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Minho wakes suddenly, the sound of glass shattering echoes into his apartment. Confused, he lifts his head up, peering around his bedroom. A dream perhaps is his first thought until he hears a voice. The voice stutters and trembles. A boy, crying.
Now worried, Minho sits up in bed. Looking about his room, his cats, once asleep in their beds are now on alert, eyes focused pointedly to the ceiling. Turning to the clock on his bedside table the time reads 1:00am. He has to get up for work in four hours, but he can't go back to sleep after hearing that.
Calling the elevator, Minho waits the tortuous minute for it to arrive. Stepping in, Minho hits the button to the second floor. The sounds of the elevator making it's ascent fills his ears, but doesn't overshadow the sobs that filled them not five minutes ago. The walk down the hallway is short and Minho soon comes to the door of the apartment above his own and knocks on the door.
The door opens, "I heard a loud noise....I... I've been heard them for awhile, I came to see if everything was alright?" The figure in the doorway looks up at him before stepping out into the hallway, closing the door softly behind him " I think your ears are playing tricks on you." Jisung says, his sweater zipped up to the bottom of his chin. Minho hears movement behind Jisung, behind the door. Jisung looks behind himself, before turning back to Minho "Thanks for caring, Minho-ssi, that's nice of you, but I have to go back in." Now looking down to the floor, Minho can see his eyelashes are wet with previously shed tears. "wish I could tell you about the noise, but I didn't hear a thing." Jisung continues, now opening his door and stepping back inside " It must have been the wind." He finishes before closing the door once again, just as softly as he had done before.
Laying on the floor of his Bedroom, the cold of the floor seeps into his shirt and to his back.
He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Was he intruding? He clearly doesn't have all the facts, not knowing truly what was going on behind closed doors.... but he couldn't bare the thought of leaving him, leaving Jisung.
He remembers the first time meeting the other boy, Minho was in a hurry, he was supposed to be meeting a friend at 12, but his cats had other ideas and obviously cleaning up a fallen plant was better use of his time than unwinding with his friend. Locking his door, Minho turns, his attention now on a boy not that much younger than himself if his guess is correct. He's adjusting boxes by the apartment complex doors, stacking one ontop of the other. Struggling with what looks like the last and clearly heaviest box, Minho heads over to help. "Here, I've got it." He says as he lifts the box with ease and puts it ontop of the rest.
Now turning to face the stranger, Minho stares. He's somewhat shorter than Minho, black jeans and an oversized hoody hug his smaller frame. Dark brown fluffy hair frames his face and accentuates his round cheeks. The strangers face lights up "Oh, Thank you!" he says smiling at Minho, who blinks rapidly "I'm Jisung, and you are....?" Minho quickly snaps out of his trance, "Minho, Lee Minho. I live just over there, You're moving in?" Jisung nods, "Yeah, new town.... new apartment. We're one floor up."
We're? He's moving in with his family? Perhaps he's younger than he thought. That's proven wrong when a man probably about the same age as Minho but tall, taller than both of them steps into the building.
"I thought you were taking the boxes up to the apartment babe, and yet you're here, talking." The words sound almost innocuous but there's something there in his tone, it makes Jisung straighten himself, nervously pulling at his hoody. "Hyung...I.." he struggles to get out, shrinking in on himself. Minho quickly interrupts, not liking how the other boy shyed away, drawing into himself.
"I saw Jisung struggling with a box, I came over to help. I meant no harm." The man looks him up and down, "Yeah, you didn't." He grabs a box before looking to Jisung "Well?" Jisung quickly looks away, but picks up a box and hurries to catch up with the man already halfway down the hallway, but not without looking back to Minho, attempting a wave despite the box weighing his arms down. Minho is enamoured.
The next time it happens, he's out the door in a instant. Hitting the second floor elevator button just like before, and then making his way down the hall. Knocking at the door, Minho listens. Hushed whispers makes their way out under the door, quiet but harsh. The door opens and Jisung timidly peers out. "Minho-ssi? What are you doing here?" Minho takes a step back, allowing Jisung to come out into the hall properly but Jisung doesn't move. "What can I help you with?"
"I thought I heard something, something break?" The younger man adjusts his sweater, flinching slightly as his hand grazes a spot on his shoulder. "Jisung...are you okay?" A cough sounds behind Jisung, making both of them jump. " Thank you Minho-ssi, but I think your ears are playing tricks on you again, It must have been the wind. We didn't hear anything, did we?" Jisung projects his voice inside, a grunt being his only reply "I've got to go back in now" The door closed softly but not before Minho hears a small whisper "Thanks for caring."
Time passes, sometimes it's quiet but sometimes the wind gets heavier, noiser and louder but it also crys. On the quieter days, mornings really, conversation in the hallway is quick, Minho heading to work and Jisung coming back in, greeting Minho with bright eyes and an even brighter smile. Minho wonders what he does, so early in the morning. The sun not nearly awake yet. Minho is barely awake but Jisung is different in the mornings. Cheerful and happy. Happy to see him.
There's never enough time to talk properly but Minho asks him one morning, "What is it you do, outside? It's hardly light out." Jisung dims, eyes falling to his converse "I like it, it's quiet. Peaceful. On my own, I can think." Minho doesn't ask again. Doesn't want to see Jisung look upset, something he caused. He shouldn't of asked.
On the louder days, the second floor, the same door and the same "Thank you Minho-ssi", "Didn't hear anything", "...Wind", "I have to go back inside" The same thing, again and again. It pains him. He hates it. Everytime, the same script. The ominous presence that lingers close when Jisung opens the door, the way he covers his arms or pulls his sweater up higher and the small "Thank you for caring" that breaks him every single time Jisung closes the door.
It's Minho's turn for an early morning walk. He hasn't got work but his body had still woken him early. He can't go back to sleep, his head already full so early in the morning.
The wind blows softly as he steps outside the apartment complex, he pulls his coat tighter before heading to the communal gardens. It's still dark outside but the lamps dotted around the grass and flowers create an inviting pull. He spots a bench, sectioning off a row of flowers that look almost black, the darkness of the sky sapping the once pink roses of their colour. Sitting down on the bench, Minho pulls out his phone before getting out his headphones. It's eerily quiet, no people, only the window rustling the occasional shrub.
Opening his music he hits play. The sound of a piano resonates in his ears.
"sometimes in our lives" , Minho listens.
"Lean on me, when you're not strong " He looks up to the second floor, the windows are dark. Their occupants still asleep or awoken, already starting their day. Jisungs window is open, only slightly, A small glow from a light illuminating it.
Minho removes his headphones, adjusts the volume and points it towards the open glass. Towards Jisung.
" Lean on me
When you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on..."
There's a shadow in the window, a figure blocking the light.
"If there is a load you have to bear
That you can't carry
I'm right up the road
I'll share your load
If you just call me
Call me
If you need a friend
(call me)"
The window closes, the figure still cast in shadow before leaving his view entirely. Minho drops his phone to his lap as the song ends. Feeling silly. He wants Jisung to know, he can lean on him. Minho would do anything for him, even after only knowing him a few months. He'd made quite the impression. Minho wants to see Jisung smile. Wants to see him happy.
Minho looks back up to the window. The light is out.His eyes fall to the ground, watching as the wind carries a leaf across his vision.
"I promise, I'm not playing tricks on you, Jisung." He says, the wind rustles his surroundings.
"You'd always be welcome, to come to mine. You could stay, if only for an hour or two. If you ever need a friend." He continues. It's starting to get lighter now, the soft pink of the flowers slowly enhancing. "We can talk about the noise, when your ready. But until then, it must just be the wind."
Minho puts his things back into his pockets, taking one last look at the apartment before standing up and heading back inside.
He's halfway to the garden entrance before he picks his head up and makes eye contact with Jisung. The early morning sun now illuminating their surroundings. The rays catching on Jisungs eyelashes, on the rears that collect there.
"Minho-ssi?" Jisung starts slowly towards him "Hyung." "Huh?" He pauses in his steps.
"Call me Hyung." Minho asks.
"Minho-hyung. Hyung. It's not.... It's not just the wind."