungmommys]

Moms don’t “sit around all day and do nothing” - they have a incredibly important 24/7 job: raising little human beings. Don’t devalue that by calling it “nothing”. 

[shaycode]

Man, my mom cooked, cleaned, paid the bills, went grocery shopping, did my hair every morning before school and every night (which, as a white woman with no prior experience of doing black hair, especially on a tender-headed child, is no easy feat). She helped with my homework, consoled me after a bad day, frequently volunteered at the school. She even picked my anxious, crying ass up from kindergarten early nearly every day for the first semester and would lie down with me every night when I was a child until I fell asleep (and that usually took several hours). That’s not even scratching the surface of all the things she’s done for me and my siblings. She was always the first person up and the last person to go to bed. Nothing about what she did, and continues to do to a lesser degree, is easy.

[corihasastory]

Domestic work is constantly undervalued even though every family depends on it. My grandmother on my mom’s side would go hungry just so her kids could eat - that is not nothing.

Also, if you would commend a man for being a stay at home dad and doing exactly what women have been doing for centuries, don’t pretend you care about women’s labor.

[minyo129]

[BREAKING]181203 SHINee MINHO suffers injured on his face during filming his movie Jangsa Ri 9.15. 😢

He was taken to the emergency room, Article says SM informed that he got abrasion/scratch on his left side of his face due fragment from special effects and was taken straight to emergency room.

He will keep getting treatment until it’s healed. The shooting was planned to pause for moving issues for 3-4 days, Minho will start filming after recovery.

(Hope everything will be ok and Plz lets pray for his speedy recovery 🙏)

Source :news article 1 , 2

Trans ©Enxirma ,OH_mes

[fashionfever]

[onkey-bedtime-stories]

amsterdam, 5 p.m.

“Are you shitting me right now?”

“Dude, Jinki, language, please.”

“You dragged me literally by my foot, out of my beyond snuggly blanket, dear Lord, where did that hotel buy that stuff, we need to get one before we go back home, the point is, Kim Kibum. I’m not skipping my breakfast only to wait on this horrendous line only to get a plate of pancake.”

A very unpleased look hung perfectly on Kibum’s face. And the line behind them keeps going, minute by minute. It’s only eight in the morning and the Pancake Amsterdam barely open five minute before.  

“It’s the highlight of today’s trip. Who went this far to Amsterdam and not get breakfast here?”

“You mean lunch? With this many people I’m not sure we’re going to get one,” he bent down to tie his shoe laces which he failed to make in such rush, “Besides, the highlight today is finally getting the ticket for Van Gogh Museum in this mad summer.”

“Doesn’t mean we have to miss this cute little pancake house!”

“Well, you and your fixation on instagram can swim along the canal behind us.”

Kibum is two millimeters away from losing it, but he doesn’t want to ruin their last stop of the summer holiday. Jinki got stuck with his project and needed a getaway for some new insights. He called Kibum 4 AM in the morning, nearly sent the other man to the Persian carpet on his bedroom.

When Jinki mentioned Europe, though, he agreed right away and fled to his laptop, started to click here and there. Five hours later, Kibum popped his head at Jinki’s door with so many stuffs to talk about, from the ticket price and some accommodation references.  Jinki chose Barcelona, Berlin, and Porto. Kibum picked Rome, Paris, and Brussels. They agreed to go to Amsterdam before returned back to Seoul and continue their life as a photographer and writer.

“Did you wake up at the wrong side of the bed this morning?”

Jinki scoffs, “Excuse me? Did I wake up at the wrong side of the bed? I barely see the bed side this morning when you just yanked me from the bed against my will!”

“I told you last night we’re stopping by for pancake! But you’re too busy with your magic brownie!”

“We can always go later! When people doesn’t need breakfast anymore and no line just to get a table.”

“Later?! Who eat pancake after eleven?!” the woman behind Jinki stretched her neck nosily to their direction, “Okay, look, I know you hate me, but can you please bear with me for another thirty minutes?”

He pulled out stroopwafel from his totes, hopes high on the air it would ease the grumpy dragon inside Jinki’s belly.

“You know I would never hate you,” he snatched the package from Kibum’s hand and teared the wrapper too immediately, he missed the small smirk on the other man’s rosy face.

***

The sun is almost set at the horizon when Jinki unplugged his earphone and turn his face to Kibum. They’re lying on the grass in front of the museum after almost five hours ogling on the masterpieces and non-stop arguing which art is the best among them. Kibum, as usual, still busy checking his phone, picking some picture to post on his Instagram, stomach glued to the grass.

“Sorry I was pissed off this morning.”

Kibum cock his head to the guilty ridden man on his right and chuckled before continue looking to his screen, “We finally ate there so forget about that. Besides, the museum collection was amazing. I’m not mad at all.”

“It’s just, my body is struggle to function before breakfast.”

“I know. That’s why I got you the stroopwafel.”

“Still, I almost ruined our last stop. I guess my subconscious is just realized that in the next two days we will be in our flight back to the reality and.. it kind of messed up everything in my head.”

“Lee Jinki,” Kibum threw his phone aside and lying on his side, using his hand as his pillow now, “You don’t need to worry about a thing. You did your best. We did our best. Yes, it’s stressful. And, of course it would be boring at some point, it’s inevitable. But when life gets hard, at least you can always run to me ranting all night long, as you want. You can call me out of nowhere at such godly hours. Who knows next time we’re going to Cancun?”

Jinki laughed his heart out, silently thanking universe he collided into a man like Kibum, “Why suddenly Cancun?”

Kibum himself is now shaking because of his random choice of travel destination, “I don’t know it just blurted out.”

“Kibum, Kibum, Kibum. What would I do without you?”

“I know right? We struggle to pay our education together. We built our career together. We have been through good and bad, and worst when suddenly Taemin decided to move permanently to LA, that’s also together. We ate along Europe, isn’t it the best thing ever so far?”

Jinki remembered the pulled pork sandwich in Porto and the best carbonara pasta he had in Rome, “Sometimes I hate it when you know that mentioning food is actually my Achilles heel. Should I start to scare?”

Kibum can only smile while studying Jinki’s side profile. He already packed his jealousy towards chopped steak and tossed it to the trash can years ago and learned how to use food for a perfect pick up mood whenever Jinki’s upset with his world.

He took his phone and rested his spine back to the grass, now eyes completely back to the Instagram page since he knew what should he uploaded there, “What should we do next?”

It’s a solid fifteen minutes of silence. Solid fifteen minutes of Jinki looking at Kibum who didn’t even realize that a pair of soft eyes looking at him as if his universe centered on that vivid cheek bone.

“You know it’s legal to get married in Amsterdam.”

“So?”

“So?”

Kibum didn’t catch any tremble on Jinki’s groggy voice, he keeps editing some pictures he captured hours ago. He doesn’t aware it makes Jinki restless on his back.

“So?”

Jinki sighed, his mind went further into the fantasy creating a huge elephant ready to step him further down the ground.

“Take the hint, will you?”

“What hint?”

“Will you marry me?”

Kibum who finally turned to his direction, didn’t see that coming. Jinki loves joking around but this time, there is no trace of foolish man apparent on his face. He looks utterly beautiful, with his sunshine alike smile and worried eyes which filled with both anticipation and distress.

When his face got closer, Jinki feels his chest could burst anytime soon. He fixed the soft bangs on Jinki’s forehead and pouting his cupid lips before reopened it again.

“Only if we go to London for honeymoon.”

The weight of the world on his shoulder that has been clinging on him just evaporated through the sky.

“Then London it is.”

Jinki closed the gap between them and captured his boyfriend turned fiancée lips he’s been dying to kiss since an hour ago. He can almost see the wide smile on Kibum’s face when he pressed deeper.

***

Jinki lifted himself from Kibum’s chest, flipped his hair back, sweat all over his naked shoulders, looked annoyed as hell.

“Who the heck calling people at this hour?”

Kibum’s phone had been ringing endlessly for at least five minutes.

“Can you pass me my phone then?”

“Why should I?!!”

“The sooner I cursed whoever it’s on the other line the sooner we continue what we left!”

It’s one hour passed midnight already. While he hates people disturbing him during the other day, Jinki hates it more when people had their gut to interrupt his holiday. Something he might forget, Kibum hates it the most when Jinki stopped in the middle of making out.

“What do you mean by sold out?!”

“Sold out what?”

“Your instagram post!!”

“God! It’s fucking midnight here, Lee Taemin!”

“More like fucking at midnight! Ha!”

Jinki who forced to sit on Kibum’s lower tummy while the latter answering the vexatious phone call, could only messages his temple when he heard his brother screeched for his life.

“We are getting married and you’re not invited if you don’t end that fucking call now!”

“There, you hear my fiancée, Darling. Talk to you in the morning.”

“Y—“

Kibum recklessly dropped the phone to the wooden floor after switched it off, “Happy?”

“Very. Where were we?”

“Here,” Kibum points his mouth with his finger which Jinki follows gladly.  

***

A/N.: actually, you need six weeks prior registering your marriage in Amsterdam. this is cross-posted in my AFF And yeah, I’m sorta back! :)

[iceamericanoventi]

Blank Space - Chapter Final

Part 12

———————

So it’s gonna be forever

Or it’s gonna go down in flames You can tell me when it’s over If the high was worth the pain

‘Cause we’re young and we’re reckless We’ll take this way too far It’ll leave you breathless Or with a nasty scar Got a long list of ex-lovers They’ll tell you I’m insane (Insane) But I’ve got a blank space baby And I’ll write your name

***

“Okay, okay. You’re taking only the vintage ones. I got it.”

“Sure you don’t want me to send you the list and the detail? Don’t you think picture is not enough?”

Who the heck he thinks he is lecturing me about my purchasing ability?

She wanted to argue, but just too exhausted. After staying at the kitchen school almost at least 20 hours per day and the foreseen torture of dessert assignment in less than five days, she chose to zip her mouth. Having perfectionist blood all over her veins already pushed her to the edge of her limit. With hand nearly burnt thrice if once is not enough, trying to defend herself on the matters she didn’t even care is just futile.

“I’m not seven anymore.”

And Jonghyun missed how awfully she groaned, “This one is very rare, Boonie! If you took the wrong vi—“

“That was one time! And for your information, it was the stupid shopkeeper’s fault! Not mine! You should thank me for doing some effort coming back to that creepy store to exchange it! Dear God, I told you to do anything you want but that doesn’t include trapping me into slavery!”

So snapped she is finally, still he’s busy keeping the phone steady in between his cheek and shoulder while rummaging his desk to find some documents he needs the next following morning, he didn’t catch that she’s actually way far from joking.

“Whatever. Just double check it, will you?”

“It’s not even a year, for God’s sake! Have you forgot that your sister is the most meticulous person you’ve ever know?”

“I second that. But still, fabric and groceries are different from records, Kim Gwiboon. You’re not used to yet in this field. This needs basic training and further market research.”

“Wow. I could just snuggle my pillows, switched off my phone, and just shut the world around me. But yet, but yet, I’m here outside putting some decent clothes and make up about to get your dumb vinyl. Should I just burn everything for your lack of gratitude?”

“When I came to you next month, and I didn’t see any of those treasures, I wouldn’t hesitate to skin you alive. You know that?”

“Pathetic. I’m worth less than vinyl. Now I get it when people said you really are actually alone in this world.”

“I will just ignore the fact that right now you’re sulking and again, resent everything on me. Anyhoops. Are you finally admitting that you’re lonely?”

Keep reading

[onkey-bedtime-stories]

Tremble (3/3)

WINTER

EQUINOX

SPRING

***

“I’m started questioning for what you had your studio for and bought it with such a fortune if you’re pretty much splattered on the floor of my house almost every day like this.”

Kibum kicked his leg on the way to drop himself on his favorite couch. He has lots of paperwork on his hands, round glasses hanging on the bridge of his nose.

“There’s no food there.”

“Delivery reached that area too. And that studio is literally two hundred meters away from a sushi restaurant!”

Never during his career Kibum sold a place without doing a research of the pro-cons from the neighborhood. Taemin stirred and moved to Kibum’s kitchen to prove him that he’s there only for food. But the words came out from him later said differently.

“It’s just lonely over there. Woke up there, worked there, then spent the whole evening editing pictures or sketching some concept for the next photo session. I feel trapped.”

“Wasn’t that the exact reason why you wanted that building at the first place? To save time not to drive back and forth from your apartment and work place?”

“Hah,” he gulped the strawberry’s milk he found in one shot, must be Gwiboon’s, he thought “I never knew it would be that lonely. Guess it’s just a stupid ambition I had to show the world that I’m finally here, at the very top of my career in such young age, after so many objections I faced in the past?”

Kibum torn his eyes from the paper before him, “Honey, your ambition is not stupid. Everyone has a dream and it worth to fight for even if merely a simple one.”

“So you don’t mind if I stop by your place anytime?”

He shrugged, “You’re my only friend, Tae, if I kicked out the last person who can deal my stubbornness, then who’d stay to take care of me on the days I decided to weep?”

“Lots of people want to take care of you but you pushed them away and whose fault is that? You can just literally point your finger and those men and women would voluntarily crawl toward you!”

“Stop it right there or I’d really kick you out of my house. We started with your issue how come you dodged the bullet so easily?”

“Trying to be a secret lover and you'd have thousand tricks to not get caught in an awkward situation.”

“Wow. That’s huge coming from you. Leave him then, and go find another one! You deserve so much better!”

“You sound like Jinki just now. So annoying.”

“Ah. Talking about that friend of yours, is he still pestering you asking for my number?”

“Nope. He stopped about a week ago. I thought it was because he already got your number somehow from other place.”

“I would attack you first if that happened, knowing you’re the only human chain linking us. He might just get tired.”

“Hmm, that would be possible. He tried to get you but you are more slippery than eel, so yeah.”

“Did you just compare me to a water creature?!”

This time is Taemin’s turn to shrug, “What else should I compare you? Jinki was there hot skin and flesh and you just washed him hard with your cold treatment with a simple sentence ‘I need to call my daughter’? Weren’t you just being sneaky?”

“You don’t know how it feels to be me at that time, Lee Taemin.”

Kibum and Soyu were best friends back in college. Both are free spirited and love to run against the world circling around them. One day they met during lunch break, two years after they graduated and already worked and were climbing into steady career. Soyu blurted out that she wanted to have baby. Kibum was jokingly suggesting her to go to the sperm bank and get the donor. What he didn’t expect was she suddenly asked him to be the donor instead since she already knew him and claimed that Kibum has everything she needed for the good qualities for the baby.

He was dumbfounded for a while but then without hesitation, he agreed to the request. The following months, they went to the hospital and learned about all the procedure and got it done on their fourth visit. Soyu said she would raise the baby by herself, she didn’t ask anything from Kibum besides to be present on the labor for the moral support.

However, Kibum couldn’t find him detaching from them. He loved Soyu and their daughter. He stood by their side the whole time and when Gwiboon turned two, there was nothing on the way stopping Kibum to ask her to marry him. Soyu herself, didn’t find anything to turn the request down as she loved him as well.

Their wedding day was the cutest, it was a simple ceremony, with the closest family and friends, with little Gwiboon waked her mother down the aisle. Taemin spent four of his precious roll films to capture the moment and proudly said up until these days that those were one of his best works so far.

The marriage was their beautiful sanctuary for the three of them. It was actually pleasing, physically, mentally, sexually. Until one day, they realized they loved each other not more than best friends. The fight came more often, the buried dreams reappeared to the surface, and they blamed each other more easily than worked out the obstacles together.

Kibum stopped trying and Soyu stopped caring. Being a wife was never been her dream and Kibum started to get scare with the idea of him only forcing his dream to have a family to someone he cared the most who had a very different goal in life. He still loved her as best friend, as his daughter’s mother, but she cannot fill the hole gapping inside Kibum’s heart.

He turned his priority to Gwiboon and Gwiboon only. Moreover after their decision to end the getting unhealthy marriage. He focused his mind and devoted his time for the soon to turn six years old girl. The smile of the love of his life was enough to mend the wound he has. It was hard a little bit when the court gave the custody of the girl to Soyu. But they talked about it and Soyu job’s in Paris turned out requires her to travel more often so secretly, since a month ago, they’re preparing all the paperwork for the kid to be able to move back with her father and started her school here instead in Paris.

Then came Jinki, out of nowhere, confiscated Kibum’s mind with his blinding smile, putting him in the middle of the scale with Gwiboon and him in each side. He needs him to concentrate with his life and Gwiboon’s at this very moment. But he cannot lie to himself that he wants Jinki to be part of it. It’s super silly and ridiculous, he thought, how can a man ruin his composure just with a kiss? How can he be lured just with something that looked like a remedy for his lust? 

“No. I wouldn’t know. But don’t be scared. Who knows he might be the answer of everything?”

“I’m currently not asking, I don’t need an answer.”

“Kim Kibum, you know what I mean.”

“Then tell me. Tell me how you sit down an innocent little girl and said that her father already has someone he likes and that person is not a woman like her mother but a very handsome and charming chef she met at the supermarket instead? How you can tell your own daughter that you’re bisexual?”

***

Jinki’s driving his truck back to the city after traveled east to get some goodies for his new recipe. He rolled down the window and poked his elbow out, enjoying the breeze blowing his side, gently reminds him that spring’s finally here.

Ah, spring.

He almost forgot that he hates spring. It was spring when Donghae dropped the bomb in the middle of heartfelt reunited dinner, asking him to stop seeing each other, after three weeks of break since their biggest fight ever. Having his expectation already high in the air when he called Jinki telling him that he missed him and wanted to meet, of course the question was a perfect jab on his chest.

Jinki remembered how he was stammering asking the reason why and apologizing to Donghae continuously for forcing his ambition to actually start a family together with him. However, behind his tears he could see how Donghae didn’t budge at all and stayed stern, indicating that was his final request to Jinki.

He said he loved Jinki but the relationship getting harder because Donghae thought at that point, they supposed to already know each other by heart but he still found the needs to try and try harder to please or at least understand Jinki.

Jinki knew it was bullshit but he couldn’t do anything. He’s exhausted to force himself and chase Donghae who kept insisting running to the directions pole apart with him. Donghae was his first and longest serious relationship. The empty space he left swallowed him hard. Jonghyun had to nurse him the whole next month after the breakup to prevent Jinki harming himself. He even took a break from the restaurant to heal himself before realized that the more he became busier, the faster he would forget the man he used to dream to have a family with.

When the packed-restaurant’s schedule didn’t help, the news of Donghae’s engagement that reached him three months after the dreadful evening did. The pain slowly became hatred. And when the hatred piled up in each corner of his mind, he had the urge to wash it off with alcohol and series of one night stand. Once the person he spent the night with left, the pain started to grow back and his only escape is repeating the same pattern again and again.

Months and years passed by, and he doesn’t care about spring anymore. It was back to be just a season until Kibum and his sinful lips dragged him into the new cycle of sleepless night. Never in life after Donghae he waited for something. He was done waiting. It was dreading and disappointing. But here he is, expecting his phone to ring and show him unknown number with that cheery voice entailed behind if he picked it up.

We burned and we bled We try to forget But the memories left Are still haunting The walls that we built From bottles and pills We swallow until We're not talking

He turned up the volume of his stereo when the new song from the radio started playing. Blasting the music helped him back then, might as well give it another try this time. 

I I am a man on fire You A violent desire What a dangerous night to fall in love Don't know why we still hide what we've become Do you want to cross the line? We're running out of time A dangerous night to fall in love

Jinki slammed the steer wheel. The possibility meeting a new person after Donghae was never passed his mind. Let alone developing a crush to them. Call it miracle, but Kibum did flick the switch inside him so easily, forcing him to forget whatever he believed about soulmate and stuff before.

He wished he was in a fairy-tale where he everything can just have magically have happy ending at the finish line. The hope though, just evaporated to the thin air when he faced the reality laid before him. Kibum is a father and Jinki understands very well that blood is thicker than anything. If he couldn’t compete with a woman from another rich family to marry his high school sweetheart, how on earth he would be able to win the heart of a man who already gave his life to the cutest girl he ever met?

Started a stranger A lover in danger The edge of a knife The face of an angel The heart of a ghost Was it a dream? He was stranger. Kibum was stranger. Jinki thought the latter would prefer that way. Three weeks into the spring and Jinki’s about to believe that way. He slowed the speed of his truck when he arrived to the neighborhood of his restaurant. If people said everyone would have the one that got away, maybe for him, Kibum is that one.

Jinki jumped off and slammed the door, unaware, or choosing to ignore his surrounding, he doesn’t care that the sound startled some people who shared the small street next to his kitchen back door. He unloads one by one, the wooden cart carried the fresh ingredient he acquired this morning. Usually, Jinki only did the buying in the beginning of the week. He went on Friday morning just because he couldn’t sleep well these past three days and Jonghyun suggested him to take some air and go check the farm knowing that his best friend loves it so much.

Jonghyun was right, Jinki hates to admit but that man is always right. Though it doesn’t completely cure him, at least he feels all the burden tad lighter. Strangely, the weather is warmer today, making him nonchalantly rolled his oversized white t-shirt sleeves up his shoulder causing two women walking by almost tripped their own heels.

He chortled, smirk’s evident in his face knowing he still got it after beaten up quite hard by the reality.

“If you told me before you have that cute mole on your bicep, I wouldn’t have waited until spring.”

How unreal it is, hearing the voice he could only imagined these past days. Holy shit, he couldn’t breathe, he actually kept his promise. Kim Kibum’s standing there, at the sidewalk across where Jinki parked his truck, looking more astonishing now when he’s under the sun instead of moonlight. The pair of bow lips curved beautifully, speeding up Jinki’s heartbeat with the sight.

“Well, someone forgot to tell me he has some kind mole fetish last time we met, I guess.”

Now that he saw Kibum giggling and walking closer to the side of the street where he is, only Jinki can start believe his own eyes. The pink tint is crystal clear adorning his cheeks, prominently shading the fine sculpted bones underneath. If before he said Kibum was already beautiful, this time Jinki honestly doesn’t know how the man who stepped closer to his side manages to be even more mesmerizing.

“Did I keep you waiting for too long?”

“Since it’s 21st century already, I was expecting a phone call. Or at least text message. This.. this is something beyond any scenario I ever think about.”

“I don’t do anything mainstream,” Kibum ran his hand toward Jinki’s forehead to wipe the sweat that makes his bangs stuck on it and the tingling grazing his fingertips are still the same, “So you think about me a lot?”

“More than I was planning to if I may say.”

“Good. Because I would be very disappointed if you said any different.”

“It was very flattering, but I’m actually the one who has the right to be disappointed.”

“How could so?”

“Spring started three weeks ago yet you only appeared today when I’m putting the ugliest outfit out of any day?”

Kibum looked at Jinki, he wears his plain white shirt with old washed jeans, blue plaid shirt tied around his waist with old converse covering his feet, he then burst into huge laughter that ringing like a Sanctus to Jinki’s ears, “Seriously, I would jump you right away with this outfit if we’re not surrounded by two grannies over there and group of kids exploring the neighborhood near my car.”

With that, Jinki’s sold. He slid his hand over Kibum’s waist and captured the pink flesh under his nose he’s been longing. As if it was automatically, Kibum wrapped his hands on the nape of Jinki’s neck, pressing their mouths as close as possible.

All the anxiety clouding Jinki’s mind slowly wiped out with every bites Kibum left on his lower lip. Their tongue tied to each other, trying to match the shape of imaginary puzzle they kept in it and lock it forever.

“So this is it?”

They rest their forehead to each other’s, nose brushing lightly, and Kibum hands secure Jinki’s face by his cheeks, hesitantly detached their lips just because they realized they still are human who needs some air to proceed.

“I kept my promise, didn’t I?”

“Appreciate that a lot,” Jinki pecked Kibum’s lips quickly making the other blushed once again, “Worth the wait.”

“Then.. care to continue where we left before?”

“I finished working tonight by ten.”

Kibum pouted immediately and Jinki couldn’t help to laugh, “What about fifteen minutes quickie in my car?”

“Honey, I’m afraid if it’s involving me you need at least one hour.”

“It takes that long to get it up?”

“No, it takes that long to get it down.”

Kibum whined, chewing his inner cheek, “Great, now I need to buy iron trunks to restrain myself until ten.”

Jinki cracks on the spot and deep kissing Kibum once again, doesn’t even care his lips already slightly swollen after his moves.

“You would look godly good in it, I bet.”

“I leave it in your imagination.”

“Damn, now I need to buy those trunks as well!” Kibum threw his head back laughing at the curse, Jinki didn’t miss a chance mouthing the adam apples on the his exposed neck, “My place or your place?”

“Mine. My daughter’s staying at her Nana’s house.”  

“Fine with that. But what would be my guarantee that you’re not going to vanish after this?”

Kibum found Jinki being possessively anxious cute. He pulled out his phone and pressed some number, “Let’s have some fun.”

He put it in the speakerphone mode. Jinki still has no idea until someone shrieked from the other line.

“You better have a fuckin’ good reason disturbing me during my work.”

“Lovely to hear you scream. Can you do me a favor?”

“What?”

“Can you give me Jinki’s number?”

They can hear Taemin choked so hard, both need to suppress the laughter that almost spoiled the fun.

“Can I give you what? Did you take some drug? Did you crash into some—oh, dear Lord! Are you okay?! You’re not in an accident, are you?!”

“Chill, Lee Taemin.. I just think, since Gwiboon will stay at my Mom’s place until weekend.. Why not inviting him you know.. to fool around and maybe have some sexy time.. who knows?”

“Shit! Kim Kibum! As much as I want you to stop pushing away people around you, doesn’t mean you can being a cheap jerk like this! Jinki’s my friend and if you’re going to hurt him even a millimeter, I won’t allow it with all my might bec—“

Kibum nudged Jinki’s sides and he took the clue so well.

“Taem, just give him my number. I don’t think I can hold it anymore since Kibum learned a new move with his tongue and I want it somewhere else.”

“Wait. Who is th—WHAT THE HECK! LEE JINKI?!”

***

“You’re right. You have the best bed in the world,” Kibum mumbled, cheek pressed to Jinki’s chest, his arm secured on Jinki’s naked waist.

“It’s just because it has me on it,” he said sleepily, his palm tracing Kibum’s back. He can’t get enough touching his smooth skin.

“Oh, aren’t you cocky?”

“Of course I am.. I have a really good one down there.”

Kibum slapped his tummy affectionately, “You’re by far, the most perverted person I’ve ever been with.”

“Should I be happy or should I be sad?”

Instead of answering, Kibum lifted his limb and start peppering Jinki’s navel with the kiss, going straight up passing his chest and collar bones before finally devouring his plump lips.

“I still wonder sometimes how could I betrayed myself and made you wait more than I intended.”

“I was this close to sell my goodies since you seemed uninterested.”

“Hmm,” Kibum slipped his hand under the blanket and rubbing his length just like the way Jinki likes it, “You’d get lots of money with this size, though.”

“Are you willing to trade it?”

“After almost every night have it? Not a chance,” he pecked his nose, making Jinki beamed into huge grin. He lowered his hand to Kibum’s ass and when he grabbed handful of the flesh, the latter voluntarily pressed himself closer to his side.

“You’re so beautiful, Jinki.”

“You’re more beautiful.”

“That I know.”

Jinki chuckled before he pulled Kibum’s chin closer to catch his lips, marking the bow lips as his, again and again.

“I want you to meet someone.”

“Who is that?”

“My daughter,” Kibum smiled nervously, and Jinki caressed his cheeks to ease his mind, letting him know that he’s completely find with the fact that Kibum is a father.

“I don’t know if you know this, but I sort of have met your girl before.”

“I know, she told me. And that brat never stops whining to me ever since she wanted to meet his Mr. Handsome Prince again. She even cut your face from that article in the magazine and put it on her wardrobe. I never imagined before that I need to compete with my own daughter.”

Jinki smiles remembered the sudden nickname he got after helping her with her yoghurt.

“If I need to confess, I was very worried before how you would still give me chance if your entire being already own by that little girl.”

“Well, that kid is already an obstacle in such a young age. I wonder what she would grow up into.”

“She already has your look, at the first place.”

“Even her mother complained she has no trace at all on her.”

They talked about Kibum and Soyu situation since their second date. Jinki’s very mature handling it all but Kibum still worried to death he brought more than burden to Jinki with his baggage. On the other hand, Jinki already came up clear with Kibum that even though they started everything slowly, he’d take every step seriously and wished he would try as hard as Jinki.

“Let her be, she still has a very long way to go.”

“You sure you never had kid before?”

“You think I’d be still chasing you if I already had a daughter?”

The shocking expressions on Kibum’s face giving a wave of laughter once again to Jinki. He’s one that hid his feeling very personal to himself, it’s still fascinating for him to see Kibum just put everything up on his face.

“Just kidding, Honey.. So, when do you want me to stop by your house?”

“Err, tomorrow?”

“Is nine too early for her?”

Kibum kissed him again excitedly, “She woke up at five and nags at me to make her pancake.”

It will be hard to explain to her about their relationship but Kibum wants to dismiss at least one of his worry by getting them familiar to each other first. What happened after, he’ll let the future Kibum deal with it.

“Ah. So she likes pancake? Then tell them her Handsome Prince will make her ones.”

“Stop making me jealous already,” Kibum pouted cutely and Jinki needs to control himself not to turn their position and ruined that mouth again.

“Do you want me to prove myself again?”

“Try.”

“Well, I know you’re tired, but can we have another one before we go for lunch?”

“Are you a machine or what? Trying to destroy my ass, huh?”

Truthfully, Kibum’s been waiting for those words came out his lips. But play hard to get once in a while won’t hurt.

“It’s because you kept me waiting for too long!”

“Why you kept bringing that up? I already admitted it was a mistake!”

“Because that stupid trick wasted my time. Wasted our time. I need to catch up the amount of sex we should have had if we hit it off right away.”

“God, Jinki!”

“What?!”

“You’re such a dork, you know that?”

“I don’t mind.. You like me anyway.”

“Jonghyun would complain once we exited that door.”

“Let’s just say this is me getting revenge. Hundred days I spent sleeping with my earphones plugged and woke up with the sore in both ears because Jonghyun and Minho were beyond what you can call loud.”

Kibum ducked his head and lapped Jinki’s collar bone painstakingly slow. When he raised his head up, a mischievous smirk spreads all over his face.

“So what are you waiting for?”

Jinki’s never been so aroused in such early morning.

***

“Mr. Handsome Prince!!!”

“Gwiboon be careful!”

She’s too excited she has no time to listen to her father and just ran to Jinki’s open arms. Once she’s in his reach, he wrapped her so tight and swept her from the ground.

Kibum secretly rubbing his back, afraid to upset the little girl if he just sprung and kissed him, “I thought today was supposed to be our date.”

That’s how they planned it one week ago. But the last minute, Jinki texted him to bring Gwiboon as well to join their lunch.

“This is a date,” Jinki whispered in between rambles the little girl kept making since the first second she saw him.

They headed to the table Jinki already reserved, this time as well, Gwiboon refused to sit next to Kibum as well and glued to Jinki. Even when the waiter came to take their order, she only listen to Jinki’s suggestion, completely ignore Kibum’s offer.

“Oh here we go again,” Kibum rolled his eyes but Gwiboon’s busy telling Jinki about how her week’s going, “Ya! Kim Gwiboon. Aren’t you too young to make me jealous? I’m your father!”

“I know, Daddy,” she spat her respond very fast before turned her head back to Jinki, “Nana said, I need to eat carrot but it tastes weird.”

“Look at you, the exact carbon copy of your Daddy.”

“That’s what Nana said!” she screeched enthusiastically , “What is carbon copy, anyway?”

“It means, you’re exactly like me, Honey.”

Her eyes rounded to a pair of crystal ball, “Really?! I looked like Daddy? I’m cool like Daddy?!”

“Gwiboon, Honey.. You’re waaayyy cooler and more beautiful than me.”

“Nooo, Daddy is more beautiful,” she turned into a ball of glee, eyes almost swallowed by her puffy cheeks.

“Now that I agree,” Jinki winked and pleased with the bashful smile arose on the other man’s face.

“So, Mr. Handsome Prince, why are we here today?”

Gwiboon folded her arms together in front of her buffed chest, “Daddy! That’s my nickname!”

“I can’t call him Mr. Handsome Prince?”

“No!”

“So what should I call him?”

“I don’t know.”

Jinki saw the gap for him to slide in, “Can Daddy call me ‘Honey’ then?”

Kibum almost choked to death, how dare he say such things? Quickly he wiped his mouth and glance to the little girl who’s now knitted her brows together and pursed her lips, put her best effort to concentrate as if it’s a sudden death question, not even aware that her father’s nervously waiting for the next thing spilled out from her mouth.

“Umm, okay, he can. As long as he’s not calling you Mr. Handsome Prince.”

Both men relieved in unison, however, Jinki hasn’t convinced yet. He’s about to ask further but their food came, he had to wait after the waiter the waiter finished serving all their order and left.

“Kim Gwiboon, do you know why we are here?” Jinki’s back to his initial talk.

“To eat lunch?” she answered innocently, leaving Kibum shaking his head, still amused with everything she managed to compose with that little copy of his own bow lips.

“Besides that?”

“Umm, no? Is it Mr. Handsome Prince birthday?”

“No, it’s not my birthday,” he fixed the uneven bangs on her forehead, “We have lunch today, because I need Gwiboon’s permission.”

“My permission?”

Questioning looks not only washed over her face, but also Kibum’s who’s totally clueless where this conversation heading to.

“Yes. I want to ask Gwiboon, can I be your Daddy’s boyfriend?”

Kibum doesn’t know where Jinki found such gut to bring this up. At the moment he’s torn to the idea of runaway and kick Jinki’s ball under the table. Strangely, Gwiboon doesn’t seem to be bothered at all. He hoped Jinki would turn his way so he could ask some explanation or at least moral support because the little girl might explode to the fact that he’s dating her idol.

Far from anyone expectation, she quietly scoped the cream pasta in front of her and nods slowly while savoring her lunch.

“Aren’t you already?”

Kibum’s eyes almost escaped his skull. His heart beats rapidly and he can feel blood rushing all over his head. Gwiboon continues telling some random stories on what happened to her during her stay at her grandmother’s house and about their puppies who’s getting smarter day by day, while eyes focusing on her favorite pasta dish, her little hand struggle to handle the weight of each strand of the fettuccine, but refused the help from Jinki, proving to the world once again that she’s the daughter of Kim Kibum.

Contented with the rhetorical question, Jinki’s finally lifted his head to Kibum who’s about to shoot hundreds curses and questions. Before he’s able to open his mouth, Jinki stretched his hand across the table, with the palm facing the air, inviting Kibum to reach it.

No need more words, he took one deep breath, and wrapped Jinki’s hand in his. Their eyes talking silently, making a beautiful melody only they could listen to.

To Kibum, out of all the times their eyes caught each other’s smile, Jinki beams the brightest today. His heart trembled once again, remind him to the first night their world clashed together. And with that, Kibum knows, he entrusted his heart in the right hand.

***

corrected a bit from the initial post in my AFF, typo wise only, so didn’t change anything. written in an alternate universe where people can love anyone they want and show it to the world as they pleased because love is beautiful. happy pride month! :)

[onkey-bedtime-stories]

Tremble (2/3)

WINTER

EQUINOX

***

“Of course I’ll pick you at the airport, Baby! I will be there with your favorite bunny doll, okay?” Kibum shifted in front of the stove, shakes the pan for a good few strokes, and open the fridge next to it, getting milk for Taemin who cannot stop complaining that people who served tea without the dairy liquid is just missing the world.

“The airport would be too far for them.. They will wait you at home, Daddy’s going to bring them to the pet shop the day before and buy new clothes for them to welcome you! Or, better yet, what if I’ll pick you and we go home, then the next day we can go together and shop for their outfit?”

“She’s coming?” Taemin asking silently which Kibum replied with a solid nod.

“They miss you too! Now, can you finish your breakfast and get me your Mom, please?” he snatched the blanket on the couch before sliding the glass door to the balcony, “Thank you! I love you too, Baby! See you soon!”

The expression on Kibum’s face changed immediately, by then nobody needs to tell Taemin that the phone on the other line’s already passed to Kibum’s ex-wife. Surprisingly, this time, they seemed argue less for the man already pacing back to the kitchen ten minutes later.

“What?”

“Nothing,” Taemin just shrugged and continue checking the pictures on his laptop he’s been assessing since an hour ago.

“You got five minutes before I’m going to shower and flush my patience away on the toilet bowl.”

“It’s really nothing. I just thought you finally able to control whatever is going on inside your pretty little head.”

As if he knew completely the direction where’s Taemin stir the conversation, Kibum munched another strawberry and toss the stem to his face.

“My daughter’s sharing the table with her. I don’t want that innocent soul tinted in such young age listening to her mother spilling all the good curses because we just cannot settle with an agreement.”

“If you wanted her to stay a kid little bit longer, you wouldn’t sit her at the living room three days before the court legalize your divorce paper and telling her that her parents selfishly cannot be together anymore.”

“Easy for you to throw some comments from the other side of the fence. It would be more selfish if we kept yelling on each other’s face every single time she woke up in the morning.”

“Just be prepared, there’s always slight possibility your kid grew up like me,” Kibum’s face turned sour when Taemin rolled out his words expression less, eyes not even looking to his talk opponent, “Though I’m still pretty sure it’s quite impossible. None of my parents had a heart like you.”

“Don’t be so bitter. If my kid became a very famous photographer by the age 28 and started traveling the world only to finally decided opening her own studio by the age 32, then I don’t mind at all.”

“See. This is why I wish one of my parents at least had ten percent of your decency. Maybe I could be famous since eight years earlier and didn’t need to drop out fucking law school at the first place.”

“Language, Lee Taemin,” Kibum dropped the dirty dishes to the sink, the clanking sound match really well with his stern voice, “My daughter is coming less than a week and I don’t want she learnt how to resent her life too soon by watching her Uncle Taemin talking to his laptop.”

“I’ll teach her how to pick a good man before she started grade school. She seemed smart enough the last time I met her.”

“Dude, over my dead body.”

***

Jonghyun woke up annoyed in the middle of the night. He tried to suppress the urgent feeling down to his south region but after ten minutes struggling and he couldn’t just go back to dose off again, he kicked his blanket and sit himself by the edge of the bed.

“This is why you shouldn’t drink too much tea before sleeping, Kim Jonghyun!”

Finished his deed, he just realized there’s too much noise in the living room, which is very unlikely in their house. Despite his heavy head, he spun his heels changing his directions. There he was, a very worn-out looking Lee Jinki, one hand fell of the couch while the other one still holding the remote control dearly. Jonghyun snatched the device carefully to end his misery and just go back to the dreamland.

Upon hearing more than snoring, Jonghyun stopped near the television. Sudden mischievous grin appeared on his face because he knew exactly what kind of groan is that. He tiptoed back to Jinki’s side and pulled his best effort to muffle his laughter.

As expected, there’s an evident tent formed on his friend’s front’s sweat pants. Another moan released from Jinki triggered the prankster inside Jonghyun. He stretched his hand to hovering the bulge and slowly rolled his palm on it.

“Ki—Kibuumm..”

“Hng?”

Jonghyun immediately retract his hand and observing the older man’s face. Sweat formed under his nose and on Jinki’s forehead whilst eyebrows knitted together below his bangs. Years knowing Jinki, never in his sleeps he mentioned someone’s name. Even when his best friend was still on his dating phase.

What makes him more curious, he never heard such name before. Jonghyun now sitting on the cold wooden floor, if it’s not creepy, kept watching Jinki writhing on his sleep. He tried to recall one by one all Jinki’s crushes, exes, or just acquaintances, and as far he remembered, none of them going by the name Kibum.

When his ass started to freeze, he slowly pushed himself to stand and sneaked inside Jinki’s room to grab a blanket. Covering Jinki’s limbs, Jonghyun giggles realizing how silly the situation is.

“This would be interesting in the morning.”

***

Jinki is busy dividing his attention between the chopping board full of berries and the waffle iron at the corner of the kitchen island. He tossed the minced fruit on a pan and added good amount of brown sugar before squeezed fresh lemon he just cut two minutes ago. His mouth cannot stop humming impromptu song he made up with the ingredients of today’s dinner recipe he needs to execute in less than twelve hours.

“Someone’s in a good mood this morning,” Jonghyun stepped out from his bedroom, Roo’s shaking her tail behind him.

The latter just shot him simple smile and continue to prepare the table for them. With one swift motion he snatched the berry sauce and placed in on the coaster and unloaded the waffles.

“One, two, or three?”

“Two. I’m starving, cannot wait until lunch.”

Jonghyun gulped the Jinki’s signature juice, mix of kiwi, kale, apple, cucumber, passion fruit, and honey, ready for him on his side of the table. Perks of being roommate with a chef, glowing skin and spoiled taste bud.

Jinki tapped Roo’s pillow to call her for her breakfast before joining Jonghyun. Once he comfortably sit, he took a big bite of his waffle, he finished the huge one on his third.

“Good Lord, I’m the one who starving but look, who’s the one acting like a beggar?”

“I need to go call Mr. Baek before lunch. He’s opening the auction for the new batch of black truffle. Gotta place the bid before everyone else.”

“The heck, it’s not even nine,” Jonghyun’s finger scroll down his phone when finally his mind remember the first thing he wanted to do the second he saw Jinki’s face, “Jinx.”

“Yes?”

“Who is Kibum?”

Jinki turned into fountain when he spurted the liquid inside his mouth, taken aback with Jonghyun’s question.

“Excuse me?”

“Since you’re suddenly became deaf, I guess something happened between you and this particular Kibum?”

“What? How?”

“Honey, last night you kept moaning his name I couldn’t just go back to my bed without stopping and calming down the tower under your pants.”

Piece of waffle stuck on his throat, blocking the air way, Jinki needs to hit his chest several times before Jonghyun took the clue and handed him glass of water.

“It was you who palming my crotch?!”

Jonghyun raised his hand on the air, not even feel bad with that fact, “So? Who is Kibum?”

“Eng.. Um, it’s no one.”

“Jinki, dear, I’m neither your husband nor your boyfriend. There’s no obligation to hide this man from me.”

“Because you’re neither my husband nor my boyfriend, I have no obligation to tell you who is he.”

“Sneaky as usual,” he continued cutting his waffle into smaller size, “Anyway, I’m glad you’re trying to be more personal with him. This is a progress.”

“He’s just a man I met during Taemin’s party.”

“Now he’s talking.”

Jinki’s hand almost slipped and threw his fork to Jonghyun’s plate, “No, we literally just met. Then we parted way.”

“Ha, I see. Someone didn’t get lucky. That’s why he’s being a teenager filling his nap with lewd dream.”

Seeing his best friend’s innocently devilish expression, Jinki can’t help but scoff. Sheer of pity fall upon himself, it’s already more than fifteen years after his last such a dream. How on earth he got caught off guard like that?

“It’s not like I purposely planned to dream fucking him against the kitchen counter in my restaurant.”

“Aw, kinky.”

Jinki tried so hard pretending he didn’t hear Jonghyun’s stupid comment, “I felt like in this Disney movie you always watched with Roo, you know, the clock strikes 12 and he just poof! Gone with the wind.”

Jonghyun hates it when Jinki started picking on his obsession with Disney movie, however, he decided to be better friend by actually giving him sensible advice, “Then why don’t you ask Taemin? He’s on the guest list. That guy is really picky on whom he took to his inner circle. Perhaps he can give you Kibum’s number! Whoaa.. aren’t I a genius or what?”

“You don’t need to tell me, I did that the next day I couldn’t get his face out of my mind. But this Kibum guy seemed already warn Taemin not to share the digits to me. Besides..”

“Besides what?”

“He told me we will meet on spring.”

“And spring is tomorrow, Baby.”

“Telling much about the wet dream scene you enjoyed last night.,” Jonghyun’s eyes got bigger than its usual size, approving the theory of lust Jinki just explained to him, “Are you done with that?”

Jinki is pointing his chin to the leftover before Jonghyun which the owner only nods, shoving the plate to the front so Jinki can collect it to clean.

“Yeah. Minho just texted me he wants to meet for lunch. Better not to fill my belly too much. Car sex doesn’t that appealing when I had food piled up until my chest.”

“You still meet that guy?” He dropped all the plates back to the table, face looks like someone who just got fired from his lifetime job.

Jonghyun’s dumbfounded by the I-don’t-believe-you-I-thought-you-were-smarter look on his best friend’s, “He’s my boyfriend, Jinki. D’oh!”

“Obnoxious rich, cold, selfish, busy boyfriend.”

Years passed by, and Jonghyun still didn’t get it why this still affect him that much, “Honey, I know he reminds us about someone. But not everyone like him would just turn into your high school sweetheart Lee Donghae.”

“Don’t you dare saying that name again, Kim Jonghyun.”

“Oh, please. Get over it,” Jonghyun pushed his chair back to scope Roo into his chest, “Yes, you were in love. Both of you were in love. But at the end, it’s not forever. Stop blaming the world, will you?”

Jinki’s not interested to the conversation anymore, he just turned his back to the fridge, stuffed the leftover inside and continued to clean the plates.

“I know you just worried about me, Baby. You don’t need to. Minho might seem like an aloof person, but he’s better than anyone I’ve ever known. And if this turned into disaster, you got the privilege to be the first one to kick his smug ass face.”

Jonghyun winked and kissed Jinki’s side, left him with his own thoughts.

***

“What?!” Taemin retracted the phone from his ear just to double check whether he punched in the correct number, “This is Lee Jinki, right? His phone is not stolen right?”

It’s Saturday night, the ultimate day off for Jinki. The chef refused to work on the first day of weekend because mostly the guests would be couple and they’d have ridiculous requests sometimes. Jinki just not made for that, but what can he do if it’s not his own restaurant? The owner’s already kind enough to let him slipped on the busiest day of the week.

It’s Saturday night, the ultimate day off for Jinki. Any other Saturday, he would wander around to the most hype club to chill or go for bar-hopping with some friends.

This brought Lee Taemin to an utter shock. Since the first time they encountered each other three years ago, Jinki never rejected invitation to have some drinks. Even when the other had a date or too tired from his work.

“It’s me, idiot.”

“You knocked your head somewhere? How on earth Lee Jinki’s not going out tonight?”

“I want to rest just for one night. It hurts but I’m so much older than you. I cannot just work like a horse the whole weeks and fuck around then still have the energy for clubbing on the weekend.”

“Did someone poison your breakfast or what? This doesn’t sound like you at all.”

Jinki laughed to the desperate voice on the other line, “I don’t recall the fact that I had any particular sound.”

“Come on, Jinki. I’m so bored! Jongin will only be back next week. Tonight is my last chance to have fun because my project started on Monday.”

“If you want, you can come to my house. Bring the wine and I’ll cook for you. Crowd’s not my preference at the moment.”

“Aish!” Taemin hates the idea but he hates the idea spending the night by himself even more, “What time I should come?”

“Seven or eight would be nice.”

“I’ll text you when I’m leaving my studio. By the way, where are you now?”

“Me? Supermarket.”

“Excuse me?! Give me back my friend! Where is Lee Jinki and what did you do to him?! Are you dating someone behind my back?!”

For Taemin, the goes-to-supermarket concept is a vivid indication of domestic relationship. And Jinki, as far he knew, stopped being domestic when his boyfriend for five years broke up with him to follow what his mother wanted, got married to the girl from other’s rich family in town, leaving Jinki behind with piles of trust issues.

“See you tonight, Lee Taemin. I’ll cook your favorite steak.”

***

“Cream. I need the cream.”

Jinki checked his cart to make sure he got everything before he returned home. He’s not familiar doing the groceries on a supermarket, especially the fancy one with food court like this. Being a chef drove him to the fresh market near the port to get the best seafood or traditional market where he retrieved specific spices. It’s often as well he needs to go directly to some farm for meat, dairy, or poultry, but he enjoyed it more than going to this kind of place.

“Ugh!!”

Jinki stopped for a while in front of the freezer when something blocked his way to take the cream he needs for his flan. A little girl almost climbed the lower part to reach something on the upper shelf.

“Hi, can I help you?”

The kid turned her head, one leg still hitched to the bottom part, and Jinki startled by the beauty laid in her eyes. And her lips. And the way she pouted. And the way she blinks. Almost everything on her reminds him of someone.

“I want the yoghurt.”

A very timid voice came from her mouth, brought him back to the earth after caught a little while in his nostalgia.

“Oh, I’ll get it for you,” Jinki patted her head then helped her to fix her dress, “Which one do you want?”

“One strawberry and one coffee, please.”

“Look how polite you are!” Jinki’s smile arose inevitably despite him still being in shock, later when he got two cups of yoghurt, he lowered himself so he can talk eye level with her, “Here you go. Where’s your parents?”

“Daddy’s waiting at the food court. He promised me I can get yoghurt for dessert.”

“You’re so smart and brave. Don’t get lost, okay?”

She nodded and gave Jinki the prettiest smile ever, “Thank you so much, Mr. Handsome Prince.”

Jinki beamed into another blinding sunshine for the new nickname he acquired just now. With her small feet, she ran to the food court’s direction. Jinki cannot take his eyes off of her until she reached the table when a man’s waiting with foods on the table, afraid that she might get lost as his concern. But seeing the side view of the said father, Jinki quickly dragged his cart to hide to the nearest isle.

“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”

He struggles to take out his phone and scrolled down to the number he needs to call right away.

“Pick it up, you idiot.”

“Yes?” the voice on the other line is almost dispirited when he’s greeting.

“Kim Jonghyun!!”

“Dude, can you chill a little bit? I still need my hearing for the upcoming decades.”

Jinki took a deep breathe to calm himself, “I saw him.”

“Him?” Jonghyun stopped for a while to remember anyone they’re talking about recently, “Oh! Him! So?! Did you catch up? How’s it so far?”

“So far.. so far I’m hiding on the breakfast isle behind the display of Easter chocolates.”

“What?! Are you fifteen?!”

“Stop it! I almost peed my pants over this self-embarrassment as well!”

“If you’re only gonna waste my time..”

“Is it a bad time?”

Jinki asked so carefully and Jonghyun had no heart to cut him off for these past ten years Jinki had been his shining armored knight whenever he faced some assholes along his love life.

“Well, Minho’s on the couch half naked but I will always have time for you, remember? Besides, he teased too much since this morning, now it’s my turn.”

Jinki cringed on the statement, “Thanks for the tiny detail information.”

“Nevermind. So? If I’m not mistaken, my calendar just told me it’s already three days after spring just started. Why don’t you say hello?”

“He said, he wanted me if he wanted me. That means he would meet me if only he wanted to meet me, not the contrary. You get it?!”

“Oh, come on! If you wanted him, you go there. Approach him, tell him what happened with you after you parted ways. If he’s interested since the first place, he would be more than gladly greet you back.   Stop being so obsessive over that oh-so-magical night.”

Jonghyun’s probably right. Jinki has some obsession towards that night, the night when someone promised him something to look forward. He was drown in lust, didn’t even think the possibilities that maybe, maybe, the other man is just like his previous nightmare, someone who’s very good in sugar-coating words, swaying his fragile heart in a steady wave, but then hit him with sudden storm when he realized they were just trying to sneak out because Jinki being obsessive on them with such a sappy dream of a happy ending story because at this point he just too exhausted to convinced himself that there would be another soul ready to continue walking on earth side by side with him.

“Jinki? Are you there?”

“Yes, I’m. You’re right. I’m just obsessed on certain stuff. Maybe Donghae left me before because I was obsessed with him as well. I forced him to do things he didn’t want to.”

“No, Jinki, no. He left because it’s him. He left because he’s such a coward who prefers money and heritance over his love. Honey, forget what I’ve said earlier. You surely like him, and don’t forget that this is the first time in forever you’re being like this. And he seemed reciprocated the other night. Go, confront him, ask, if you must. If his answer is not what you’ve expected, then leave. Don’t waste your heart. What I meant before is you gotta take every chance.”

“What kind of chance I got here? He’s a divorced man, and by that I should’ve already crossed my bucket list of meeting someone that I can start a family with. And his daughter. His daughter, Kim Jonghyun, she’s such a sweetheart. The look on his face while looking at her, it was pure love. How on earth he would leave something so beautiful like that for an idiot like me?”

“He’s with his kid?”

“Yeah.”

There’s a long paused between them. Although the conversation doesn’t seem like it’s going somewhere, neither of them willing to hang up first.

“Anyway. It is what it is. Let’s just wait a little bit longer. Three months is not that bad. When it’s summer and he doesn’t show up, then it’s not for me, right, Jong?”

“Ugh, yeah,” Jonghyun bite his lower lips. His best friend tried to be optimistic but he failed to cover the fact he’s already giving up in his tone, “Do you want me to stay with you tonight?”

“Nah.. I’m okay. A bottle of wine will do.”

“Are you sure?”

“Course.. I have Taemin coming over. No worries. Sorry I kinda ruin your date.”

Jinki lazily strolled to the check-out counter, mentally kicked his shin on the way. He should have stayed with his routine to go far south for groceries.

***

Kibum’s eyes locked to his tablet, studying the presentation of some duplex he needs to sell in the next two months. Working in the marketing field for more than four years doesn’t make any project less challenging day by day. The competition is too wild and he got a high target to fulfill. Stressful of course, but the sight of a happy kid bounced on her feet is the only thing he holds on to at the moment.

He glanced once in a while to his little girl at the living room who’s immersed with bunch of magazine and books to entertain herself while her father is busy making some money.

“Honey, you want your coco now?”

“Yes, Daddy!”

Her chirpy voice lifted all the stiffness all over his muscle. If only she’ll stay here forever. Maybe I should talk again with Soyu? So she can just start the elementary school here with him? I can search for the international one!

“Don’t forget the marshmallow!”

Kibum chuckles to the instruction, “I won’t, Honey.”

And Gwiboon started humming random song while flipping pages in front of her. Comme Des and Garcons are sleeping peacefully at the end of the couch.

“Oh, look! Mr. Handsome Prince!”

Kibum doesn’t recall the name, at all. Out of all the books he read for her, no one came to the story with that name. The closest one is the Prince Charming. But it’s definitely not that she meant, because she kept chanting the exact words, Mr. Handsome Prince.

“Daddy! This is Mr. Handsome Prince! He’s here.”

He walks closer with Toy’s Story cup on his hand which the girl excitedly to take it from him, “Careful, it’s hot. Who is Mr. Handsome Prince?”

“Hiff hew, Dwdy! Hiww~~”

“What did I say about speaking only when you have nothing to chew in your mouth?”

She wiped her pouty mouth with the back of her small hand and slapping a magazine in front of them.

“Look! Mr. Handsome Prince! Why he’s not wearing the cape? Where’s his crown?”

And Kibum nearly gagged by the face printed on the page. The headline said, ‘Lee Jinki: The Chef who Melts Not Only Butter, But Also Your Heart’. As cheesy as it can be, he’s quite glad he randomly picked that magazine when he was paying his lunch.

He scanned the article very quickly and found out that the said man give up the dream to become a pilot because his astigmatism but found another passion in the kitchen.

“Ah, so he works at Omakase.”

“What is Omakase, Daddy?”

“It’s a restaurant, Boonie.”

“Restaurant? Mr. Handsome Prince has a restaurant?”

“He works at a restaurant, he’s a chef. What’s with this Mr. Handsome Prince you’re talking about?”

“Because he’s handsome like a prince! Isn’t he Daddy?!”

The innocent statement from the 5 years old kid hit him hard on the head. Everyone would agree that he’s very good looking. And everyone single ladies and gentlemen out there would throw themselves on him without double think.

He abruptly remembers he threatened Taemin to not give him his number just because he wasn’t sure about his heart. Jinki’s exterior that night was indeed too fancy, too flamboyant and portraying someone who’s about to toy your heart once in a while. But not with his eyes. Those pair of orbs were reflecting his own scar, his own fear. Though it started pretty rough, his words before Kibum left him sit alone under the moonlight were full of sincerity.

“Yeah, he’s very handsome.”

“I wish I can see him again.”

“Again?”

“Umm,” she nods frantically, eyes almost doubled in size, “Last week when we went to shop, I met him. He helped me with the yoghurt. He’s so handsome. And kind. I want to be his princess, Daddy!”

“He was what?”

The little girl learnt from the best, she rolled her eyes in disbelief and the scenes cracked him on the spot.

“He was helping me at the supermarket. His eyes, Daddy, they’re so beautiful when he smiled!”

“Look at you, making your Daddy jealous at such young age!”

She giggles and clasped her short arms across Kibum’s belly, “Don’t worry, I love Daddy more!”

Two minutes ago, Kibum was so disappointed that he couldn’t see Jinki even when they’re at the same place. As if the universe conspired to part them away. But learning the fact he met his daughter instead – and how Gwiboon’s now head over heels on this Mr. Handsome Prince – he couldn’t be more content.

One of the reasons Kibum was holding himself is her. Gwiboon is his everything, his priority and she is Kibum’s whole life. She grew up way more matured than she’s supposed to be because of their decision to get divorce. It’s not fair if he pushed her to understand that her Daddy is involved romantically with someone else this soon. Let alone, the fact that he’s a man, a very handsome man who took his breath away with just being himself.

However tonight, the door is finally opened. He doesn’t need to knock. And the thought of his one and only daughter who led him to pass the door is beyond his imagination. Kibum is overwhelmed, the happy kind of overwhelmed.     

“Then, Boonie. Do you want to meet Mr. Handsome Prince again?”

*** 

lil typos edit from the one i already posted in my AFF. thanks for reading, peeps! xoxo

[onkey-bedtime-stories]

Tremble (1/3)

WINTER

***

Taemin : Are u going to show up tomorrow?

Jinki  : Still think about it

Jinki  : The restaurant closed around 10

Taemin : Come on! U hv two sous chefs!

Taemin : Let them work :P

Jinki  : Dude, it’s not a restaurant without the head chef around

Taemin : But what’s the point of hiring them if you cannot gain some free time?

Taemin : Come on, Jinki.. U know tomorrow night is important to me

Jinki  : I know, that’s why I said I’m still thinking about it

Taemin : You won’t regret it

Taemin : I have lots of good looking friends on my guest list

Taemin : #wink

Jinki  : I can get laid by myself

Jinki  : I even have invitations already waiting for me until the weekend

Jinki  : And it’s only Wednesday

Taemin : Show off

Jinki  : Sometimes drastic measures are needed

Taemin : Okay, just consider it

Taemin : Not because I have people with good asses coming to the party

Taemin : It’s because you’re my friend and this is important

Jinki  : I know

Jinki  : Text me the address anyway

Jinki  : Just in case I can sneak out one hour earlier

Taemin : Cool! I’ll send the e-invitation to ur email

Taemin : The party starts by 9

Taemin : C U tomorrow! :)

“Aren’t you too old for that?”

Kibum came back to their table with two cups of coffees. He handed one cup to Taemin and sipped what’s inside his before flopped to the grey couch at the corner of the cafe, continued to read the book from where he left it.

“What? Texting?”

“Hmmm,” his eyes aren’t leaving the page opened before him.

“This is what you’ve called networking. You need to keep up with today’s trend to be able staying at the top of society.”

He finally lifted his head to meet Taemin’s eyes, “Drink your coffee. I think you’re not getting over your last night hangover.”

“Ha. Neat,” he put his phone aside, “You’re coming tomorrow, right?”

“You mean your party?”

“What else?”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. There would be lots of important people coming over.”

“I should have been insulted with your statement that makes me and my achievement less important but I guess you’re right, I still have the headache from last night I refused to have any quarrel with anyone.”

“Honey, you can stick with your phone and all those youngster hype, but this is what I called networking. Don’t be too sad, I still love you.”

“Whatever. Dress up nicely.”

“You seriously doubt my wardrobe taste?”

“There’s someone I want you to meet. He might looks like a careless person, but when he stepped on any party, he’s not a joke.”

Kibum raised his torn eyebrow when the words finally hit him, “He?”

Taemin chuckles across the table, “Well, after your recent divorce, I don’t think you want to hang around someone who has more than one X chromosome in their DNA. So?”

“So what?”

“Are you interested?”

“I don’t know.”

It’s not like Kibum wanted to solitude himself from all the females as resentment of the separation with his ex-wife. Since he knew what love is back in the first year of high school, he’s open to anyone for he believes gender determined what kind of good heart people has for him. He just needs the time for himself in general, after five years he spent together with her seemed like vanished in vain because both of them cannot handle each other ego during their three years of marriage.

“It’s about time to open your heart again, no?”

“After only six months? Are you being sober now?”

“Easy there, Tiger. I’m just thinking you blamed yourself enough for something that’s already broken more than one year ago. No offense. And don’t give me that look,” Kibum pulls the best effort not to roll his eyes, “I’m not telling you to get married again, Kim Kibum. You just need to start living.”

“Am I dead already for you or what?”

“Yes. You might be here and there trying to put on the pretty mask but you’re just so dead inside. How long we’ve known each other, really? That doesn’t work for me.”

“Lecturing me doesn’t get us anywhere. Moving on it’s not that easy.”

“I know. But moving forward is doable and that’s what you should do right now.”

Kibum leaned closer to recheck whether he’s been talking with the same Lee Taemin he knew since college, “You really are still drunk, aren’t you? Since when you had those fancy words came out your filthy mouth?”

“Internet does crazy stuff on you, you don’t know that?”

Kibum scoffed and grabbed his book back though his mind is not here to continue the story line anymore.

***

Lee Jinki is not a fan of a crowd actually, unless with some alcohol involved and the plan of fooling around entailed. Still, crowd gives him freedom, to mind his own business, to decide what’s to care about and what’s not.

Since a week ago, Taemin had been pestering him to stop by his party for the opening of his new studio. Being a famous photographer, he had the needs to make the night unforgettable. Besides, the younger man had been talking about how cool and perfect his new place is.

In the ocean of stranger like this, he regrets arrived there sober.   

“Lee Jinki!!”

A bright lean man screamed from near what supposed to be the main stage. Jinki waved his hand toward him but isn’t planning to greet him yet, instead he walked closer to the buffet table near the entrance and snatched a glass of prosecco. He nods to the choice of the liquor.

“Look at you! Who said he’s not coming but dressed up like one of my model?”

“This?” he assessed himself right away, black silk shirt under the same color leather jacket matched with pair of maroon pants and white Reebok classic on both his feet, “This is nothing.”

“Bullshit. You definitely rushed home, took shower, and picked your wardrobe carefully.”

“Well, aren’t you glad I finally made it?”

“Apart of I’m quite happy about it, I was pretty sure you’re coming. Lee Jinki refusing party invitation? That only happened two years ago.”

“Shut up!” he put the empty glass back and grabbed two more, one he handed to Taemin’s hand, “Congratulation, Mr. Photographer. New studio, new adventures ahead!”

The clink sounds of the two glass meeting on the air submerged by the loud longue music from the DJ at the right corner of the stage. As usual, Jinki finished his drink in one shot, leaving Taemin shaking his head to the habit.

“In this rate, you’ll get drunk before I did my speech.”

Jinki shrugged and took another glass, “Had a rough day at the restaurant. A couple kept sending back the food to the kitchen with some ridiculous reason. I needed to drag my butt out of the back house to greet them personally.”

“Is that the reason you left early?”

“You can say that. Or more like I don’t like the thought of me missing free flow in the middle of the boring week,” he winked and Taemin only snickered, “So, what did I miss?”

“Nothing, besides the mini tour I gave to the potential important client. And simple exhibition of my previous works.”

“Knowing that I won’t be your client in any future soon and I visited one of your exhibitions before, then I can continue wandering around looking for some goodies,” Jinki raised his fourth glass now already.

“Ah, speaking about the goodies. I need to introduce you to someone.”

“Your new boyfriend?”

“I don’t date anymore, Honey.”

“Ah, I forgot you’re now the exclusive mistress of that famous dancer Kim Jongin.”

“Stop saying some gibberish, this one is a present for you because you actually made an effort to give your time to me.”

“I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

“You always said that whenever I have a lover candidate for you.”

“Because it always ended up in a mess!”

“Did not!”

Jinki gulped down his sixth glass, “Did not? The last one you brought to me, four out of five times had cried whenever I led him to the bedroom. The one before that guy, already became someone’s else wife. Which one of them that wasn’t a disaster for you?”

“Okay.. okay, I made some mistakes. Who am I to lie to you? I haven’t figured it out how to find a right man for my own.”

“Then why don’t you take this one?”

“He’s a close friend of mine! Besides, he got your favorite!”

“My favorite?”

“Yeah. Perfect pair of bow lips.”

“Prettier than that one?” Jinki put down his seventh glass while pointing across the room with his chin.

Following the direction, Taemin spun quickly just to find Kibum talking to a group of women which he presumed as new acquaintances he acquired tonight judged from the way Kibum’s standing. One and other time, he glances to the place where Taemin and Jinki are standing as if their presence is a huge distraction to the conversation he engaged with the new friends he made.

Taemin returned back to Jinki which his eyes now pass through his skull to have a better look on the guy with the cashmere turtle neck with the twinkling feline eyes. A smirk appeared immediately on Taemin’s face.

***

Kibum found it hard to continue engaged on the conversation he’s in since the sight of a man who looks like Apollo descendant intruded his vision. That guy looks so out of place but at the same time, giving the vibe that he’s born for the event like this. He doesn’t look threatening, however, those eyes, once struck with Kibum’s and he choked on the wine he’s been nursing since half an hour ago, making him spilled some of the liquid to his chest.

He thanked the universe he left the house with the black top instead any other color.

Though he’s definitely not one of the models Taemin has worked with before, the quality of this man’s look can easily passed for one. There’s something about him that hooked Kibum since the very beginning, forgetting what he convinced himself earlier to make tonight only for business purpose and stay around that circle. His initial plan ruined easily when he caught himself glancing more than three times in the span of ten minutes.

“Ah, really? That would be great. Here’s my name card. Contact me whenever you want,” he took out some card from his wallet, “Now if you excuse me, I need to go to the restroom.”

And with that, Kibum retreated himself from the crowd to calm himself. Once he reached the sink, he splashed some water to his face. Kibum slapped his cheeks several times, this is not happening.

He’s not seventeen anymore. But the drum rolled banging inside his chest is telling him the contrary. Having stupid crush is not his type of playground anymore. After some serious relationships ended up in not so nice break ups back in college and one failed marriage, he thought he would be more cautious and even became numb to this kind of feeling. Maybe it’s just the lust. And the neediness started build up in him after one year absence of attention. Yeah, maybe that’s the reason. Get a grip, Kim Kibum.

After spending what have been like forever in the bathroom stall, Kibum thought it would be safe for him to get out and mingle again. He’s searching for Taemin right away, secretly hoping the man with the maroon slack still tagging around. Nevertheless, Taemin seems unlikely to be found within the crowd. He kept looking to his muse, because there’s usually he would stand and explain some of his works, but those models are scattered here and there and no one has Taemin on their arms.

“Where the heck is this ungrateful kid?”

“You like what you saw?”

A deep soothing voice from his side startled him to after life if it’s not to death. He cocked his head to the source of force driven him crazy only by the sound, Kibum stepped back instinctively once he realized their distance is closer than he calculated back in his hazy mind.

“Earlier. Don’t tell me you’re not looking to my direction.”

“Wow. Such amount of confident,” Kibum snickered whilst inside he’s flipped upside down.

“Well, to begin with, I wouldn’t be this confident if I didn’t catch a beautiful human being like you giving me those intrigued glances every two minutes.”

“Oh, how smooth. How many glasses did you take to be this gallant?”

“So you did look at me.”

Jinki chuckles and when he caught Kibum just an inch before flustered as if someone found out his biggest secret.

“It’s a best friend instinct. When a very threatening man with this all manipulative vibe hanging around your best friend, you cannot just stand still and act as if nothing happened. I don’t want something bad happened with Taemin.”

Jinki closed their distance a little bit, aiming his mouth dangerously to Kibum’s ear, puffing hot breathe that turning Kibum’s whole body into stupid giddy sensation.

“Oh really? What about you, then? Want something bad happened to you?”

Usually, Kibum is not in favor of including himself in any conversation buttered all over with innuendo. But this man, changed every single thing he believed in less than five minutes. Especially when he can still feel him huffing on his neck though it’s wrapped completely under the fabric of his knitwear.

“I guess you took more than five. This one is so much better than your first defense.”

“Seven to be exact.”

“You better take care of yourself, Dear Stranger, the party just started and knowing Taemin for years, this is nothing but a teaser.”

Jinki doesn’t wait any clue to press his hip to Kibum’s side, “Why don’t you help me to take care myself? Or do I interrupt you?”

Kibum observed the face of the man next to him, he looks so beautiful even under the poor light, “You must have taken a time-management class very diligently.”

He poked Jinki’s nose quickly, both cannot deny the spark in such limited touch.

“Just being efficient, I don’t see the point to waste limited time for unimportant business.”

“What’s exactly unimportant business here?”

“Working on my uncooperative brain at the moment to arrange some words together trying to get into your pants while I’m pretty much sure it’s going to happen anyway without such futile effort.”

Jinki ducked his head to fix his hair. Little did Kibum know, he tried to hide his eyes while observing the latter’s reaction.

Kibum just beamed into wide smile, still doesn’t believe on what he just heard, “Aren’t you one of a kind with fancy mouth?”

“How about you can tell yourself once you get a taste on that?”

“Interesting.”

“You think so?”

Jinki kept staring intensely to Kibum. After the cute little dimples adorned the corner of his mouth a while ago, Jinki found it so hard to stay away from his flawless face.

“Sort of. Never in my life had I heard this kind of lame pick-up lines,” Kibum scoffed to control his grogginess.

“Well, someone gotta take the chance to try that out. Up until now, the success rate is still 50-50.”

“You tried this before?” Kibum’s almost shrieked toward the fact, “Who’s this poor soul that had to endure this kind of torture?”

“In front of you,” Kibum’s face turned into a mixture of disbelief and amusement, “This guy was such a talker and he got me under his skin in no time.”

“Wow. Tell me who talked about exes during their first encounter.”

“No one. But you’re beyond what people around me would describe as a perfect human being.”

“Looks like you picked up a lot from him.”

Jinki laughed, pinching his eyes into a perfect crescent, Kibum needs to brush off the urge to cup his face right away, “Let’s just say I’m a fast learner.”

“That’s actually good to put in your curriculum vitae.”

“I didn’t know this require such an application.”

“Oh, I usually don’t,” Kibum’s head fell to the back a little bit while he massaged his neck, “I did that only for the strong candidates.”

“Interesting.”

“Aren’t I always?”

“I don’t have opinion about that since I only saw you,” Jinki wriggling his wrist to check the time, “For about an hour so far.”

“Then we need to get to know each other more.”

The smirks curved on Kibum’s bow lips sent chills down Jinki’s spine. He slipped his hand on the other waist and rested it there after Kibum doesn’t make any protective gesture.

“So, here’s the thing. Who am I talking with this past fifteen minutes?”

“You may call him Kibum.”

“Ah, Kibum,” his voice ghosting above his cheek, “I like the way I rolled that name. But I can do more with my tongue, just so you know.”

“Is that an invitation Sir…”

“Jinki. I go by Jinki.”

Kibum arched his back slightly, purposely stretched his neck too much just so his milky skin peeked behind the cashmere, “Is that an invitation Sir Jinki?”

“If you said so, Dear..”

“Then I know somewhere perfect to get to know each other better.”

“Do you even know this place?”

For Jinki, Taemin’s new studio just looked like an old barn with stone, woods, and glasses for the aesthetic purpose. He has no idea actually, it’s the first time he hang out to such place besides his house, his kitchen, and bars.

“Oh, please. I sold this place to Taemin two months ago.”

***

Kibum didn’t know for sure what brought him here. Maybe the lust, maybe the lack of affection he experienced since his separation, or the needs of attention he craved during his sabbatical period. But since he closed the door of that main hall to the small green house at the back of the building, he couldn’t keep his hand for himself.

The other man of course didn’t help at all since what he’d been doing is basically groping Kibum’s pert globes or nuzzling to his side or mapping the hidden surface along his spine.

Anyway, like Kibum minds at all.

Once they sat at the wooden bench placed against the cold stone wall – Kibum basically thanked himself for suggesting Taemin’s interior designer to put some cushion on it – Jinki attacked those inviting cupid lips without further ado. Kibum’s giggles suppressed back to the down of his throat, he’s unable to laugh at his pathetic desire for Jinki’s velvety mouth melted his entire defense mechanism. He just naturally opened his mouth slightly wider when Jinki surprisingly carefully prodded its surface with his tongue.

“Hmmphh,” Kibum hissed in between heated domination battle, “You indeed have particular skill with your tongue.”

Jinki pulled back a little bit just to give him some space to nip at Kibum’s lower lips, “This is not even 50% of my capability, Sweetheart.”

Kibum yelped inaudibly when strong arms brought him settled on Jinki’s lap. The moonlight fell right on Jinki’s face from the glass roof, giving it mesmerizing picturesque shades. Kibum cupped his cheeks and devour what he left before. Jinki’s hand traveling haphazardly on Kibum’s back, and ended up grabbing handful of his ass leaving him squealing.

Again, like Kibum minds at all.

“Shit,” Jinki cussed when Kibum started going south and nibble on his exposed neck. The man lapping here and there, occasionally stopped a little bit longer to suck at his Adam’s apple, sending his soul ascending to heaven.

“Ah!” a perfect mixture of groan and moan slipped out Kibum’s mouth when Jinki rolled his hips against him. The sounds excited Jinki to move more erratically to satisfy both restrained needs. As if they’re dancing partner for years already, Kibum acknowledge the pace and started grinding back.

“Ugh, Kibum..”

The said man just arched his back and brought Jinki’s to his chest. Jinki secured both his hands to Kibum’s slender waist and inhales deeply of the other man’s scent. They were like pieces of puzzles finally clicked to each other, after wait for too long in such desperation.

Kibum detached themselves for a moment to look at Jinki’s eyes, pretty eyes that reflects his own craving, pretty eyes that drown him since the very second he drop his gaze on it. Jinki never found himself fascinated this much among his one night stands life. He realized Kibum is something when he doesn’t only want to suck every single inch of skin beneath the clothes but also handling it with care as if he’s the most precious and fragile ancient Egypt treasure.

Jinki about to lean further to capture Kibum’s lips but the hands on both sides of his cheeks restrain him to do so.

“I cannot do this.”

“Why?” even if he doesn’t have a mirror before him, Jinki can definitely see the frown fell upon his own face, “You don’t want this as much as I do?”

Kibum shakes his head again before rested his forehead to Jinki, “No, no, you’re beautiful, Jinki. So beautiful I couldn’t believe myself that this is real. But I’m not supposed to do this to you. It’s not fair.”

“Not fair?” Jinki asked again, suddenly terrified by the reality he’s about to face, “You have a boyfriend already? Girlfriend?”

Kibum pecked his nose slowly before flashing his hand above his eyes. Something cracked inside his chest when Jinki saw the silver band on his ring finger.

“You’re married.”

“It’s been only six months after a horrible divorce.”

“So? What’s holding you up?”

“You don’t get it, do you?”

Jinki rolled his eyes before stating the matter of fact here, “I’m single and you’re a widow. Whom are we going to hurt here?”

“You, Jinki. You. As much as I want you to continue what you’re doing down there,” both of them looking to the point where their crotch glued to each other, “Yes, the way your little prince been nudging my ass frantically had been driving me crazy I wanted to ruin your expensive silk shirt and suck your collar bones for the rest of the night, believe me. I just don’t want this to only because I’m sexually deprived.”

“So what do you want?”

Jinki is not the type who compromised during heated hour like this. But strangely, for Kibum, he’s willing to do it at least for once.

“I want you when I want you. Not when I need a release.”

Kibum removed himself from Jinki’s laps, he couldn’t help to chuckle when he notice the obvious bulge on the other’s southern region. He fixed his hair and adjusted the belt that slightly uneven after some battles of friction. Jinki looks disappointed at some point, but Kibum somehow know he’s not mad with the decision.

“A correction. The prince is not that little, if you know what I mean.”

Kibum let out wholeheartedly laughter and kissed Jinki slow and warm on the cheek, inhaling Jinki as much as possible.

“Of course I know what you mean. Or should I say, I felt?”

It’s Jinki turn to laugh this time, the way it sounds sent Kibum’s hand directly to his bangs and ruffles it messy.

“Now if you allow me, I need to go home and call my kid. It’s around the time she finished her school.”

Wow, a man with a baggage, Jinki sudden thought. But at least he admit Kibum’s a man of courage to go this far, unlike this ex-boyfriend he had that just a lump full of cowardliness. That makes Kibum more than his other flings. He might be too soon to fall, but he doesn’t care because Kibum seemed worth to fight for.

“When will I see you again?”

Kibum stopped by the threshold of the green house’s door. He turned his head and sincerely smiled to the stunned Jinki who sit alone by the bench.

“Spring. I’ll see you again on spring.”

Jinki smile to himself and scratch the back of his head that is not itchy at all.

“Spring is good.”

***

I wrote this on my AFF a while ago. Since I’m not going to write again until I finish my thesis and graduated, hopefully by September or October - finger-crossed, I thought it would be nice to cross-post it here. So, yeah. I appreciate all the support you all gave me up to now. Until I see you again, please be happy and be healthy :)