Work Text:
Seoul, 1996:
The Kims move to Seoul two years after Kai was born. As they were setting up the new house, their eldest, daughter Jieun (5) who was playing outside in the garden falls down and gets hurt. Before Mrs.Kim could reach her, a small boy, picks her up and wipes her tears. The boy turns out to be Minho(7), their neighbor. He is polite and friendly and helps Mrs.Kim to carry Jieun inside. While chatting, Mrs.Kim learns that the Parks, their neighbors have three sons. Minho, Chanyeol (4) and their toddler Sehun (2). Soon the Kims and the Parks are best friends. Both their kids go to the same neighborhood school. Kai and Sehun end up being classmates even though Kai is three months younger.
Kai and Sehun spend all their free time together and eventually develop feelings for each other by age 12. Both their families approve as Jieun and Minho are fond of each other too.
“I wish I had another child.” Mrs.Kim sighs. “Why?” Mrs. Park is curious. “Then he or she would end up with Chanyeol. Poor him.” At that Mrs.Park laughs. “Ah, he has already found his soulmate he says. His classmate Kyungsoo.” Kyungsoo’s father is the local pediatrician. “Nice boy.” While the mothers plan the children’s future wedding, Mr.Kim and Mr. Park get their transfer orders. The Kims were to move to Germany while the Parks get to go to China.
With tears and promises to keep in touch, the families move. Initially in the first few years, the letters and phone calls were frequent but slowly yet steadily communication becomes less and then non existent.
Germany, 2012:
Kai joins Hamburg school of ballet at 18. Soon he becomes the lead dancer and wins many competitions. The school team is sent to Beijing that year for an international championship. Kai is both excited and anxious. The night before the trip, Jieun teases him. “What if you meet Sehun? Will you recognize him?” Kai smacks her hand off. “Get real noona. What are the odds that I will meet him at a ballet competition?” Jieun smiles “You never know.”
The odds were in Kai’s favor. He does meet Sehun at the championship. At first, Kai doesn’t recognize him but after Sehun’s name is called, he couldn’t help but seek him. Sehun recognizes him instantly. They talk briefly and exchange numbers. Kai’s team wins the competition while Sehun’s team secures second place. The teams go out for dinner. At dinner, Sehun introduces his boyfriend, Luhan to Kai. Till then, Kai never knew that he still had lingering feelings for Sehun. The next day they bid goodbye at the airport. Kai blocks Sehun’s number.
New York, 2019:
At 25, Kai is the youngest instructor working for New York Ballet company. He meets Byeon Woo-seok who falls in love with him. Although he likes Byeon, Kai still loves Sehun. After a year of courtship, Kai finally agrees to Byeon’s proposal and they get engaged. Two years later, Byeon dies in a fatal car crash a day before his wedding to Kai. Kai is devastated and shuts himself off from the world.
Seoul, 2024:
Kai moves to Seoul to be closer to his family as Mrs.Kim is diagnosed with final stage of cervical cancer. His sister, Jieun now married to Park Hyung-sik, had moved to Seoul three years ago with her three children. She and her husband, Hyung-sik took care of Mrs.Kim after Mr.Kim’s death. When Kai meets his sister at the hospital, Jieun breaks down. Hyung-sik consoles her and asks Kai to go ahead to see his mother.
“Remember Kai, she might not recognize you as she suffers from dementia.” Hyung-sik briefly pats Kai’s back gently. When Kai sits besides his mother’s bed, she wakes up and smiles at him. “We should have never left Seoul. When you meet Sehun now, forget about the past and marry him. You deserve your happiness.” Before Kai could reply, she breathes her last.
The next day:
The funeral service is full. Kai is the chief mourner with Jieun sitting beside him and her three sons. Her husband Hyungsik takes care of the mourners and the food. Kai never knew that his mother had so many friends and relatives in Seoul. Towards the evening, he sees Sehun walking towards him. He feels his heart beat faster. Sehun bows to him and Jieun and then quietly finds a place in the corner of the dining hall. Jieun nudges Kai to talk to him.
“Sorry for your loss.” says Sehun in his bass voice. Kai nods at him. They sit quietly and drink soju. Before Sehun leaves, he gives his card to Kai. “Call me this time. I have been waiting all these years.” That night after a brief battle with himself which he obviously looses, Kai calls Sehun. He picks up in the second ring. “Well it’s about time.”
A year later, Sehun proposes and Kai accepts. They get married at the city hall. Kai has finally come home to his love, Sehun.
The End.