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Daeyoung walks leisurely around his neighborhood on Saturday morning. The sun shines brighter than any other day before, there are not that many clouds and the sky looks so blue just as the way he truly likes it. He hums a song, it's a Japanese song that he just discovered after scrolling through so many videos on YouTube trying to find it. Daeyoung has only heard it once at the cafe the day before during his free—boring—time. Since he is still not that familiar to Japanese words let alone when the words combined turns into lyrics and has melody, Daeyoung find it hard to search for it. He couldn't find it easily no matter how many times he type the hiragana on his phone based on what he just heard. He contemplated it a bit whether to just ask the manager or not. Miraculously, Daeyoung found it. His smile shines the brightest in that dim light cafe.
Daeyoung thinks back on it, it was worth it that his plan got cancelled yesterday and he get to spend Friday evening at the cafe also even discovered such a good song in which he believes it is containing his feelings from his basic knowledge of Japanese words. Daeyoung initially went to have a study group at the nearby cafe around his campus, however two of his friends couldn't make it and eventually the study group got cancelled though Daeyoung has arrived at the cafe one hour prior than the arranged time. So he just spent his free time there at the cafe doing his assignments. Daeyoung is not that kind of student that seek aesthetic in everyday life nor a very dilligent student, yesterday was the first time he did his assignments alone at the cafe. Usually, if he was alone, he would just do it in his studio apartment then laze around.
Yes, Kim Daeyoung rented a studio apartment that is not that far away from his campus in Seoul. Actually, both of his parents rented it. However, Daeyoung who has become a young adult started to work as a part timer in a bookstore and in a—crowded—chicken restaurant around the campus to cover his living cost and mostly the money he received from his parents always go to his bank account without him spending any of it, except for like some of it for the fifty percent of the rental cost. He is a Daegu man who works earnestly, lives frugally and has lots of goals in his life. Daeyoung felt a sense of a big achievement in his life. He even got praised by his older brothers just a day before after he went back home from the cafe, the two of them has learned about Daeyoung making money from his part time job through one of the eldest brother's colleague that happened to run into him a week before. Daeyoung wanted to keep it a secret as to not worry his parents and older brothers, but then when they finally knew about it, they fully supported him. His older brothers even show him the rope to gather lots of experiences in doing part time jobs. Daeyoung thought he should have let them know sooner.
Anyway, yesterday was like the best day in his life after a misfortune—when his plan got cancelled. So, now, today, he is truly feeling blessed. His steps to his campus feel a lot lighter as he paces himself at the same speed as the melody that he is humming. Ah, really, when the wind breeze touches his skin, Daeyoung feels like he is embraced by the nature. He really like today's weather. It's not that cold, and not too warm. Just like his feelings. Daeyoung then repeats the chorus of the song with his broken Japanese. Well, it's alright since none of the passerby understand any of it. His voice get a bit louder as if he is just confessing to the whole world when there is no one there. Until....
“Daeyoung-ah, the lyrics are completely wrong.” Daeyoung stops at his track and turns his whole body to see the owner of that cotton-candy like voice.
The man about one palm shorter than him laughs heartily to himself and mumbles the lyrics that Daeyoung just sang. Daeyoung feels ticklish around his chest and nose that he ends up laughing, too. He really like the sound of that person's laugh ringing in his ear that he forget his embarrassment for a second.
“Just where did you learn those lyrics?” Yushi asks him feeling a bit amazed at how incoherent the lyrics Daeyoung just sang before. It barely even makes up into a sentence.
Feeling shy, Daeyoung bashfully answers while scratching the back of his head, “Actually I just found that song yesterday, so I haven't really memorised the lyrics, hyung.”
“Is that so? Then, it will be easier for you to understand the translation of the lyrics, first, since Daeyoung knows basic Japanese, right?” Yushi takes out his phone from his pants' pocket and type something on it.
“Ah, right... I should have searched for its translation, too...” Daeyoung's eyes widened, his mouth forming a small 'o' as if he just thought of it. Yushi finds it funny and chuckles to himself.
“I have sent it.” Yushi says, not long after that, a vibration can be felt from Daeyoung's pocket. Daeyoung reached out for his phone and saw Yushi message. He thought Yushi maybe sent him a link to YouTube, but he is completely wrong. Instead, Yushi sent him some screenshots from his note. There are korean translation lyrics just under every verse of the Japanese lyrics. He wonders if Yushi translate it himself.
“Wow, thank you, hyung.” Daeyoung express his gratitude with a big smile on his face. Even though he is quiet curious and wants to ask about it, Daeyoung just swallow his curiosity. He thinks he can already guess it and he is afraid to hear the explanation that comes after the yes or no answers.
Daeyoung bitterly smile as he reads the lyrics on his phone. He knows by heart that the lyrics match his feelings so well, but he doesn't expect it to really sound like it's voicing his mind and his feelings.
“Shall we go?” Yushi's soft voice snaps Daeyoung back to the reality. He looks up a bit from his phone screen, his eyes meet Yushi's gentle gaze. Daeyoung from seven months ago will never believe he get to see this kind of gaze from Yushi who always seems aloof and cold.
Daeyoung smiles at the thought that Yushi has finally loosened up a bit around him. He nods to Yushi's words. The two of them walk side by side with Yushi on the side of the road and Daeyoung on his right side. The two of them continue to walk in a comfortable silence. Yushi's eyes would rolls here and there as if he is scanning the neighborhood and Daeyoung would notice it and breaks into a smile.
“It's the first time that you come here, right, hyung?” Daeyoung starts the conversation. Yushi turns his head to meet Daeyoung's eyes and nods silently.
“I live around here.” Daeyoung continues the conversation. Yushi just smiles softly.
“What were you doing there, hyung?”
“I.. just had something to do. I happen to run into you. You look so energetic and excited since early in the morning.” Yushi chuckles.
Daeyoung blushes a little, he must have looked silly in Yushi's eyes.
“Ah, I guess it's because the weather is good today.” Daeyoung tries to make an excuse. Yushi just nods at his words with a teasing look on his face. Daeyoung really likes that look on his face, but please help him he is now so embarrassed to death.
“Shall we listen to that song?” Yushi asks, now he grabs his earbuds from his other pocket. Daeyoung tilts his head in confusion.
“Mosawo, Koiiro (The colour of love).” Once again, Daeyoung makes an astonishment expression on his face at Yushi's words.
They just arrived at their campus gate, Daeyoung quickly makes calculations. He feels a bit sad that time seems to pass by quickly whenever he is with Yushi. So, he tries to remember how many steps he usually takes from the campus gate to Yushi's classroom on the first floor. Usually, Japanese songs last for more than three minutes, right? Will the song get finished once they arrive there? Hm, after some seconds of doing rough calculations, Daeyoung nods his hand and holds out his hand asking for the other side of the earbuds from Yushi. Yushi bursts into a smile that he quickly hides it away by moving his head down.
The two of them resumes their walk to their classroom, they listen to the song quietly. Sometimes Daeyoung would occasionally take a look at his phone to see the lyrics and its translation. Yushi, on his side, would take some secret glances and his ears would get a bit redder each time Daeyoung takes a look at his phone. It feels as if Daeyoung is trying to read his feelings along the lyrics and the melody of the song. Unfortunately, Daeyoung was just trying to see its translation and he will nod to himself because he somehow feels he can relate to the lyrics. That's just how oblivious Daeyoung is to his surroundings, to Yushi who is now becoming as red as the lobster coming out of the pan after being boiled.
However, Daeyoung is a chatterbox person. He feels bad becoming quiet while listening the song Yushi suggested. So, he unknowingly starts running his mouth.
“Whoa, hyung, the lyrics of the songs are so romantic. If there is a drama using this song, that would be good. I mean, you can feel the other person's point of view here having their unrequited love.” Daeyoung is blabbering his words to Yushi. Yushi only smiles faintly, his eyes drop. Daeyoung wonders why when he takes a look at the quiet Yushi besides him. But, he just think that's just how normally Yushi is, so he starts another approach to make Yushi a bit more comfortable. It's nearing the end of the song, too.
“I can see why this song is popular among youngsters these days, it even got played at the cafe... And? Hmm... I wonder what this song is about to you, Hyung..” Daeyoung stops at his track. They are finally in front of Yushi's classroom. Yushi looks flustered hearing Daeyoung's question. His eyes rolling here and there as if he is trying to avoid answering it as much as possible. Sensing the sudden awkwardness in the atmosphere, Daeyoung rubs the back of his head. When he is about to apologise for making Yushi uncomfortable, he hears the door of the classroom being opened.
Daeyoung could clearly see the change in Yushi's eyes.
“Sion hyung!” Yushi calls out to Sion and quickly runs to him. Daeyoung who is left there, makes an eye contact with Sion and bows his head. Sion smiles and then his attention swifts to Yushi who is standing in front of him.
Stupid Daeyoung and his running mouth, he kind of regrets it now that he just asked Yushi about what that song is for him. Daeyoung can't take his eyes off Yushi who has left his side and goes to Sion who just arrived at the front of the classroom. Yushi looks so beautiful smiling ear to ear whenever he talks to Sion. Daeyoung envies him for having the chance to look at that expression closely. Daeyoung sighs, Yushi even forget the left part of his earbuds at the presence of Oh Sion.
Daeyoung approaches the two of them slowly as to not disturb the atmosphere around them. He carefully taps Yushi's shoulder and hands him the left part of his earbuds.
Daeyoung bitterly smiles, “Hyung, you forget about this.”
“Oh, right, thank you, Daeyoung.” Yushi's fingers brush slightly to Daeyoung's palm that hands the left part of his earbuds.
“You guys were listening to a song? What song is it?” Sion who is known to be such a curious young man asks the two of them.
Yushi sheepishly scratches the back of his neck and steal glances to Daeyoung. Daeyoung thinks it's a signal from Yushi to him, so Daeyoung is the one who answer Sion's curiosity.
“It's a Japanese song that I heard at the cafe before, hyung. Yushi hyung happened to know it as well so we listened to it together on our way here. Ah, we just bumped into each other!” Daeyoung thinks he really need to clarify things so instead of just answering Sion's question, he take a roundabout way to explain it to him.
“I will send the link to that song.” Daeyoung forces a smile. His gaze move downwards a bit and sees Yushi's reddening ears.
“I'm going to my lecture room, now.” Daeyoung bows his head hurriedly to both of them and goes to the second floor to his lecture room. He doesn't really like it when Sion makes a teasing face and Yushi blushes profusely at his teasing. Daeyoung sighs. It's going to be hard to face Yushi for a while now, he needs to cool his head down.
Daeyoung joins Ryo and Sakuya as usual. The three of them have lunch at the canteen of their campus.
“Hey, can I invite Riku-hyung over?” Ryo who is busy looking at his phone finally asks Daeyoung and Sakuya who are sitting in front of him.
“Huh? It's alright, but his department is a bit far away from us.” Sakuya says. Daeyoung nods.
Riku was their senior at the club they were attending back then in high school. It was a baseball club. Daeyoung, Ryo and Sakuya are all friends since highschool even though the three of them came from different classes. They look up to Riku a lot and Riku adores them a lot too, especially Ryo.
“Oh, there he is!” Ryo waves his hand to Riku. Riku smiles widely and runs to their table.
“Ryo-chan~” Riku calls Ryo cutely and rubs his cheek to Ryo's head. Ryo just accepts it as if it's a daily occurrence to him. And It is.
“Whoa, it's curry!” Riku takes a seat in front of Daeyoung.
“Don't you have any classes after lunch, hyung?” Sakuya asks him with his mouth full of rice. Riku snickers at him.
“No, I don't have one. It's kind of boring so I contacted Ryo to eat lunch together.”
“Must be nice, we still have one more lecture after lunch.” Daeyoung mumbles.
Riku takes his Bento out of his bag.
“Oh, did noona come home?” Ryo asks. Riku nods happily.
“That's why finally I eat decent meal in such a long time.” He clasps his hands and thank God for it. The three younger boys laughs at him.
“Oh, it seems lively, here. Mind if I join?” The four of them looks up to see Sion smiling brightly while carrying his tray and behind him there is Yushi who looks like a shy cat.
“Who is he?” Riku asks Daeyoung in a whisper.
“Oh Sion, he is our major senior and behind him is... Tokuno Yushi, his... Friend.” Riku nods his head.
“Yeah, hyung. Join us here! The more the livelier.” Ryo and Sakuya happily invites them.
Sion naturally sits besides Riku and Riku having a weak heart for a handsome man scoots over to Ryo's side quitely. Sion chuckles when he notices it. And because Sion has taken the seat besides Riku, of course, Yushi had to take the seat besides Daeyoung. Daeyoung feels conflicted. He feels awkward about having to witness Sion and Yushi having lunch face to face like this and he can only see them from the side.
Because of Ryo and Sakuya's bright personality, all of them can have conversations just fine, except for Yushi who is still awkward around Riku. He will just takes a glance over to Daeyoung and the others. He can see that Daeyoung is close to Riku. He feels a needle penetrating his heart and the curry that is supposed to be the students' favourite somehow taste bland.
Daeyoung notices the small change in Yushi because he doesn't look as excited as he used to when he eats his favourite menu. However he thinks it was because Sion kept trying to hold a conversation with Riku.
“Ah, hyung. I forget, I have sent the link to that song to you.” Daeyoung changes the topic.
“What song is it?” Riku asks.
“Mosawo, the colour of love. I happened to hear it once at the cafe.”
“Oh! That's a nice song about unrequited love.” Sakuya chimed in.
“Huh? Saku knows about this song, too?” Ryo makes a bewildered expression.
“Of course!”
“It's kind of a famous song, my second older sister usually sang it at home.” Riku says.
“Is that so?” Sion strikes another conversation to Riku again. Riku looks fidgeting in his seat as if he is still not comfortable around Sion. Seeing it, Daeyoung can't just stay still. Even though he is not happy that his feelings will be buried alive. He wants at least the person he loves dearly can have his feelings reciprocated.
“Yeah, it's a nice song about unrequited love so I hope hyung would notice there is someone around you that labour such feelings.” Daeyoung mumbles, as the more words he utters his voice fades. He takes a look at Yushi who is staring at him without much expression. Daeyoung bits his lower lips.
“Ah, I'm full, I'm going to our lecture room first.” Daeyoung quickly gets up from his seat and leaves the increasingly awkward atmosphere.
After he put his tray, Daeyoung walks fastly to the vending machine and buy him a pocari sweat. After he empties it all, he begins walking the corridor on the first floor.
“Kim Daeyoung!” Daeyoung's body is forcefully turn as the hand grabs his arm strongly. He sees Yushi breathing heavily. Did he just run to catch him? Daeyoung thinks.
“There is something I want to say.” Yushi says when his breathing finally slows down.
Daeyoung turns his head unable to meet Yushi's gaze. It's about time for him to say goodbye to his unrequited love, but Yushi makes it impossible for him at the last minute.
“I hope it works out for you and Sion-hyung, hyung. Sion hyung is such a friendly person so it's only natural for him wanting to get along with a new person. But, don't worry, if it's you, hyung, I'm sure you still have a chance.”
Yushi shaked Daeyoung's arm. His eyebrows furrowed deeply. He seems to be mad at something, so Daeyoung closes his mouth tightly.
“What are you even saying, Kim Daeyoung? What will works out for who and with whom?”
“You.. and Sion-hyung.”
“What an absurd misunderstanding!” It's the first time Daeyoung hears Yushi's loud voice in the empty corridor. He becomes a timid puppy in front of Yushi. He wonders if it really is just a misunderstanding from his side.
“But, you... Look happy around him.... You blushes, too...”
“It was because I was talking about you!” Yushi ruffles his hair in frustration but his other hand never leaves Daeyoung's arm.
Daeyoung spontaneously turns his head. His eyes meet Yushi's eyes that are filling up with tears.
“How... Can you.. have such an absurb misunderstanding? Daeyoung really doesn't know my heart.” Tears are finally flowing down to Yushi's cheeks. He feels overwhelmed by his own feelings and the misunderstanding that he unknowingly just created to Daeyoung. It really hurts him that the one he loves accused his actions for a love towards another person. Yushi might not show it well and directly to Daeyoung. He fully understands it himself, so he regrets it so much that it finally leads them to a loop of misunderstanding. No wonder whenever there is Sion, Daeyoung feels somewhat distant. No wonder Daeyoung sometimes avoided him. If this morning, Yushi didn't 'happen' to bump into him maybe Daeyoung will avoid him forever. Now he becomes a lot sadder by his own thoughts.
Daeyoung panickedly reaches out for his handkerchief and wipes the tears that is still flowing down.
“Hyung, don't cry. I'm sorry for having that misunderstanding. I'm sorry that I didn't notice your feelings.” Daeyoung bends down so his eyes are on the same level as Yushi. Yushi quickly cups his face and plants a soft kiss lightly to Daeyoung's thin lips. When he breaks the kiss first, Daeyoung takes a step back and cover his mouth with one of his hand. He doesn't expect this.
“The one that I love is you, Kim Daeyoung. Now, you do understand my feelings right?” Yushi glares at Daeyoung. Daeyoung timidly nods his head several times. Yushi chuckles for a bit.
“Stupid Daeyoung!” Then, he escapes by running to his own classroom. Daeyoung once again is left there, blush finally creeps in. He blushes profusely.
Daeyoung carefully approach Yushi in his empty classroom, he looks around and finds no other bags aside from Yushi's and Sion's are there. So he assumes his class must have ended. Yushi who is covering his face with both of his hands doesn't even move. Daeyoung sits in front of him. He clears his throat several times, but Yushi just stays still so Daeyoung breathes in deeply to gather his courage.
“Yushi-hyung.” Daeyoung can see Yushi's flinching after he hears his name get called.
“Do you remember the first time we meet?” Yushi nods silently. Daeyoung smiles even though Yushi still is covering his face.
“You know, that day, I fell in love with you at the first sight, hyung. Right after Sion hyung introduce yourself to me. Your mysterious yet warm eyes makes me want to dive deeper into it. But, maybe I stared for too long and it made you shy away that you turned your head. I remember instead of feeling hurt, I still smiled to myself like an idiot. It felt like i was mysteriously being charmed by your eyes. I thought there was some kind of magic in it.” Daeyoung can hear Yushi's chuckles hearing his words.
“I thought to myself. Is this love? Even though I knew it from the start that I fell in love with you at the first sight. And like a fate, I always noticed you even among crowds, you were always there, too. I guess God wanted to play a bit of teasing to me, so I got my hopes up, i thought it would finally reached the sky at some point.” Daeyoung laughs at himself. Yushi's ears becoming red when Daeyoung mention that it was fate. Daeyoung finds it cute but he doesn't want to spoil the atmosphere.
“The eyes that always stare at mine always look so warm. So I really hope I can get closer to you, but as the time went by, I began to notice you acted differently towards Sion hyung. I didn't want to be the only one hurting so I tried hard to avoid you. I'm sorry, hyung.”
“But, then, I met you this morning. My hope towards you were soaring into the sky when you sent me the translation of the lyrics, but then again I thought it was for Sion hyung. I guess I didn't know much about you, hyung. I'm sorry for doubting your feelings as I was so engrossed in my own misunderstanding towards you.”
Yushi slowly lowers his hand. His eyes meet Daeyoung's briefly then falls to his desk.
“The translation... I made it myself... When you came into the cafe, I was there, Daeyoung. The manager, Yuta-san, is my cousin. I spent weekend helping him sometimes, i even seeked advices from him. So when you were there, he suggested to play one of my favourite song and it was mosawo the colour of love. He said if Daeyoung had someone he loved he would frantically search for the song after understanding the lyrics from his basic Japanese knowledge, that's what Yuta-san told me. And you did. You quickly searched for the song in your phone. I was so heartbroken at that time, I thought you were avoiding me because you had someone else you wanted to be closer to. So I asked Sion hyung for advices, too. Aside from my cousin, Sion-hyung is another person who knew about my feelings, so I openly talked to him about you.” Daeyoung can't hide his joyful expression when he knows that his feelings are not one-sided. Yushi timidly meets Daeyoung's eyes again and glares at him because he feels like Daeyoung is making fun of him. Daeyoung shaked his head several times and gestures him to continue.
“Sion hyung gives me your address, but I got lost so I was just wandering around the neighborhood until I found you happily walks while singing my favourite songs with some broken lyrics.” Yushi smiles teasingly at Daeyoung. Daeyoung hides himself behind his big hands and mutters the apology.
“I was so happy that we finally walk side by side and listening to the song we both like. So I was so eager to tell it to Sion hyung. I didn't know it will just create another misunderstanding...”
“....and now actually, I feel so embarrassed to death for crying childishly in front of you.” Yushi pouts. Daeyoung chuckles then softly puts his hands over Yushi's hands.
“I feel so happy right now that I know Yushi hyung feels the same way as me.”
“And... Uh... If it's not too much to ask for.... Can I... stay next to you more often from now on, hyung?” Daeyoung blushes at his own words.
Yushi too blushes, “Stupid, Daeyoung. The answer is already obvious.”
Riku quickly ate his lunch after Sion pestering him some personal questions and left in a hurry saying that his noona will be worried. So now, Sion, Ryo and Sakuya go to the lecture room on the first floor. From the window, they can clearly see the two lovebirds laughing and teasing each other in an empty classroom. Sion grins happily, of course he is happy now that Yushi finally can get together with Daeyoung after he endlessly told him to just confess his feelings first and gave him advices. However he is kind of worried now, Yushi will probably not stopping at once to tell him about his date with Daeyoung. He sighs and turns his whole body to Ryo and Sakuya who are peeking through the window too.
“I didn't know Yushi hyung like Daeyoung hyung.” Sakuya says. Ryo nods in agreement.
“Let's just leave the two lovebirds alone.” Sion smiles at them. They both nod their head.
“Ah! Hey, Ryo, i almost forget. Please give me Riku's number. I think I finally have someone I want to pursue. Looks like I will have a fun life ahead, don't you think?” Sion smirks at Ryo. Ryo and Sakuya exchange glances, they are not sure to give Riku's phone number away to Sion—and it's their first time meeting each other, too—or just ask Riku to run away as far as he could after seeing Sion's mischievous expression. The two of them wonder if Sion is actually a gumiho prying a healthy men to eat his liver and now he is aiming for Riku's 'liver'.
When Ryo doesn't move a tiny bit, Sion grows a bit impatient and just hands his phone a lot closer to Ryo, Ryo gulps his dry saliva. He has no choice but to give him his Riku-hyung number. He elbows Sakuya sending signal.
“I'm going to the bathroom.” Sakuya runs to the bathroom as fast as he could leaving a scared puppy alone facing the deadly smiling gumiho.
When Sakuya has finally locked the bathroom door, he calls Riku.
“Moshi moshi? What is it Sakuya?”
“Riku-hyung. You are seriously in danger. Be aware of Sion hyung.” He says fastly as if he is rapping and then closes the phone.
Riku on the other hand gets goosebumps all over his body. He regrets having lunch at the business department. He should have just gone straight home, now what will he do? He feels like crying.
The End