Chocolate #2

Of Paper Planes and Plastic Hearts // Sanghyuk x Namjoo

Age 5.

“What are you doing?” Little Sanghyuk asked the little girl on the other side of the brick wall. His family just moved into this new house, which meant new adventures for little Hyuk. His older brother Jaehwan would usually adventure with him, but he was stuck helping their parents move. And then of course his mom barked at Little Hyuk to play outside while the workers moved, so Hyuk was left alone to venture through the backyard, when he came across this valiant challenge called the brick wall. It was quite a battle, but little Hyuk came out victorious as he perched himself on the defeated wall, when he spotted the girl with pigtails.

“I’m making a paper airplane,” Pigtails (that’s what he named the girl) replied with a grin. Little Hyuk cocked his head, “Why?”

Pigtails smiled, “I’m practicing so that when I get older, I can send it to the person I love.”

Little Hyuk grimaced. Love? Ew, his friend from back home was right: girls DO have cooties. Little Hyuk started to regret starting a conversation with a specimen that had cooties.

“Who are you?” Pigtails asked suddenly, “And why are you sitting up there?”

Little Hyuk coughed and then said with a loud voice, “I’m Han Sanghyuk. Your new neighbor! We just moved it. Actually, they’re moving right now.”

Pigtails giggled, “Why aren’t you helping?”

“I am,” Little Hyuk replied, “I’m exploring the new place for them!”

“Ah, you’re such a good son!” Pigtails mused. Little Hyuk grinned… on second thought, maybe girls weren’t so bad after all. Her comment made him feel proud and important.

“Hm,” Little Hyuk said, “I guess.”

Pigtails giggled as she made her paper airplane, ignoring him. Little Hyuk shouted, “Hey, pigtails! Can I have an airplane?”

Pigtails looked at him in shock and said, “No.”

“What?” Little Hyuk replied, upset that he wasn’t good enough to get a plane,” Why not?”

“Because,” Pigtails replied, “It’s not for you.”

“But I want one,” Little Hyuk argued. Pigtails shook her head, “No.”

His little five-year old pride hurt, Little Hyuk attempted to climb down the wall to grab a plane for himself. But unfortunately, his little five-year old limbs weren’t enough to give him a graceful fall; rather, Little Hyuk fell flat on his face, scraping his knees and hands.

“Oh my goodness!” Pigtails screamed as she ran over to Little Hyuk, who was planted into the ground, faced down, “Are you okay?”

Little Hyuk was too embarrassed to lift his face up and then the pain on his knees kicked in. The water works exploded and Little Hyuk cried, leaving Pigtails in panic. She ran in to get her mom, who cleaned Little Hyuk up nicely and calmed him down by giving ice cream. Little Hyuk happily his ice cream, knees all bandaged up from the kind mommy. Pigtails also ate her ice cream happily, sitting next to Little Hyuk. Of course, he got a very good beating when his mommy found out about his little adventure.

But that’s how Sanghyuk first met Namjoo. And that’s when his interest in paper airplanes started.

Age 7.

“I’m gonna give my paper airplane!” Namjoo said, beaming brightly.

“Really?” Hyuk asked in shock, “To who?!”

The two neighbors were playing at the nearby park swinging on the swings. Namjoo grinned, “Secret.”

“Hey,” Hyuk complained, “That’s not fair! You never gave me one… I deserve to know who you’re giving it to!”

Namjoo shook her head, “Nope, not telling.”

Later that day, Hyuk had some trouble with his math problem and hopped over to his brother’s room for help.

“I don’t get this math problem,” Hyuk pouted to eleven-year old Jaehwan, who was working on his own homework at his desk. Jaehwan smiled as he ruffled Hyuk’s head.

“Alrighty,” the older one said, “I’ll look over it for you.”

Hyuk smiled as he looked at his brother’s desk, he seriously had the bestest older brother ever- GASP! Hyuk’s eyes bulged out when he saw a very carefully folded paper airplane on his desk.

“Hyung!” Hyuk shouted, “What is this paper airplane?!?”

Jaehwan laughed, “Oh, this? Namjoo gave it to me.”

“IT WAS YOU!?!?!” Hyuk said, shocked and a little angry that his older brother got an airplane before he did. Jaehwan always did things first (after all, he was older), but one thing Hyuk believed to have that Jaehwan didn’t was Namjoo’s friendship. Little Hyuk couldn’t help but feel back stabbed. Not just by Namjoo, but his brother too.

“It was too cute,” Jaehwan said, “I couldn’t reject her airplane.”

“So,” Hyuk said, feeling a little teary-eyed, “What does it mean that you accepted her airplane? Does that mean you’re going to take her away from me?”

Jaehwan laughed as he ruffled Hyuk’s head, “Ah, little Hyukkie, of course not.”

Hyuk sniffled, “You’re not?”

Jaehwan smiled, “No! She’s like my little sister. That’s the only meaning behind this airplane.”

“So… you guys aren’t going to play without me?” Hyuk asked with a grin. Jaehwan shook his head, “Nope.”

Hyuk smiled excitedly, “Then can I have your airplane?!”

“No,” Jaehwan said, “There’s no meaning in taking mine.”

Hyuk pouted, “But she’s never going to give me one.”

Jaehwan gave an amused smile, “You need to earn it.”

“How?”

Jaehwan sighed. His younger brother had a long way to go to understand girls.

--

Age 10.

“Maybe if I just throw these planes, the right guy will catch it.”

Hyuk looked up from his book and stared at Namjoo who was playing with a blade of grass. The two friends were sitting under the shade of the tree, reading. Well, Hyuk was the one reading, Namjoo just tagged along because she was bored.

Hyuk snorted as he looked back down to his book, “That’s stupid.”

Namjoo laughed, “Why not? I’m putting it in the hands of fate. If it’s meant to be, it will happen. Isn’t that kind of romantic?”

Hyuk shook his head, “Not really.”

Namjoo pursed her lips, “You’re boring.”

“And you’re distracting me from reading,” Hyuk retorted. Just throw her airplanes?! What is she stupid… Hyuk sighed. Hyuk had been trying really hard to get one from Namjoo, but she was so adamant about giving it to the “right person.” And Hyuk didn’t understand why he couldn’t be the “right person.” Hyuk concluded it with the theory that girls are just stupid and cannot be understood.

“Well, what about you?” Namjoo asked. Hyuk looked up from his book, “What?”

“Aren’t you going to give something to the person you like?” Namjoo asked. Hyuk blinked, “I dunno.”

Namjoo shook her head, “You’re so lucky you have me as a friend to help you. You should have something, too. So that you can give it to the right girl when she comes.”

Hyuk shook his head, “That’s stupid.”

Namjoo frowned, “No it’s not.”

Later that day, Hyuk was walking home after tutoring, when he saw one of those random toy and candy dispensers that cost a coin. Namjoo’s words flashed through his head before Hyuk fished out a coin and put it in the coin dispenser for the box with rings. He twisted the knob until a ring came out in a plastic container. Hyuk pulled it out and held up a plastic heart shaped ring. He smiled, wondering if Namjoo would like the ring if he gave it to her.

--

Age 13.

Eight years. Eight years of friendship and Hyuk still didn’t receive a paper airplane from Namjoo. He didn’t understand why Namjoo was being so picky. Hyuk was there for all the time! When Namjoo broke her arm from climbing a tree, when Namjoo got in trouble for not doing her homework, when Namjoo got into fights with some other girls. He was there. Not to mention the indifference Namjoo had to Hyuk’s ring. He proudly told Namjoo that he was going to give the heart ring to a special girl, and that Namjoo would never get it. He thought she would get upset, but Namjoo just shrugged.

This was a disaster for Hyuk. His older brother’s wise words rang through his ears. You have to earn it. Hyuk definitely believed he earned it. And so he approached Namjoo about it.

“You’re stupid” was her reply.

“What?!” Hyuk shouted, “I’m not!”

Namjoo shook her head, “The paper airplane is for the person I like.”

“You don’t like me?!” Hyuk asked, appalled. Namjoo groaned and muttered, “Boys are so stupid.”

“It’s not a friend thing,” Namjoo replied, “It’s for the person that makes my heart flutter fast and gives me butterflies in my stomach. Someone who I want to spend all my time with and who I think about when I’m not with him.”

Hyuk scratched his head, still confused. He thought about Namjoo and always wanted to spend time with her.

“I don’t get it.” Hyuk said. Namjoo sighed and shook her head, “For the smartest kid in our class, you sure are dunce.”

“Please, elaborate.”

Namjoo took a deep breath, “You’re my friend, Hyuk. The airplanes aren’t for friends.”

And with that Namjoo walked away, leaving Hyuk confused as ever. He didn’t understand the slight sting in his heart and only one thought crossed his mind. Maybe we shouldn’t be friends, then.

--

Age 15.

“Hyukkie!!!” Namjoo whisper-shouted as she ran to Hyuk. He looked up from his desk as Namjoo sat on the vacant seat next to him. Hyuk was currently studying at the library, when Namjoo came to disturb his peace.

“What?” Hyuk whispered. Namjoo smiled as she caught her breath, “I finally did it.”

Hyuk chuckled, looking at her disheveled state from running to him. “Did what?”

“I gave Changjo my airplane!”

Hyuk’s heart dropped as he stuttered, “Wh-what?”

Namjoo’s smile grew wider, “I confessed to Changjo and he accepted it! He accepted my airplane!”

Hyuk momentarily forgot to breathe. Changjo, that basketball jock? When had this happened? Hyuk just looked at her in shock, confusion, and hurt.

“Hello?” Namjoo said, waving her hand, “Earth to Hyuk, you there?”

Hyuk broke out of his trance and forced a smile, “Wow, Namjoo, I’m so happy for you!”

Namjoo laughed giddily, “Thanks, Hyukkie! You were the first person I wanted to tell!”

Hyuk swallowed the bile in his mouth, “I’m happy for you.”

Namjoo hugged her friend, “Thanks, Hyuk! I’ll see you later! I’m gonna go meet him. Study hard!”

Hyuk watched as Namjoo disappeared from the library and he sighed as he took out the plastic ring in his pencil pouch. It was Namjoo. The person he wanted to give the ring to… it was his next door neighbor. The girl who would make him laugh to no end, the girl who would let him use her shoulder to cry, the girl who forced him to tutor her in math. Namjoo. This ring was for her. Hyuk sighed.

But Namjoo didn’t want that ring.

--

Age 16.

“Why would he do that?” Namjoo asked, tears spilling all over her face and onto Hyuk’s shirt. Hyuk just patted her back as she blew her nose into a tissue and continued her rant, “He should’ve just broken up with me. Why would he cheat on me like that? I don’t get it.”

Hyuk sighed, “He’s a bastard.”

Namjoo pouted, “If I wasn’t good enough, he could have at least had the decency to break up with me first.”

“Changjo is an . I never really liked him,” Hyuk muttered. Namjoo blew into the tissue and continued crying, “And then he blamed it on you. Saying that I was the one cheating on him with you.”

Hyuk let out a deep breath as Namjoo continued, “He’s so stupid. Ugh. And he said it was my fault for being closer to you than him. Which is stupid because, well, of course, you’re my best friend. I'm not gonna drop you like that for Changjo.”

Hyuk clenched his fist, but tried to calm himself down for Namjoo. It broke his heart to see her so fragile like this. His strong and charismatic Namjoo was so small and broken at this moment.

“I never want to date again,” Namjoo sniffled, “I was foolish. Romance? Love? It’s all stupid. And so were those stupid paper airplanes.”

Hyuk remained silent as he let Namjoo rant out her frustration. He was angry. Furious. How could someone make his Namjoo so hurt like that? But that night, Hyuk just listened. Because that’s what Namjoo needed.

The next day, Changjo left school with a black eye.

--

Age 18.

Graduation day was here. Everything was finished. Hyuk got accepted into a prestigious university in America while Namjoo got accepted into a small local college.

Thirteen years. For thirteen years, Hyuk harbored and grew his feelings for Namjoo. For thirteen years, he kept it a secret from Namjoo. Because he knew. He knew that she didn’t feel that way about him.

But those feelings. Those feelings bound him. They prevented him from forming new relationships and seeking different girls. Sure, many confessed to him during his high school career, but Hyuk just couldn’t accept them. He realized, the only way to be free… was to be free from Kim Namjoo.

After the graduation ceremony, Hyuk and Namjoo’s family celebrated together over dinner at Hyuk’s home. It was a joyous occasion with much food, drinks, and laughter. As the dinner party ended, Hyuk motioned to Namjoo to come outside with him. They stepped out into the veranda and sat down on the two-seater rocking chair.

“Ah,” Namjoo said as she enjoyed the night breeze, “I can’t believe high school is done. Just like that.”

Hyuk smiled and nodded, “Yeah.”

“I guess we won’t be together now, huh?” Namjoo asked, not looking at Hyuk. Hyuk just nodded, “yeah.”

“That’s sure going to be different,” Namjoo said, “Not being together.”

Hyuk nodded.

“I have something to give you,” Hyuk said. Namjoo looked at him surprised, “Oh, me too!”

“I’ll go first,” Hyuk said. He pulled the ring out of his pocket and gave it to Namjoo. She laughed, “Hey, it’s that plastic heart ring you bought a long time ago. You still have this?”

Hyuk nodded, “Yeah. It’s the ring I got to give to the special girl in my life.”

Namjoo giggled, “I remember. I scolded you for not having one. I was so stupid back then.”

Silence ensued before Hyuk spoke up, “The ring was for you.”

Namjoo blinked at him, “What?”

“The ring was for you. From then and straight through now,” Hyuk said as he looked at Namjoo, “You were that special girl to me.”

“Hyuk, I-”

“Just listen to me,” Hyuk said, as he looked away, not having the courage to see her face, “You were always more than a friend to me. I didn’t really understand it when I was younger, but as I became older I understood. Why I never dated anyone, why I never gave anyone a chance… it was because I was waiting for you. But, you never looked at me in that way. And I’ve come to accept it. Me giving you this ring is me ending those feelings.”

Hyuk looked at Namjoo, “I’m cutting off those feelings that have been holding me back from meeting different people and trying different things. From today, you’re just my neighbor and friend.”

Namjoo choked up in her tears, “Wait, Hyuk, I-”

Hyuk stood up, “I’m really tired now. I don’t regret it, but… I’m moving on now.”

“Hyuk…”

“It’s getting late,” Hyuk said with a smile, “I’ll be taking my leave now. I need to start packing for America.”

Hyuk stood up and walked away, but then suddenly turned back, “Oh, what was it you wanted to give me?”

Namjoo bit her lips as she shook her head, “It’s nothing.”

Hyuk smiled, “Okay then, good night.”

“Hyuk!” Namjoo called out. Hyuk turned around and he saw Namjoo holding back her tears. “I’m sorry that I caused you so much pain. I… I won’t be holding you back anymore.” Namjoo ran into her house and shut the door before Hyuk could say anything.

He never got to see the paper airplane Namjoo held in her hand.

--

Age 20.

Hyuk looked around, feeling nostalgic as he walked into his home. It’s been two years since he came to Korea, and he really missed his family. America was great, and Hyuk absolutely loves it there, but he dearly missed his hometown. Nothing in his house changed. His room, the messiness of the kitchen. Hyuk was glad to be visiting home. After putting his suitcase down, he went out into his backyard and enjoyed the summer breeze.

Hyuk suddenly heard a loud crashing noise and a scream from the other side of the wall. Curiously, Hyuk climbed the wall and looked over at the other side. Namjoo was sitting on the ground, furiously rubbing her , surrounded by scraps of metal and wood.

“What are you doing?” Hyuk asked from the top of the wall. Namjoo looked up, startled.

“I…I’m making an airplane,” Namjoo replied. The two looked at each other, this situation feeling nostalgic. Hyuk hadn’t seen Namjoo or talked to her in those two years he was in America. He hadn’t completely forgotten about her, but he moved on. As he promised. And he dated girls here and there, but none were too special. And Hyuk couldn’t help but be a little curious as to what Namjoo was up to.

“A real airplane?” Hyuk asked, eyebrow raised. Namjoo nodded, “It’s a model plane for my architecture class.”

Hyuk jumped down from the wall and reached out his hand to help her up. Namjoo stared at his hand before cautiously grabbing it as Hyuk hoisted her up. Hyuk ignored the tingling sensation that remained in his hand as Namjoo nervously said, “You want to come in for some coffee?”

Hyuk nodded, “I’d like that.”

--

Summer ended and Hyuk was headed back to America to finish his last year of college. Hyuk reconnected with Namjoo and the two happily decided to become friends again. He realized that… he missed his best friend. And it was stupid of Hyuk to throw that away for his selfish and prideful reasons.

Anyway, on one of Hyuk’s last days, the two went out to the park where they used to hang out as kids.

“I remember you would always sit here and read,” Namjoo said with a nostalgic smile. Hyuk nodded, “And you would bug me to no end. So I would never really get any reading done.”

Namjoo laughed, “I always wondered why you never turned the pages.”

Hyuk shook his head as he chuckled, “Didn’t think you would notice.”

There was a comfortable silence before Hyuk spoke up, “I’m leaving in a couple days.”

Namjoo nodded, “I know.”

Hyuk sighed as he leaned against the tree. Spending the summer with Namjoo… it brought back those feelings again. Which made Hyuk wonder, if they ever went away. Or if he was just running away and pretending it wasn’t there.

“Hey,” Namjoo said quietly.

“Yeah?” Hyuk replied. Namjoo reached into her bag and pulled out a paper airplane. She handed it to him and said, “Here.”

Hyuk blinked, “What is this?”

Namjoo looked away and said, “The paper airplane you always wanted.”

Hyuk’s heart beat faster as he looked at the object in his hands.

“I was going to give it to you,” Namjoo said, “That night you gave me the heart ring. I didn’t realize it was for you until our last year of high school. But after what you said, I… I didn’t know I caused you so much hurt. I couldn’t give it to you after everything you said to me.”

Hyuk gulped as Namjoo continued, “I know it’s late and it’s stupid, but I always felt like I need to give it to you. Of anyone else in my life, you deserve it the most. And I want to give it to you.”

Hyuk just looked at Namjoo, speechless. The girl awkwardly laughed, “Say something, I’m feeling very self conciou-” Hyuk grabbed her by the neck and pulled Namjoo in for a kiss. It was a short and sweet kiss and Hyuk tenderly said to Namjoo with a smile, “I’ve been wanting to do that for a really long time.”

Namjoo blushed as she giggled, “Then we need to make up for that really long time you waited.” With a grin, Hyuk swooped in to kiss her again, harder and more passionately this time, paper airplanes and plastic heart rings left forgotten.

Some things were definitely worth the wait.

Kim Namjoo was definitely worth that wait. 

A/N: Special cameo by Jaehwan (Ken) because he's my favorite from VIXX. Hehe. I hope you guys enjoyed this oneshot! This is actually a new genre for me, because I'm more of a detailed and plot-driven write rather than a short and simple story. I feel like I kind of failed at doing that, but I think I'm still pretty happy with how it came out. Please leave some reviews and love. :) Oh, and I don't hate Changjo. I just had to choose someone so, yes!