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maiakana · 5 years

Text

piece of heaven, part two ❃ seo changbin

genre: angst, slight fluff at the end,

word count: 3078

pairing: reader x seo changbing

description: four years is a lot of time for things to happen. Will your relationship handle it all?

(inspired on the song CIGARETTE by OFFONOFF: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AamatUtxev4)

tag: @backtonormalthings

You worked pretty much all of the time you weren’t in school. But this time, you worked with a smile on your face. You had set working hours, so after 6PM you could go out with your boyfriend and get proper sleep. You were in college now, almost done with the process of ‘growing up’ and ‘finding your true self’ in those systematic educational institutes, and already started on the professional world that awaited for you so patiently.

After that one night in the boys studio, it was so clear to you; what you wanted to do with the rest of your free time, and who you wanted right by your side as you ventured this unknown territory. Cigarette ended up not being used as a song in the debut album, as the boys predicted it would, but actually sold to another artist, and that was your first step into adulthood. Once the song hit the charts, Changbin’s company recruited you to be a producer trainee. For two years–your two first years of college– you worked hard, meeting demands and deadlines, producing one song after the other, and although you excelled at that, there was nothing you loved more than sitting down around that one familiar glass table, in a tiny room, with three of your favorite boys; Changbin, Chan, and Felix. Just like you were now.

“Y/N,” Chan whined. “I’m tired.”

“That’s cause you don’t sleep,” You chuckle. “But go ahead to the dorms and I’ll finish up here.”

“I’ll stay with you,” Changbin said smiling.

In four years, a lot happened. Firs you were recruited. Then, after the company president deemed your skills perfect, you were officially hired as a worker. While all of that happened, your relationship with the boys bloomed. Chan and Woojin became older brothers to you; always worried and ready to listen, those two made sure that you were staying healthy and well rested. Minho, Seungmin, and Felix were your best friends; you guys laughed together, and caused trouble together. Hyunjin, Jeongin, and Jisung turned out to be your adored dongsaengs; you’d protect them from any harm, and you were sure they’d return the favor. And finally Changbin… well, Changbin was now your boyfriend of four years.

After that night at the studio, it all happened in a flash, and soon you were both sitting facing his manager, asking permission to date. The condition was that, because the boys signed the dating ban contract, they couldn’t date for one year after their debut, but after that, you two were free to publicly announce your relationship. The boys were so close to the debut at that time that you made sure to work double just so you could speed up the process. The faster they debut, you thought. The faster the one year goes by. And you weren’t wrong. With you training at the company, and him promoting his album, one year went by as if it was one month. Now, it’s three years after that. Three years of happiness, and misunderstandings, and fights, and make up dinners at the balcony of his dorm.

You smiled, remembering all of those good times– the bad ones, too– and reach forward for his hand. He is in the middle of writing a verse when you grab his other hand.

“What?” He mumbles with a hint of smile.

“I love you.” You say and watch as your favorite thing happens: he blushes.

“I love you too,” He says and puts the pen down. “Now where is this coming from?”

You shrug. “Just wanted to let you know.”

“Oh, I know,” He chuckles walking towards you. Leaning down, he gives you a kiss. “I know, love.”

“Good.” You whisper.

“What’s going on in that head of your, Y/N?” Changbin asks crouching down in front of your chair, holding your hands. “You have this one look one your face…”

“We’re growing up, Binnie.” You say. “And that worries me a lot. I’m almost done with college, you’re winning prizes already… what will be of us in a few years?”

This thought had been haunting you for a while now. You saw each other a lot because of work, but you knew that soon he’d have to go on tour again, and that you’d be assigned a new group to work with while they are away. You’d grow to different directions. And there was also the question of your grandparents. Your grandfather hasn’t been well as of lately and you worried about him constantly. You weren’t ready to grow like that; not yet.

“Y/N,” He sighs. “We’ll be fine. Remember? We made a promise; I will be your light. I will shine you bright. We’re here for each other, good or bad, yeah?”

And you nod, hugging your boyfriend, because this is how you wanted to stay.

———————————

The months pass like they mean nothing; and soon you are graduating. Everyone is there, which causes a big ruckus of selfies and autographs, for both your boyfriend and the boys and your grandfather. You guys go out for dinner and drinks and celebrate your initiation into the full-time job life.

Another month passes by and you and Changbin have a huge fight. As you finally had the time to fully dedicate yourself to your job, your name grew quite big in the music industry, resulting on unwanted attention from the media. The fight is about a rumor of you switching companies to work with another boy group. It’s stupid but both of you are hurt and Chan has to intervene; he tells you to go home and sleep it off, and promises to make Changbin call the next day. He doesn’t call for three days and you feel like that was the end. It wasn’t and you both are incredibly proud of the way you overcame that together.

Time goes by just like that; with things happening and things happening over those other things, and you wonder if growing up is just like that; a bunch of things happening all at once and you have to chose which one you will pay attention to.

It’s winter now, and Changbin and the boys are touring. You miss him while you snuggle in the bed, holding his pillow. The boys always asked you to take care of the dorm while they are away, which meant you slept in Changbin’s bed for about three months a year. It was heart shattering to have him gone, but you were so proud and happy for him that the hurt was barely felt.

You are in the middle of a season finally when the FaceTime window pops. You quickly fix your hair, pushes your glasses up your nose bridge, and smile.

“Hey,” You say, hugging the blanket closer to you.

“Hey,” He says back, teary eyes. He is smiling, but as his eyes whine with unshed tears, you can’t help but sigh.

“Changbin…,” You mumble, hand touching his face on the screen. “Are you okay?”

“I miss you.” He laughs. “I miss you so fucking much, Y/N. It’s crazy.”

“I miss you too, my love,” You smile a sad smile. “But it’s just for two more weeks, yeah?”

“It’s still too much,” He whispers. “Too much.”

“It is,” You agree. “But we got this. We got this, Binnie. I’m waiting for you with hugs and kisses, and when you get back we’ll both get off days to just cuddle and sleep, yeah?”

“I can’t wait for that,” He smiles, tears gone and a hopeful glint shines on his eyes. “You’ll wait for me, right?”

“If I didn’t then I’d just be stupid.” You snort, making his laugh. This is all I want, you think, relieved. Him laughing and happy.

You listen to him as he tells you about the concert they just played. The venue, the crowd, the vibe; but your attention is stollen as your phone starts vibrating. You ask your boyfriend for a second and picks it up, thinking that if someone is calling you this late, it must be important.

“Hello?”

“Hello, is this Y/G/N guardian?” The voice asks on the other side and your blood goes cold.

“Yes, who is this?” You ask, feeling as if you could throw up at any moment now.

“I’m a nurse at the Center Hospital, can I ask your relation to the patient?”

“Patient?!” You gasp, eyes widening. “I’m his granddaughter. Is he okay?”

“Ma’am, your grandfather just suffered from a cardiac arrest but we’ve managed to get to him in time and now he is resting. Would it be possible for you to come down here? We have somethings we want to discuss with you.”

Forgetting all about Changbin on the other side of the screen, you shut the laptop and run to the door with only one thought in mind.

Please let him be okay.

He was not okay. You cried as you held your grandfather’s hand. His face was pale and there were tubes everywhere; you’ve never seen his this fragile before, and it broke your heart to know he had been in pain. Your grandmother was in the waiting room, allowing you to have some privacy.

“Grandpa,” You whispered, trying to control yourself. “You can’t leave me yet. I’m not ready to be on my own, and neither is Grandma. It won’t be the same without you…”

“Don’t say that, Y/N,” You hear your grandpa’s hoarse voice. You look at him, raising your head from where it laid next to your joined hands, and saw him frowning. “You’re not alone.”

“I know,” You say feeling guilty. “Grandma is still here.”

“I’m not talking about your grandmother, dear,” He smiles. “Your boy, Seo Changbin. He will take care of you after we’re gone. He promised me he would.”

This was news to you; you never knew they talked about this before.

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve gave him my blessing,” Your grandpa says, smiling. “I gave him my piece of heaven, Y/N. And he promised to take care of it forever.”

At this point, you were crying nonstop. To hear him talking like this was killing you; he talked as if he would be gone at any moment now, and you had to admit, he was old, and time was not a friend, but you weren’t ready. You wanted him to see you get married, and you wanted him to meet your kids. There was so much more that he had to be a part of, that you don’t know what you’d do if he was gone.

“Grandpa, please,” You beg. “Please.”

“You’re my piece of heaven, Y/N.” He repeats, bringing you close and kissing your forehead. “Don’t forget that.”

“You always say that,” You sniff.

“And it’ll alway be true,” He chuckles, and then coughs. “Even when I can’t say it anymore.”

The next week was a blank of mixed days and lost memories; you were always at the hospital so you didn’t really remember anything besides that. Changbin made sure to call you three times– or more– a day, worried about your dark bags and large clothes. You looked like you’d lost so much weight, and honestly, you probably did; your stomach couldn’t hold anything down, except your grandmother’s soup. Work was a mess and it took about three days for your boss to notice what was happening, and then he gave you a couple of weeks of to stay with your family.

My family, you thought, suddenly so angry. It’s not fair. This is not fair at all.

Your phone gets you out of the toxic mindset your were getting trapped, and you sigh in relief. Changbin.

“Hey,” You mumble, looking at his worried face on the the screen.

“Hey, love,” He said softly. Changbin was making sure to be extra soft and careful with you, allowing you to feel safe enough so that you could talk to him easily. “How is it today?”

“He’s not getting better,” You mumble. “The doctors told us to prepare ourselves… they said it could be any day, now.”

“I’m sorry, Y/N,” He sighed. “I’m sorry I’m not there.”

“No, Changbin,” You smile, and this was the first one of the whole week. “You are touring. It’s not your fault. Focus on you, yeah? Grandma and I will get through this.”

He nods and tells you about the concert they had, trying to cheer you up with good news. Some of the boys pop in to say hi and send their support, but you don’t really feel like joking around. You guys say goodbye, and you go back to your grandfather, who is talking to your grandmother. As you watch them from the door, you try to smile, and you take a picture. A last memory together, you think and walk in.

He passes away that night.

———————————

You feel like you are not living anymore, just functioning. You drown yourself in work; writing song after song, but they were all too sad. Your boss, worried about your mental state, gives you another week, so you could stay home with your boyfriend, and grieve without worrying about having to hand in an assignment; but you weren’t really sure about that, because if you didn’t focus on work, you’d focus on him and you weren’t sure that was the best choice. There was no choice, though, and your boss and the CEO all forced you to go home.

I get home tonight, Changbin texted you. Hang on just a little longer.

You were only hanging on because of him; because you knew that he’d soon be with you, and that you could simply give up, and he would still help you get back on your feet. That’s how Changbin and you worked; you weren’t co-dependent, there was no real need for each other, but rather a want. You didn’t need his help, you wanted it. You wanted him in your life because you knew that then you wouldn’t be alone through anything– he’d always be by your side. And you by his. But sometimes, when you were too busy or when he was away, it was hard to keep thinking like that. It was hard to be positive and to keep your chin up, because although he will always be by your side, his physical presence is gone. He can’t hold your hand or caress your hair; there is no hugs and kisses and whispered promises. There is just a cold side of the bed where he’d usually lay, and limited phone calls. You missed him.

You missed him so much, that it was only natural you’s start thinking he didn’t miss you as much as you did, even though he has shown and told you repeatedly that this was a two way street– what you felt would always be reciprocated. As you sat on your couch, holding all tears in, looking through albums and albums of pictures, you started getting angry. Maybe if your parents didn’t leave, you grandfather wouldn’t have died. Maybe if they stayed, they would’ve taken the stress of taking care of you off of his shoulders. You were the type of person that when in doubt of which emotion you were feeling, it would be redirected to anger. Your first reaction was always anger. And then guilt. And only in the end, it would be sadness. You were still in transition from the second to the third when you heard the door opening, the cold winter air rushing in with your boyfriend; his desperate eyes looking for you, examining you, taking you in. You nod– a ‘hello,’ a ‘I’m fine,’ a ‘come here I could really use a hug.’

“Oh Y/N,” He sighs and drops his bag on the ground, walking towards you with arms wide open. You run to him, slotting yourself in this familiar body that felt so strange. “I’m here. It’ll okay. You’ll be okay.”

And you cry. You cry like you haven’t cried in two weeks; words falling out of your mouth, snot running down your nose, and wails of pain echoing in the dorm. You notice that the rest of the boys aren’t there, probably giving you two some privacy, and you are thankful. He holds you tight, not saying a damn thing, allowing you to simply put it all out, let it all go. Your fists were tight against his chest, sometimes hitting him softly, sometimes holding his sweater, sometimes just feeling his heartbeat; a reassurance that he was really there. A couple of hours after, when you have been reduced to a pile of sniffs and apologies, he kisses you, whipping out his phone.

“I’ll tell the boys to come home,” He whispers, kissing your forehead.

“Okay,” Your voice is raspy from the crying and you are embarrassed. You are embarrassed to have been this desperate for Changbin’s presence, embarrassed for being angry at him, embarrassed for thinking he didn’t love you as much as you did him. “I’m sorry…”

“For what?” He asks still typing.

“For everything.” You say and hugs him again.

“Well now you’ve got me even more worried,” He chuckles. “What happened?”

“I had some thoughts,” You say, hiding in his neck. “That you didn’t love me; miss me. I was angry, Binnie, so angry… I hated thinking like that but I just– I just missed you.”

“Hey,” He smiles, grabbing you head and making you look at him. “I missed you too. I get angry too. I feel that way two. It’s so normal, babe, and you don’t have to apologize for feeling. It’s normal to feel needy and angry when your loved one is away, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Don’t you remember?” He asks, smiling a nostalgic smile, and you know exactly what he is talking about.

I wish I be your last

I could be there for you

I could be the one to

I’d be your cigarette

“I do.” You say smiling too. Only him, to make you smile in the midst of your pain.

“I want to hear that again soon, Y/N.” His eyes bore into yours and your heart is racing. “I really, really want to hear that again.”

“I’ll say it how many times you want, love.” You say, arms around him, smell of his perfume on you, warmth of his body on yours. He’s home. I’m home. “We have time.”

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maiakana · 5 years

Text

piece of heaven ❃ seo changbin

genre: fluff, changbin trainee!au

word count: 3356

pairing: reader x seo changbin

description: you were your grandparents happiness, but you haven’t been happy in a while. Can he change that?

(inspired on the song CIGARETTE by OFFONOFF: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AamatUtxev4)

You worked pretty much all of the time you weren’t in school. And you slept in between– sometimes on the bus, sometimes on the counter of the empty convenience store, and sometimes in class. You managed.

It wasn’t like you wanted that life; you were just kind of tossed into it, after your mom ran away with all of the family’s money. After your dad left you behind claiming he needed some time to get over your mom. After your older brother went to college promising to visit every week, and two years later, you were yet to see him again. After all of that, it was only you and your grandparents. And you were fine with it. Your grandma made sure you always had a warm meal waiting for you, and your grandpa that you knew your worth. They took care of you like they once did of your mother, and you knew that it wasn’t their fault; they made sure their daughter didn’t lack anything, be it food, love, or education– but she still did what she did. You were pretty sure they were trying to make up for her mistakes by giving you all.

It was one of those quiet nights; the convenience store empty and your homework not even close to being done, open books on the counter, when you heard a commotion outside. Through the windows, you could see a group of boys, around 9, and you took a deep breath. It wasn’t that you were scared, but you weren’t comfortable either; it was late and there was no one around, God knows if those people were drunk or drugged. One of them walks in the store, searching through the aisles, and, upon finding what he needed, he walked up to the counter.

“Good night,” You mumble. “Is this all?”

He blinks at you, tilting his head to the side.

“Do I know you?” He asks, and you take a moment to look at him, and indeed, he does know you. You guys went to the same high school, and had a couple of classes together. Including the one you were struggling to get the work done.

“Oh,” Your eyes widen upon the realization. “Yeah. You’re Seo Changbin, right?”

“Yeah,” He nods. “I’m sorry, but I don’t remember your name…” “I’m Y/L/N Y/N,” You mumble a little embarrassed.

“Oh yeah! I remember you!” He exclaims suddenly. “You used to work on the newspaper, right?”

You smile softly. Those were good times; when you could rely on your family to take care of you, and you could still have some fun. You nod, scanning his items.

“Yeah,” You sigh.

“Why’d you leave?” He asks bashfully.

“School work.” You lie, and look at him again. “It’ll be $12,35.”

That where the conversation ended. And you were sure that’s where the conversation would stay forever.

You got back home around 2AM, hoping to not wake up your grandparents with the door, but as always, your grandad sat in the living room reading a book, waiting for you to come home. His eyes shone when he saw you.

“Hello,” He smiled. “How was work today?”

“You should be asleep, old man,” You joke, walking to him and giving him a hug.

“It’s because I’m old that I can stay awake,” He jokes. “Was the walk here okay? Were you safe?”

“Work was good, grandpa,” You mumble, smiling softly at him. “And the walk was good too, nothing out of the ordinary.”

He gets up from the sofa and walks to the kitchen, taking out some soup and rice. “Here, eat before going to sleep.”

“I will,” You promise. “Thank you.”

“Thank you,” He said patting you in the head. “You’re our piece of heaven. I don’t know what we’d do without you, so please, don’t overwork yourself, Y/N.”

“You always say that,” You chuckle. “And I’m okay. It’s just temporary.”

“Yes,” He smiles. “It’s just temporary.”

And then he is off to sleep. You eat contently; your grandmother was a chef, in her younger days, and even though you always got home tired, it was the highlight of your days and nights to just be able to sit down and enjoy one of her masterpieces. Your grandfather, on the other hand, worked at one of the many entertainment agencies in the country, as a producer back in the days– from him you learned a lot growing up, especially about music. He used to work with your favorite artists, and now, he was a retired old man that took care of his grand-daughter. You always said grandpa, I want to be just like you, one day. Truth was, they were well-off. You grandparents had enough money to pay the bills and pay for your education. But you didn’t agree to that. You didn’t want to be a burden or an obligation, so you made sure to let them know that you would contribute as best as you could. After some fighting on the matter, the deal was that you could contribute as long as it didn’t affect your grades. Your grandpa always smiled at your resilience, remembering of the days when he had to struggle to become something; he was sure you’d go far. And so it was; you went to school, scored high, and went to work. The convenience store paid pretty well, if you worked enough, specially if you worked the nightshift, and that’s what you did. You knew they worried about you, and you worried about them too, but there is nothing much you could do.

———————————

Waking up was always hard; the snooze button a temptation you weren’t strong enough to resist, until your grandmother walked into the room and shook you out of bed.

“Did you finish your homework?” She asks once you are all ready and having breakfast. “Yes, ma’am,” You smile. You did finish it, after struggling with it for another few hours and having to revise the work before that. “Can you drop me at school today?”

“Of course,” She says. “Just finish up and we’ll go.”

Car rides was always fun, with your little family; you would connect your phone on the bluetooth and together you guys would sing, be it new songs, or songs that were produced by your grandpa, or just really bad songs. It made you happy. Just like when your grandmother cooked for you; it was all about sharing their passions with you, and you wanted to share yours with them, one day. You just had to find it.

“Thanks!” You say and after hugging them goodbye, you open the door.

“Y/N,” Your grandpa calls from the passenger seat. “Always remember: you’re our piece of heaven!”

You smiled. He started saying that when your mom first left, and it was just you and your dad. They’d call you ‘angel’ but you absolutely hated it. You felt like it pressured you to be good, and not feel the anger that overflowed you at the time. So they switched it. A piece of heaven. A blessing in our lives, they would say, so always know your worth, Y/N– you’re a piece of heaven, after all. It never failed to make you smile. Waving goodbye, you walk though the gates smiling, not caring about the curious glances people threw at you.

The day passed by in a blink and soon you were at the store, once again with your books on the counter, struggling with your homework. And once again, you heard a commotion outside. The same 9 boys. Changbin is always here late, you think just as he enters the store, waving excitedly at you.

“Do you come here often?” He teases with a cute smile.

You laugh. You didn’t have people interacting with you very often, except for the trouble makers and the flirty idiots, and Changbin was a blow of fresh air.

“Everyday, actually,” You say and start scanning his items. Once again, 9 spicy ramen… “The question is: do you come here often?”

He chuckles, a faint blush coloring his face. “Yeah, the boys and I finish practicing late…”

“Practicing?” You ask as he gives you the money. He already knew the cost.

“Yeah,” This time he actually looks shy. “We’re trainees.”

“Wow,” You say smiling. “That’s so cool, congratulations.”

“Thanks Y/N!” He says grabbing everything. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“If not at school,” You shrug. “There here, I guess.” And he waves goodbye.

It was like that for about a month or so; quick conversations at the cashier being the only way you guys could talk. And you kind of liked it; you met Seo Changbin the best way you could, with no make up or reservations. No rumors in school and no people gossiping about you behind your backs. It was so pure and raw that you’ve grown to love it. Sometimes he would tell you a random story about his day at the agency, or he would give you quick answers to the unfinished problems on your workbook. Another days, he would tiredly yawn and just chuckle at you, or he would let his friends, whom you’ve now met, do the talking. Your night were peaceful because of those boys– of course, not for long.

A couple of days ago, after they left to the dorms, a drunk boy, around your age, came in, causing trouble. He got angry after you refused to give him your number and made sure to cause a ruckus before he left. It didn’t matter how many times you encountered that type of people, they always scared you, but after organizing everything, you just minded your business and hoped he’d never come again. You should’ve known that that wasn’t happening.

Changbin had just entered the store, walking to the ramen section. Lately, he has been buying 10 ramens, claiming to have miscounted it even though you’ve told him that there was one extra.

“Ops,” He’d say with a knowing smirk. “I bought one more by accident. I guess you’ll just have to eat it, Y/N.”

“Oh wow, I guess I’ll have to do just that, won’t I?” You squint your eyes at him, watching him laugh. There was something about it– about Changbin laughing– that completely hypnotized you. The way he would smile wide and act embarrassed, it was everything to you. By then, you knew; you knew you were falling for him, but you smiled softly as it happened. It was slow and graduate, just how you imagine it would be. It was comfortable. “Come on,” He nods with his head to the seatings outside, where the others sat. “Come eat with us. There is no one in the store.”

And the bells at the door ring, just as he says that. You see the same boy from two days ago; and you smile at him tightly.

“What?” Changbin asks, eyes roaming your face. “What’s with that weird smile?”

“You’re imagining it,” You mumble, and put your ramen to the side. “Go outside, yeah? I’ll be there in a sec.”

“But-“

And the boy throws a bunch of things at the counter. “How much?”

You gulped. To be honest, you just wanted Changbin out of the store. He was a trainee at a company, meaning he couldn’t get into trouble. At all. And you weren’t stupid– you fell for him, but you were pretty sure it wasn’t just you. This is something that was easy to see it happening. He started lingering at the cashier after he paid, or he would wait for you at the school gates just so he could wave. He’d buy you food and worry about you walking back home alone. These things were beyond kindness, and, at least, he thought of you as a really good friend.

You mumble the price and stay still, waiting for it to be over. But it wasn’t. Just as he grabbed the bag from your hands, he leaned forward.

“Are you sure you won’t give me your number?” He asks, laughing. The hair on your arm stood up and you took a small step back.

“Yes.” You say firmly. “Have a good night.”

Before you know it, your school book goes flying across the store.

“Who do you think you are to act all high and mighty like this?” He sneers. “Look at you. You’re just a store clerk-“

“If she’s just a store clerk,” You hear Changbin from the door. “Then why bother?”

“What?” The boy asks, clearly confused.

“Well you’re clearly trying to make her feel small by throwing her job in her face,” Changbin chuckles, and you blush. He looked so dangerous at that moment; his dark hair almost covering his eyes. “And if her job is that insignificant for people like you, why bother?”

“People like me?”

“Yeah, you know,” Now they are face to face, the other boys running inside the store. “Impotent pricks that need to scare a girl to go out with them.”

You gasped. This was not happening. Chan barks out a laugh, and steps forward, putting himself in the middle of the situation.

“Look, mate,” Chan says still laughing a bit. “Just go. Your outnumbered… and clearly unwanted here.”

“Whatever,” He mumbles and grabs his stuff, sending you a last angry glance. “Just a warning,” Changbin says without turning around to look at the boy. “If you come back here, you’re not leaving until an ambulance comes to get you.”

And he smiles.

“Are we clear?”

The boy just leaves, face pale and clearly scared.

“Y/N, are you okay?” Seungmin asks giving your book back.

You laugh. “I’m okay, thanks guys.”

“Don’t laugh,” Changbin frowns. “You could’ve been in danger!”

“Nah,” You shake your head lightly, trying to calm your racing heart. “He came here before, and did the same thing. He is all talk, and no action.”

“He did that before?” You swore you could feel the temperature in the store lowering from his voice. “Changbin, it’s fine. I’m pretty sure he won’t come back.” And you grab his hand for a second, trying to give him some reassurance, but all you got was a ‘tsk’ and a blush on his cheeks. “Anyways, it’s almost time to close, so you guys can go. Rest a lot before practice tomorrow!”

“You guys go ahead,” Changbin whispers to the guys at the door. “I’ll drop her off first.”

“Binnie, no.” You mumble, checking the cashier for the last time and then locking it. “Go home, yeah?”

“No, let’s go.”

You guys talked all the way to your house. And then for a few more hours after, sitting on your porch. Changbin told you about the company and their daily tasks. It sounded to tiring, but for some reason it sounded so nice. To train so hard for something, to know you’re good at it and know it is your life’s purpose.

“What about you?” He asks. You guys are sitting side by side, shoulders and legs touching. “You never talk about yourself…”

“There’s nothing much to say really,” You shrug. “I live with my grandparents. I work at the convenience store everyday of the week. I go to school-“

“What do your grandparents do?” He asks, and you smile softly.

So you proceed to talk; about your grandma and her recipes and how happy you are whenever you taste her unique cooking (you even bring him the meal they left for you at the stove, so you guys can share.) You talk about your grandfather the most, though, about his old job as a producer and how you grew up learning everything he knew, everything he wanted to teach you. How you had fun doing that.

“Wait,” Changbin blinks fast. “So your grandfather is Y/G/N?”

“Yeah,” You smile proudly. “He’s my idol, really. He took care of me after my parents left, and he treats me as if I was his own daughter…”

“Well of course he does,” Changbin says, playfully poking your ribs with his elbow. “You’re their piece of heaven, after all.” “Where-“

“You really think no one hears him shout that whenever they drop you off at school?” He laughs and you hide your face on your hands. “It’s okay. I think it’s really cute.”

“Stop making me blush,” You mumble.

“Hey,” Changbin says, watching the sun rise in front of you guys. “I have an idea. Tomorrow is Saturday, you don’t work right?”

You shake your head.

“Come to the company,” He says grabbing your hand excitedly. “Come see what we do. What your grandfather did. I am sure it will be no problem. I can come get you?”

You smiled at his excitement. “Sure, why not?”

And with a shy wave and a promise of coming back at 10AM, Changbin leaves you smily and restless for the rest of the night.

It’s been a while I’ve felt like this, you think, rolling around on your bed.

Like a teenager.

———————————

The place is huge, and Changbin sorted everything out with his manager beforehand. They haven’t debuted yet, so it was pretty simple getting you in. He showed you the recording rooms and laughed as you pointed at things, like a kid, and asked about them. Then, he took you to the dance practice rooms, where Felix, Hyunjin, and Minho were; the cafeteria for coffee, where you saw Felix, Jeongin, and Woojin; and lastly, his favorite place in the whole building– their studio.

Chan and Jisung were sitting down around the glass table, mumbling words to themselves, hair pointing everywhere, and bags under their eyes.

“What are they doing?” You whisper to Changbin.

“Songwriting.” He whispers back, and you walk closer, reading Chan’s words over his shoulder.

“This is pretty good.” You say and the blonde boy almost falls out of the chair because of the scare.

“Y/N!” He smiles, and you never saw, in your entire life, anyone that tired. “What’s up?”

“Hey! Changbin brought me here so that I could see what you guys do.”

“I’m sorry you have to see us like this,” Jisung says frowning. “We’re stuck in this one song…”

“Can I see?” You ask. “I don’t think I’ll be of much help, but maybe-“

“Absolutely!” Chan shouts and pushes you down on the chair, putting the paper in front of you. “We only have a few lines that Changbin wrote…”

Smoke up a glimpse of heaven

I smoked two packs ‘till the night

Your eyes widen, and you look at him for confirmation. His face is red, and he is looking at his hands.

Laying with you I feel like

Moving clouds high in the sky

It’s been too long since

I realized you’re real

You didn’t know what to do. Happiness was overwhelming you, and you couldn’t contain your smile. It really was about you.

“Do you have any ideas?” Jisung asks. “It’s too specific, I don’t know what to right.”

“I have some.” You mumble and tie your hair up, looking straight to Changbin. “May I?” “Be my guest.” He breaths out.

Your hands move fast and precise, writing what you wanted to say, and hopefully, what he wanted to hear.

Two hearts come together

We were truly there

I fall down. Then I fall down

Puff of Heaven

I feel like I’m in a daydream

I go up. Then I go up

When you finish, you push the paper towards him. And for the rest of the afternoon, you guys did this. Communicated through a language both of you were fluent, writing calls and responses. It was truly beautiful, and you were truly beautiful, finally feeling like you were doing something useful, for a change. Finally feeling like you weren’t a burden or an obligation. It was then that you finally found your passion.

Well, both of them.

I could, I could, be there for you

I could, I could, be the one to

I’d be, your cigarette

I would, I would, be your light and

I would, I would, shine you bright

Oh I wish, I’ll be your last.

—–

part 2? :)

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maiakana · 5 years

Text

a cliche for when you need one ❁ lee minho

genre: fluffiest fluff out there

word count: 3650

pairing: reader x lee minho

description: everyone needs a cliche in their life. Is that true?

Books were your life; and not to say that in a ‘quirky’ or ‘nerdy’ way, but in the most literal sense of all– books were your life. Your dad owned an independent book shop right under you guys’ apartment, and that was the only source of financial income you guys had. So yes. Books really were your life. It also didn’t help that you worked there every day after school and every afternoon on the weekends. The Literary Corner was never closed.

To say you grew to love books was wrong; it felt more like it was engrained on your DNA. There was no way you could’ve come out not liking to read, and even if you did, you wouldn’t have much of a choice. Your dad didn’t have enough money to hire someone to work the store while he was gone, so he pretty much relied on you– not that you minded, of course. To work at the store meant that you had enough time to do your homework, and sit on the bay window, in between Fiction U-Z and Non-Fiction A-D. That was your favorite spot, especially in between the times of 4PM and 6PM, when the sun is low enough to shine that golden light it produces after a long, tiring day, warming to the heart, but carrying no actual heat at all.

It was just one of those days; perfect weather, perfect feeling, perfect everything. You walk out through the gates of school feeling relieved– you couldn’t wait to sit on your window and read your brand new edition of if on a winter’s night a traveler. Italo Calvino was one of your favorite authors, and the sun that shone bright as you walked home would be the perfect company for a great read. You were excited to get home, chatting away with you best friend, Kim Seungmin. As weird as it sounds, you both met at the store, when he came in to buy the mandatory books for you advanced literature class, and that’s when you found out that he was a student in your school. Better yet, that you were in the same literature class.

“Did you see who’s getting transferred to our class?” Seungmin asks. “Professor Jeon said that he didn’t enroll to take them, but the principal thought that the other class was too easy for him…”

“I didn’t hear about any of this!” You gasp. “Who could it be? We didn’t really get new students this semester.”

“Rumor says it is one of the trouble boys,” He wiggles his brows and laughs. “Maybe one of them is secretly smart.”

“Pff,” You snort. “What a cliche.”

Laughing, you guys forget about the subject altogether. It was good that your school was starting to demand more from its students, but you really hoped it wasn’t the case Seungmin was talking about. You never had an encounter with one of those boys, and even though you hear plenty about them, you never cared enough to pay attention. The truth was that literature class was your favorite– one of the few things you were able to excel at school,– and you didn’t want someone who didn’t really care about it running it for you.

“I have to go,” You point to the store. “But I’ll see you at school. And don’t forget that we have our scheduled movie night after my shift tomorrow!”

“How could I forget, Y/N?” He laughs and waves. “We have it every week.”

“Yeah, yeah,” You chuckle. “See you later!”

You take it all in as soon as you’re inside; the smell of books–your personal favorite– surrounded the place as if it owned it. Your dad ran past you, kissing your forehead and bidding you goodbye, as he was probably late for another date with his mysterious girlfriend. You smiled, shouting a ‘good luck!’ into the air as you watched him run with a bouquet of flowers. You walk behind the counter, already listing your daily tasks as you drop your bag on the floor.

#1: Restock the best-sellers at the main door.

You walk to the table where a few books were missing and count them in your head, memorizing their names and authors, treating each one as a different person. You go to the back room and star collecting the necessary items. Enjoying while the store is empty and silent, you put some music on, allowing your earphones to drown the world outside into nothingness.

#2: Put the disorganized books back into their place.

#3: Dust the shelves.

Humming, you were quick to get the job done. This was something that you did everyday, with the utmost care in the world. You liked getting home and doing your tasks; the repetitive actions turning into a natural de-stressor.

#4: Count the cashier.

#5: Water the plants.

#6: Check stock.

And for your favorite part:

#7: Help Ms. Lee with her weekly search for a new book.

For the past five years Ms. Lee has come to the store in search of new books. They could be newly published classics or newly written contemporaries, she’d buy them all. She would come in and look at the book that you’d have in hand; I have a grandson, you see, she’d chuckle. A handsome boy, around your age, and he loves to read. What could you recommend, dear?

For the past five years, you’ve been reserving two copies of the same books; one for you, and for Ms. Lee’s grandson. You started to adore the boy even without meeting him. As Ms. Lee would tell you what he said about the novels, you noticed you started having book debates with this boy through his grandmother, and you completely adored it, so you’ve started patiently waiting for her to enter the store, with the reserved book and a glass of water.

As the door dings, you smile from where you’re crouching down behind the counter. You were working on a delivery package of three books and you were looking for boxes.

“Good evening, Ms. Lee!” You say, smiling as you get up. Your smile was quick to shatter, though, noticing that the tall figure in front of you wasn’t the adorable old lady you were expecting. Well, it wasn’t a lady at all. “Oh?”

His mouth is covered with a black mask and he is wearing a beanie. His brows go up in surprise, probably from you popping up out of nowhere. You signal him to wait and walk to the front door, peeking outside in search of your customary client. Nothing.

“Hm, excuse me?” You hear from the inside of the store. “Are you Y/N?”

You halt. How did this stranger know your name? You mind starts racing; your dad was occupied with his girlfriend and would take too long to come help if anything were to happen, same with Seungmin, and you were alone with this stranger who apparently knows who you are-

“I’m Ms. Lee’s grandson,” He chuckles. “She told me to look for you.”

Before registering what he said, your mind goes crazy. “Oh my, is she okay? Did anything happen?”

“She’s fine,” He says, and you notice he’s smiling because of his eyes; they were smiling too. “She’s just tired, so she sent me instead. I hope that’s okay?”

This is when it downs on you; this is the boy you’ve been admiring for the past five years. He was finally here. In person. Talking to you.

“Y-yes, of course!” You chuckle awkwardly. “… nice to meet you?”

“Yes,” He says pulling down his mask and he was indeed smiling. “Nice to meet you.”

“So,” You clear your throat. “What can I help you with?”

“Oh, yeah!” He digs inside his backpack and pulls out a sheet of paper. One that you were surprised to find out you knew too well. “I hope it’s not too much trouble, but I need those books.”

“Wait,” You frown. “You go to the school near the shopping mall? Just a few blocks away from here?”

“… yeah,” He frowns too. “How do you know?”

“I go there too,” You say, and your heart is beating rapidly. “I’m actually in this class.”

“Oh, how do you like it?” He asks leaning on the counter. His eyes are innocent and curious, just like a cat. “I’m being forced to switch, so I’m a little scared.”

“Don’t be,” You laugh ducking to pass under the counter and walk to the shelves where you knew those books laid. “It’s really fun. You clearly like reading, so I don’t think you’ll have any problem.”

“That’s good to hear.” He chuckles from behind you as he watched you struggle with a high shelf. “Let me help you.”

And you can just feel the warmth of his body as he stepped closer and grabbed the copy of harmless person to you by Choi. This collection of short stories was really dear to you, and you were happy to be able to discuss it in class.

“I’ve read this before,” He mumbles. “It’s really good.”

“It really is,” You nod, and as you both fell in a rhythm, the comfortable silence accompanied. After a while, all books were pilled in the counter. “Finally done.”

“These are too many.” He groans, hiding his face in his hands.

“I’m pretty sure you’ve read two thirds of these already,” You mumble, scanning all of the items.

“How do you know?” His voice seems genuinely surprised.

“Because I have too,” You chuckle. You eyes travel to the copy of if on a winter’s night a traveler and you extend it to him. “Although I am pretty sure this one is new to you.”

“It is,” He checks the back. “I like some of his other works, though. The way he switches his style of writing even new book is amazing.”

“I know, right?” You squeal, a little to excited.

“How much for this one too?” He asks with a wide smile. So genuine, you think.

“A present.” You say, blushing. “Consider it a present from me. See you tomorrow?”

“Definitely!” He grabs the bags. “Thank you Y/N!”

“No problem!”

And it’s only when he’s gone that you remember.

I didn’t even ask his name.

———————————

For the next day of school, you don’t wake up late. You wash your face for the first time forever and you take your time brushing your hair. It’d be stupid not to, now that you knew Ms. Lee’s grandson was in your class.

“What are you doing?” You dad asks from the door, squinting his eyes. “Since when do you get all pretty to go to school?”

“I look the same, dad,” You laugh and somewhere in your mind you are sure you’ve read that conversation in a book. The character would later get ignored by her crush in school and bla bla bla. Just the thought of such cliche is funny to you, making you chuckle. “Come on, let’s eat.”

Every time you sat down to have breakfast, you thanked the lord for your dad’s girlfriend. She was an angel on Earth; always coming by to visit and check-up on you two, always making sure there was plenty of cooked meals in the house, since neither you or your dad were reliable enough to cook, always inviting you to come over and stay with them when your dad slept over and you were alone in the house. After your mom died, it took a while for you two to get back on your feet, but she helped. She was there first as a friend, and then as something more. You loved her for it.

Your walk to school was more peaceful than usual; you had your earphones in, humming the same song you were before, back in the store when Ms. Lee’s grandson came in. You smile, unconscious of the fondness of the memory. A tap on your shoulder is enough to drag you out of the music induced trance you were.

“Hey,” You hear someone say– him say. “Going to school?”

“Hey!” You say excitedly, smiling wide. You put your earphone on your backpack, sure that you won’t need them now that you had company. “Yeah, why don’t you walk with me?”

“Sure,” He smiles. “My name is Minho, by the way. Lee Minho.”

Now that you knew this information, you chuckle. You’ve definitely heard of him before. Heartbreaker. Player. Lazy. All adjectives used to describe this one boy that now rambled on and on about the first three chapters of Italo Clavino’s book, and how the usage of the second person narrator was a fantastic choice to involve the reader into the plot. You nod, not actually listening to him, but knowing what he’s saying anyways, because you’d say the same things. When it came to books, you two always agreed.

“Are you even listening?” He laughs, poking you with his elbow.

“Of course,” You blush a little. “Second person voice and all; great choice.”

“I was talking about coffee,” He says with wide eyes and a playful smile on his face. “Wow. You really weren’t listening!”

“What?” You panic. “I’m sorry! What about coffee?”

“Wanna grab some after school?” He says, straightening his back and clearing his throat. “I know a great place nearby the bookshop.”

“I wish I could,” You say and for the first time you cursed the moment in which you’d have to go straight to the store. “But I take over the store after school, everyday… my dad needs to do some things, so I try to help him out.”

“Oh I see,” His eyes lower to the ground and he kicks a pebble. “What if I brought the coffee to you? I can buy some and stay with you in the shop– I could even help out!”

“Really?” You say, impressed. Your mind travels to a parallel world, in which you and Minho work at the store together, laughing and talking about book all evening. And when the golden hour washes the place, you two sit at the bay window, and everything is just calm and beautiful and golden. “I’d love that, thank you.”

“Great!” He says excitedly. “It’s a date then.”

And the rest of the walk goes by peacefully quiet. Just you two and the early birds chirping. Today was bound to be good– you could feel it.

Classes came and went, lunch too, and it was time for your final class of the day– advanced literature. You were excited because of the new vibe that would wash over the room today, Minho being a new factor into the dynamics of the place. You were all there except him, but he makes it seconds before the teacher, and sits way in the back, ignoring all the swooning girls that waved at him. You chuckle, but it doesn’t escape you the fact that he ignored you too.

During class, he doesn’t say a thing, and you would be lying if you said you weren’t disappointed. You thought he’d be different. What is wrong with me?, you think, rubbing your eyes. That’s such a cliche thing to think. You force your attention back to the teacher, and you remember absolutely nothing from the lesson except the moment that the bell rang. It made you jump from your seat and you heard someone snickering. You turn to Seungmin and see him holding his laugh in.

“Idiot,” You mumble, holding your laugh too. He get’s up but you hold him by the hand. “Oh, wait up really quick, I need to talk to someone.”

You turn around and see Minho looking at you. You smile and start walking to him.

“Minho,” You call, but he speed walks past you, his shoulder bumping into your and making you lose your balance for a second. Seungmin is quick enough to push you forward, stoping you from falling on your ass.

“What was that?” Seungmin asks as you two walk out the school. “Lee Minho. You know him?”

“Yeah,” You mumble. “We walked to school together and he was pretty nice. Maybe I said something to offend him?”

“I doubt it,” Your friend says and that was it about it. You two talked about anything and everything, but Lee Minho. You felt confused, and a little hurt; your fantasies shattering to the ground as you walked home.

You barely noticed the bookshop showing up in your line of vision, and you definitely didn’t see the boy sitting down on the curb, with two cups of coffee in hand.

“Y/N,” Seungmin says, stopping in his tracks. “Is that Lee Minho?”

Your head whips around and your eyes adjust to the image really quick. He wasn’t in his school uniform anymore; his hair was hidden under a beanie again and the glasses were back. He looked cold, breath coming out in small puffs, and jacket seeming to flimsy to handle the weather.

“Yeah, that’s him…” You say, starting to walk to where he was. “I’ll see you later?”

“Call me right after this is done,” He says winking at you. “I wanna know everything.”

“Just… no.” You laugh as he whines. “Go home, Minnie. I’ll talk to you later.”

“You know what?” Seungmin says with a smile that you’ve known to cause trouble. “I don’t think I’ll be able to make it to movie night tonight… oh too bad, don’t rush him have fun bye!”

And before you could complain he runs away laughing like a maniac. Shaking you head your best friend’s antics, you go to where the root of your confusion was, trembling from the cold.

“Why are you outside?” You chuckle, feeling slightly awkward. “The place is open.” “I thought that if I was inside you wouldn’t be able to see me,” He sniffs. “And you would’ve thought I bailed on you. Which I didn’t.”

You were speechless at this point. “This makes no sense,” You say, brows raise. “I hope you know that.”

“I had a feeling you’d say that,” He laughs. “Let’s go inside and talk, yeah?”

Shaking your head, you walk in first, dropping your bag at the counter.

“Give me five minutes,” You say, walking to the back where the stairs to your place were. “I just need to change real quick.”

Uniform discarded, and sweatshirt and jeans replacing them, you walk down, putting your hair up and making your daily mental list.

“Okay,” You say, grabbing the coffee he got for you. “Thanks. Let’s talk after I finish the tasks? They take around thirty minutes…”

He shakes his head. “I want to help.” And that was it.

He checks the inventory while you reorganized the books. He dusted the shelves as you counted the cashier. You water the plants together, and it’s low-key adorable. Once you are done, twenty minutes later, the coffee is cold and the weather is unforgiving. There is no golden sun illuminating the store, and there is no peacefulness in the bay window. There is only rain and thunder, but Minho still insists in sitting and watching the water pour down from the skies.

“I love rainy days,” He sighs. “They are perfect for reading.”

“I hate it,” You chuckle. “I don’t like thunders.”

“Are you scared?” He teases you, and open his arms wide. “You don’t have to be when I’m here. I can protect you.”

“Says the guy that almost pushed me to the ground today!” You gasp, laughing. You didn’t take it to heart, really; you were sure he had an explanation, but if he could tease, so could you.

“What?” He shouts, looking actually surprised. “When?”

“After class, but it’s okay, I didn’t fall.”

“No, it’s not okay,” He says making a face. “Are you alright? I’m so sorry, it was an accident.” And you just let your head fall to the side in a sign of confusion. “But I called your name…”

“I had my music on,” He chuckles, clearly embarrassed. “As soon as the class finished I put them on. I was on a hurry to get home, change, and buy the coffee before you got home. I wanted to get here first.”

“Oh,” You say, face blushing and smile wide. “Well, this is definitely a surprise.”

“I’m also sorry about kind of ignoring you in class, I guess,” He mumbles looking to his coffee. “I just… I get a lot of shit in school. My friends and I, I mean, and I just didn’t want people to bother you too, if they saw you talking to me and all…”

“Oh my gosh, Minho,” You whine loudly, laughing right after. “That is such a cliche!”

He smiles. “I can be a cliche,” He says leaning forward, just a few centimeters from your face. “Whenever you need one.”

You squint your eyes, and quickly kiss his cheek. “I don’t know when I’ll need one,” You say watching him gasp with your bold move. “But sure.”

“I’m in love,” He says dramatically, and you squeal.

“SO CHEESY!” You shout, laughing and stomping your foot on where both of you sat. “Look, look! I have the chills, that was so bad!”

“There is so much more from where that came from,” He laughs, pulling you by the ankles, making you slide close to him. He kisses your forehead and you cannot stop laughing. “I read a lot, you know?”

“Oh my god,” You hide your face on his chest. “Stop. I need to breath.”

And that was how the afternoon went by. Minho would keep blurting out romance novels cliches and you’d laugh and run away from him, as he chased you with open arms, ready for when you decided to run to him.

He was right, after all. Everyone needs a cliche once in a while… and he was yours.

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