Chapter 15 (1/2)
Kibum’s turn had finally arrived. After days of rearranging his thoughts and trying his best to look unconcerned by Kevin’s departure every single time, this day had finally arrived.
“You're an escort, right?” Kibum lazily leaned back against the wall. Since his appointment was the morning session, Kevin was back in his dormitory, with the two undecided on where to go at seven o’clock in the morning. “I don't have an idea where to go right now, so bring me somewhere.”
Kevin frowned, wondering where would be a good place to bring Kibum to. He couldn’t deny Kibum’s order, so he would have to really think of somewhere. But, where? “I...don't really leave the dormitory so I don't know places…”
“You've been in your dormitory all your life?” Kibum asked, himself frowning at the idea. Kevin was like a caged bird, unable to do a thing but sing for the entertainment of others’. Who would unlock the door for him?
The words seemed to have sparked something in Kevin, as the younger snapped his fingers repetitively, trying to draw a picture in his head or something to decide on their destination. Kibum watched on, amused at Kevin’s actions, waiting for Kevin to bring him somewhere.
Maybe, maybe Kevin would bring him somewhere personal, where he could invade further into the younger’s world. Maybe, he would see the view Kevin saw and understand the many things he couldn’t from what Kevin showed on his face.
“Ah.” Kevin beamed when the picture in his head surfaced, then easily slipping his hand into Kibum's. “I know where to bring you to.”
-
Kibum smiled at the simplicity of the park, taking in a deep breath of refreshing air the cool wind brought. Kibum turned his head to Kevin who was right beside him, seeing the younger man mimicked his actions unintentionally. The calm feeling this park gave anyone was the reason. “Why did you bring me here?”
“I don't know, I used to come here a lot.” Kevin shrugged, and the smile Kibum thought he could see wasn't there. Wasn’t this supposed to be a happy, if not soothing, place?
This place was close to his previous house. Kibum paused at the thought, once more glancing at Kevin. This place was also close to the alley he saw Kevin being raped in, that very night.
“What do you do when you're here?” Kibum shook his head off those thoughts, forcing himself not to clench his fist, because Kevin would feel the squeeze through their linked hands. The thought of that man irked him to death. He probably would never know how he had ruined Kevin, and that was the most frustrating part.
“Lay down here and look up at the sky.” Kevin smiled softly, as if reminiscing. Kibum looked up instinctively, noticing the good weather. The clouds had shielded them from the otherwise strong sunlight, causing a comfortable warmth to engulf their being. Kibum was suddenly not as annoyed as he had been a moment ago.
“Wait for me.” Kibum said, then retrieving his hand from their laced fingers before running off in a direction. Kevin confusedly tried to get a hint of what Kibum was rushing off for, but in the end deciding to take a short stroll instead. He would find out when Kibum returns, anyway.
It had been some time since he had came here, but obviously, nothing changed within such a short period of time. He remembered he was eating a fish burger then, envious of people coming over to the park with their friends or their date. That was before he met Kibum, Kevin guessed. He didn’t have the best memory, especially with the way his life was so repetitive, so he could only guess that was correct. Although it seemed almost impossible that he only knew Kibum for about seven weeks, and suddenly Kibum took up about half of all he thought of.
In these seven weeks, had Kibum became a friend?
He wasn't sure why he decided to let Kibum know this little heaven that somewhat belonged to him. This was the place he loved like his second home. There were so many things about it that made him smile, so many things he could list off the top of his head – this was the beautiful life he had before he was raped.
It had all the best memories.
“Back.” A loud pant, and Kevin gently made a turn to the sound, giggling at Kibum's bent back. The older man was huffing and puffing for oxygen, and the younger was about to open his mouth to tease him for being old when Kibum shoved a cup before his eyes. “Ice-cream?”
Kevin's laughter was cut short, eyes focused on the cup of ice-cream Kibum held. He blinked, looking at Kibum with wide eyes, before innocently asking. “You went to get this for me?”
“Of course not. I bought it to feed the floor.” Kibum chuckled, waving his own cup while coiling one arm about Kevin's neck. Kevin then took the ice-cream that very hand was holding, leaning close to Kibum's warmth. His heart felt warm and fuzzy. Despite so many men buying him lunch and dinner at exquisite dining restaurants, this could be the one that touched him most. Kibum ran for God knows how many metres to get this ice-cream for him. Silly, Kevin chuckled, but a part of him liked this silliness. “Shall we sit?”
Kevin nodded silently, moving to the grassy field in the middle of the many walkways surrounding it, taking a seat as Kibum did the same. Kevin happily took a spoonful of the ice-cream into his mouth, humming softly to express his delight. How did Kibum find out the fact that he liked vanilla?
“What do you think of when you stare at the sky?” Kibum questioned as he unhooked his arm from around Kevin's neck, taking a spoonful of his own ice-cream and almost yelping when the cold bit his exposed gums, right above his teeth.
“My future.” Kevin smiled mildly, turning his head and seeing though the calm demeanor instantly, nudging Kibum with a teasing smirk. “Not a fan of ice-cream?”
“Yeah.” Kibum honestly sighed, taking another spoonful before making a pained expression once more. He somewhat glared at the ice-cream distastefully, blowing out the cool air inside his mouth and ready to try battle the ice-cream once more.
“Why don't you try a small portion it instead?” Kevin laughed, enjoying his own ice-cream, and the thought that Kibum bought a cup to share the “joy”. If Kibum didn’t like ice-cream, then it was really thoughtful of him to buy one cup for himself just so they were both eating the cold dessert and watching the same sky.
Kibum observed the way Kevin ate his ice-cream, almost like a little child learning to take baby steps, then agreeing to do the same. He took in a deep breath and readied himself for the cold, licking the ice-cream off the spoon and then looking at it, amazed. It wasn’t that cold!
Kevin snickered at his adorable reaction.
“What was the future you thought of?” Kibum questioned, apparently not realising that Kevin had been laughing at him. He looked at the younger, waiting for a reply.
“An artist. To be an artist.”
“You draw?” Kibum paused, knowing there was something about art that could let him delve deeper into Kevin's world. Every colour used, the thickness of the brush, the intensity of the colour contrast were only a few of those clues. Kibum had heard of it, learnt it, but he had never came across anyone who loved to draw to actually test it out.
“Everyone draws. I draw really horribly, but I like it.” Kevin nodded, sighing as he placed the spoon in his mouth, feeling the ice-cream melt in his mouth. He turned to his side and realised the older man had finished, probably due to the big mouthfuls he had taken.
Kibum believed that was just Kevin being humble. Not everyone aspired to be an artist. There must be some sort of passion behind every stroke for such an aspiration. Kibum wanted to see Kevin at work. If he couldn’t, then he wanted to at least see one of Kevin’s work.
“Draw me.” The older man requested, placing the empty cup away as he leaned on Kevin's shoulder. He felt the younger’s breaths. In, out, in, out. So hypnotic, so mesmerising, as if luring him to sleep on the younger’s shoulder.
Kevin didn’t answer, only staring up into the sky blankly, lips pressed together in deep thought. He soon finished his own cup of vanilla ice-cream, idea forming in his head while he was eating in silence a moment earlier. He then placed the cup to his other side, hands cupping Kibum's face.
Kibum blinked opened his eyes at the sudden motion, then closing his eyes once more because Kevin pressed his fingers down gently on his eyelids, silently telling him to do so. He felt Kevin traced the shape of his nose, then his lips, before generally feeling his whole face with those long, slender fingers of his. Kevin's breath was slightly warm against his skin, rather steady, and that was the only thought that had crossed Kibum's mind.
Until he realised Kevin's lips were pressed against his, softly.
“I just drew you.” Kevin smiled, satisfied as he moved back and let go of Kibum’s face, pulling away. “Sealed with a kiss.”
Kibum chortled, hand blindly reaching for Kevin's and then giving it a squeeze. He wondered if Kevin felt this relaxing sensation surround his being as well. He might have twelve hours with Kevin, and he might have wanted to spend them finding out about Kevin.
But maybe, if Kevin could feel the tranquillity right then, with him, maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea just wasting time with each other by their side.
Kibum just wanted Kevin to be comfortable with him.
-
“Do you want to stay here until six o’clock?” Kevin asked softly, wondering if Kibum had really fallen asleep. They had been here for about three hours, and he wondered what time the older man usually took lunch.
Kibum made a low groan, slowly pulling away while grabbing onto his neck. “What time is it now?”
Kevin chuckled, shifting slightly now that Kibum’s was off his shoulder. With his hands placed on Kibum’s shoulder, he massaged gently, trying to soothe the muscle cramp the older man got from sleeping on his shoulder. “Fifteen minutes to eleven.”