They Were Kids That I Onc (1/1)

Story's song: Stars - Dead Hearts

 His foot was the first thing to touch the concrete solid gray ground; it stuck out from the black long limo. It took him more than five minutes to gather the courage and step fully out of the car; he slowly turned to look at the tall fancy building. He stared closely after taking off his black sunglasses; his eyes were busy playing flashbacks of his past, the past that he missed, the past that has once never left him alone. He was five, The other was six. The colorful room was lit by the early sunshine, sent inside by the huge windows that occupied one of the room’s walls. Small circular little tables were placed in a specific order around the place, surrounded by colorful chairs to go with it. Patterns of little drawings decorated the walls, neatly hung for the eyes of the little children. Under it a little cabinet of shelves, various colorful story books were lined inside. Along with little toys, coloring pens and stacks of papers― white and colored. “Kids, let’s all welcome our newcomer Kibum. He came all the way from the United States, so let’s play nicely with him and show him the place, alright?” The women wearing a black skirt along with a white blouse and long curled hair smiled to the kids, bending down to be in level with the kid she was introducing. She gave him a little encouraging push towards the other kids, before going back to her work. The little kid stood there, not yet ready to make the first move to anybody. He held on the straps of his pink back bag looking around with his little sharp eyes, he looked more judgmental than scared “Join me; I’m making a castle out of green clay!” A little kid chirped from his place on the floor, in front of him laid a white plastic rug with a big mass of soft green clay on top. The other looked around before taking of his bag and joining him. He sat silently rubbing a small amount of clay, all the time eyeing the creation of the overly excited boy “You’re doing it all wrong” he stated, face not changing in expression.  The latter looked up and pouted “It’s good, what do you know” He then laughed going back to his masterpiece, a little twitch came upon the younger lips as the sides of his lips curled upward, disappearing way too fast. He always chose pink, The other always chose green. Little figures of thirteen year old kids occupied two chairs of the huge brown dining table; it was in the middle of a dark full of book shelves room. One sitting all neatly wearing his favorite yellow blouse, gathering his pieces of work in front of him, crayons all stacked in order next to him. The other who wears his famous black shirt was messily working all over the place, papers scattered and bended on the sides, his crayons lost under the table. “How can you work like this?” The yellow clothed boy grimaced at the mess before him and started gathering the other’s work, starting with the papers. He stopped and looked at the papers of the other “Jonghyun, why are they all in green?”  He held up the school project papers for his friends to see, Jonghyun grinned stupidly scratching the back of his neck “I lost my crayons, plus, I love green” He shrugged and smiled stupidly. He then eyed Kibum’s papers “Why yours is all in pink?” He asked puckering his lips, while looking at the other’s existent box of crayons; full of all kinds of colors. “Just like how you love green, I love pink” he proudly informed continuing to gather the papers “But, you’re a boy” Jonghyun was dumfounded his eyes were still on the other’s papers “So?” Kibum looked at the other coldly, waiting for reasoning. Jonghyun didn’t know what to say “Boys can love pink too” He rolled his eyes and went to the kitchen “Stupid” he huffed under his breath. He used to dance, The other played soccer. Every twist of his arms, and every swift of his feet meant something, it expressed his rarely spoken true feelings. Popping his body harshly over the beat, his sweaty hair flipping with each direction the body took, eyeing his moves with serious eyes while the white shirt he wore rode over his gray sweatpants, he felt free, like a bird out of cage. A slow faint clapping echoed throughout the quite empty room when the music came to an end, the slim tired figure of the nineteen year old turned to the direction of the sound. A twenty year old stood on the entrance; his short body leaned on the dark brown door frame, wearing shorts and a hoodie while his arms cradled the white and black ball to his waist. “Impressive” he smiled, the other rolled his eyes; already knowing how capable he was. The dancer picked up his bag and headed to the other, ready to go outside after wiping his face with a towel, after all his home wasn’t that far “It’s cold outside, and you’re sweaty” The soccer player stated the obvious “It’s fi-…” Kibum got cut short when the other took off his hoodie and before he knew it; the loop of the collar was already past his head resting on his shoulder. With a smile from Jonghyun, he wore the hoodie involuntarily “You’re stupid” he scoffed and walked outside, though the blush and the hidden smile gave away his feelings without the other’s knowledge They grew up together,Though, they grew out differently. He leaned back on the chair, eyeing his masterpiece with satisfaction. Years had passed by so fast, and his final university project lies in front of him. His mind wandered off to the memories he made in his college years, to the friendships he made, and to the reality he had discovered. His mom has always told him he was different, that he was one of a kind. Though, he had never believed her; he thought she was exaggerating because he was her only child. But, it all dawned on him at his junior year of college. That was when his heart shattered, when he felt the pain of being betrayed, the feeling of being replaced “Kibum, meet my girlfriend” was the sentence that killed him. He then knew what he was, what he felt, and how different he was. “All done?” The voice that belonged to the person of his thoughts brought him back to the present; he nodded slowly while stretching his arms over his head clicking the stiff bones of his spine. The sweetest smile rested on Jonghyun’s lips when he eyed the beautiful painting; that was the creation of the newly born artist “You’re really something, Kibum” he darted his eyes from the painting to his friend’s eyes In that look, unspoken words have been addressed, promises were made, and an assurance of being the same was given. Kibum was the first to look away, finding comfort on staring at his white -filled with color boxes of different types- desk “I’m sorry” Jonghyun softly spoke “It’s not your fault” Kibum assured before choosing to move away from the other to lay on his bed, feeling his heart throbbing harshly inside it’s cage They both knew, But one was denying. We all promise to stay the same, but years love to break those little silly promises of ours. In their case, it wasn’t the busy life that drove them apart, nor the dying interest. It was the rattling feelings, the stolen away glances, the mixed up tears, the smiles between clenched teeth, and the fear of coming out. At least this was it for one of them, the big shot lawyer, who logic framed his life. On the other hand, the free obscene artist colored his life with his own believes. Jonghyun pushed his feelings to the darkest possible side, hidden all the way deep inside. Entering the white walled flat of his friend, he smiled when he saw two or three more paintings lying flat in the living room. But then he noticed something different, all the piled up boxes, the neat stacked luggage bags “Kibum” he called fear striking his every nerve The called upon came out of his room, thoroughly knowing what’s going to happen. His head bent down, and his fingers nervously playing with the button of his violet blouse. Jonghyun looked at him, eyes questioning what’s happening, though he’s already aware of the answers “I think, I’m just another burden in your life” Kibum’s words stung the older’s heart, like needles and sharpened knives “I got a job in the United States, Jonghyun” All of that was then,And now it doesn’t matter.   Wiping the tear that trailed down his check while reminiscing about the past, Kibum took the next step toward the doorway which was covered with yellow and brown leaves. He wasn’t sure why he came back after all of these years, but he’s not regretting it. He smiled, encouraging himself that he’s doing the right thing. The automatic door slid open, and his graceful figure stepped inside. He looked around, his heart beating like crazy; there’s a chance he might see him, right here, right now.  He was told to wait, that he was going to be introduced to the employees at the meeting. He patiently waited, eyes looking everywhere, wishing to see a glimpse of the person he wasn’t able to forget, the person whom he left everything for; his first childhood friend, his first crush, his first lover, his first heartbreak- his entire past. He was twenty eight, The other was twenty nine. “Let’s all welcome our newcomer Kibum. He came all the way from the United States;  he’s going to be redoing our interior design” Jonghyun’s head shot up as his boss spoke, a major flashback with the same kind of words running before his eyes. There he stood the same person wearing pink, but all grown up. Their eyes locked in what seemed to be the longest stare, in that look, unspoken words have been addressed, promises were made, and an assurance of being the same was given. Was there one you saw too clearly,Did they seem too real to you?They were kids that I once knew...