Chapter Text
Jihoon's at it again.
Echoes of his playing filled the small, sound-proofed room. It was small, cramped, restricting, but Jihoon has never felt so free. Every beat of the drums, every sound the drumsticks made against the instrument, it made him feel alive.
"Jihoonie, study. One day, you'll run our business so you better be prepared."
"Jihoonie, quit that club. It won't be good for your studies."
"Lee Jihoon! I let you go to expensive music lessons so you can put then to good use, not to pursue it as a career!"
"Jihoon, music can't grant you a good life. This is our business, we don't run entertainment companies, or music shows, we sell things for a living!"
"Why won't you be like your yonger brother, he excels in what he does. He'll be a great doctor someday."
"Your brother will be taking up Law, so you better keep up with your studies. We don't want hyung to be embarrassed of you, right?"
"Yes, mama."
Jihoon was homeschooled for elementary, he entered a private school in senior high. He spent most of his childhood in his room. Jihoon's room was large, its walls painted blue, book shelves by the corner, an electronic keyboard at one side, and two rooms connected to it which served as bathroom and walk-in closet. He also had his own computer, television, and wii there. It had everything he needed. The room in front his was his elder brother's, the one beside his was his dongsaeng's, and beside his hyung's room was his parents. Maids always walked back and forth their house, his younger brother always stayed in his room to study. There was always someone with him in the house, but Jihoon had never felt this alone.
Jihoon studies Business Administration at some expensive university in Seoul. Since he lives in busan, he looked for a dorm around the area. Since his parents were busy, he searched on his own. For a boy who grew up pampered and born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Jihoon was doing well. He had his parents' money at his disposal, but he settles with a small apartment with two other college students. It was smaller than his room back home, but Jihoon felt more at home here.
Seoul was a breathe of fresh air. The skyscrapers were intimidating, the people looked intimidating, but everything is bearable. However, the moment he entered his classes, he felt like he's trapped over and over again. His mother's words echoed in his head.
"Jihoonie, you're going there to study, okay?"
"Jihoonie, make your mother proud."
He couldn't take it, it was suffocating. Later he'd find himself in the music room, playing the drums to his heart's content. It was his breather, his fresh air. In this small sound-proofed room, he couldn't hear the voices. He wasn't force to be who he isn't.
He was enjoying the solitary confinement when he heard someone clapped. The man stood by the door. He was wearing a white muscle tee that clung to his sweaty body. His hair was blonde, and he wore black earrings.
"Woah. That's wicked!"
The blond-haired man approaches him and extends his hand.
"I'm Kwon Soonyoung, and you need to join my band."
It was a very tempting offer, but every time he'd consider joining, his mother's voice echoed in his head. The man was persistent though. He'd chase Jihoon around the campus, bribe him with food, and would offer him all sorts of things. Jihoon didn't need any of those though, he could buy anything he wanted and was more than willing to join the band. However, he can't. He thinks he can't join. His mother wouldn't be happy to hear it.
The man is very stubborn, but he was popular. He asked his housemates about him one time. He then knew that the man was also studying a business related course. He then wonders how the man could afford to play around at such crucial time in their life.
The next time he sees the man, he asks it in a rude way.
"How could you play around like this, huh? Don't you have anything better to do with your life? I didn't come here to fool around, so if you would excuse me."
"I know that." Soonyoung says. Jihoon stops in his tracks, back still facing the man. "I know that we didn't came here to play. I know it better than anyone else." Soonyoung pauses, he takes a deep breath.
Jihoon turns to face him and listens with a brow raised.
"But after we graduate, what will become of us? Will we succeed in life? So I'm doing this, I'm enjoying while it lasts. This could be the last time that we could play like this, so please help me. Just come to the same music room tomorrow at five. Just once. If you don't like it, you can leave." And he bows before he starts walking.
The next day, Jihoon ignored his mother's voice and decided to listen to his. Jihoon shows up and decides to play with the band for the rest of his uni life.
It has been months since they started playing. They've been through performances together. They're band was composed of Jisoo, the rhythmic guitarist and vocalist, Jeonghan, the bassist, Soonyoung on the keyboard and back-up vocals, Seungcheol on the lead guitar, an Jihoon on drums.
Jihoon and Soonyoung were both a year younger than the three. Being of the same age as Jihoon, Soonyoung was closer to him than the older people.
They've played lots of times, been to gigs in bars and restaurants. Soonyoung called him Jihoonie, too. Apparently, he was five months older than Jihoon, and the younger lets it be.
It was in the middle of practice when Jihoon spaced out for a while and lost his tempo. Everyone was tired so they decided to take a break. He was so frustrated. Soonyoung sits beside him and gives him a bottle of water. Jihoon took it and nodded.
"Jihoonie, please take care of your self." Soonyoung pauses and places his hand on the younger's forehead. "Have you eaten? You look pale." Jihoon smiles. For the first time in his life, he came to love the nickname. Before he knew it, he's falling for the stubborn man.
He doesn't recognize his feelings at first. The next thing he knew, he'd admire the way he passionately played the keyboard, and he wonders, has his voice always this pleasant to the ears? He'd walk around the night market and looking at stuff, he'd ask will he like this? He'll carry extra packs of tissue for the man.
It was almost Christmas. After a gig at a bar, they sat at the lounge and celebrated by having a few drinks. Soonyoung sat beside him. The man was already tipsy. He kept calling and praising Jihoon.
"Our Jihoonie here, we couldn't do it without you." and pinches Jihoon's cheeks. He doesn't like being touched by people but he decides to let it slide.
The way he called Jihoon, it wasn't like how his mother called him. He said his nickname as if he was caling the most precious person alive. His voice was laced with care, unlike his mother's authoritative one. His touch was warm, so alive. His eyes sees the good in everything, and his mouth speaks of good things. Jihoon woke up in the middle of exams week and realized that he already fell for him.
Soonyoung loves music. It gave him the freedom he needed. However, he gave up his dreams to fulfill his parents'. Soonyoung came from a rich family, they had a family business which is growing bigger. He saw how hard his parents worked for it.
As the only child, he couldn't let it go to ruins. He then decides to give up his dreams and studied a business related course. However, he'd like to make the best out of his days as a student. He got the idea from an older roommate.
"Let's start a band!"
Soonyoung was looking for an available music room. He then found one and slowly opened the door. He saw a man playing the drums as if it was making him alive. The sound of happiness, of freedom, it resounded in the room. You can feel the pain, frustration, and happiness with every hit. The man looked so passionate, and he was an amazing drummer.
At that moment, Soonyoung swore he fell in love.
He found their drummer, and his love.
Soonyoung was not so subtle with flirting with Jihoon. Everyone else knew, everyone exept Jihoon. How dense could he be?
February came, and he decided to confess his feelings. He asked the boy to meet up with him in the same music room. He knows it's lame, but he thought of giving it a shot.
Since Jihoon and Soonyoung are meeting in the music room, Jihoon thought it was just another meeting. Still, he dressed nicely in a button up shirt and ripped jeans. He fixed his now pink hair and smiles at his reflection. He touched his hair and remembered when the two of them dyed it at the same time. They chose hilarious colors, but Jihoon didn't expect that pink hair would look fine with him, and that blue hair with look so good on Soonyoung.
He flashes another contented smile and starts walking out the house. He earned smug grins on his housemates faces, but he just shrugged them off.
Jihoon stares at the familiar door. He took a deep breath and slowly turned the knob. When he saw various types of flower petals scattered on the floor, his heart skipped a beat.
Jihoon then shifts his gaze to his bandmates that stood in the room. Jisoo and Seungcheol stood on both ends with their guitars. Jeonghan was somewhere between Soonyoung and Jisoo, he sat on the beat box. Soonyoung stood next to Seungcheol, his keyboard with him. He flashes Jihoon a nervous smile, and Jeonghan starts counting to the beat.
The band starts playing a soft melody, but Jihoon recognizes this song. Soonyoung sang with all his heart. Jihoon felt tears form in his eyes. He was so happy. At that moment, all he could hear was the sound of his heart beating as he listened to the band and to Soonyoung. His mother's voice were drowned in Soonyoung's, and he forgot about it for a while.
As soon as the set list was over, Soonyoung smiled and offers a new pair of drumsticks to Jihoon. Jihoon looks at Soonyoung, who was sweating heavily. Soonyoung smiles, but his hands were terribly shaking. Jihoon lets a giggle escape his mouth and nods as he took the drumsticks.
"Is this a yes?" Soonyoung asks nervously. Jihoon nods his head with a smile.
"Definitely." Soonyoung was very giddy. He then calms down and offers his hand.
"This band won't be the same without you. Care to play with us one more time before the day is over?" Soonyoung asks. Jihoon takes Soonyoung's hands and smiles.
Soonyoung then lead Jihoon to the drumset. Jeonghan stood up and wears the strap of his bass guitar.
The group of boys looked a Jihoon with smiles, as if expecting him to start. Jihoon takes a deep breath, closes his eyes, and hits his drumsticks against each other.
"One... Two... Three... And!"
The sound of the drums filled his ears in the same cramped room, but this time, the drums isn't alone. It accompanied guitars, keyboards, and beautiful voices, and Jihoon couldn't be happier.
Jihoon has never felt this special.
Jihoon has never felt this loved.