Final

Shooting Love, Counting Stars

 

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Taemin, nor the lyrics to the song. :)

 

 


 

 

"I'm just a poor wayfaring stranger,

Travelling through this world of woe;

But there's no sickness, no toil or danger,

In that bright world to which I go."

 


 

He had come from beyond this world; from the sky, the pitch black summer sky. He would later tell her that he had crashed into her family’s field of Sunflowers. That it wasn’t the “aliens” per se who had made that large crater. She would then hit him over the head for making fun of her family, not angrily but affectionately.

 

She had found him walking among the Suns, stark . It took a lot of convincing and embarrassment on his part to make her believe that he wasn’t some ert experiencing a bout of lunacy. She had run away right after, to his utter disappointment, only to return with her father’s clothes. Eyes shut, she handed those to him with trembling hands.

 

She had taken pity on him, but still kept her distance.

 

Finally in presentable appearance, he asked her, her age, not that it mattered to him, but it was a good conversation starter. Something had told him that it would be worthwhile to befriend this girl. She was 18 years old with a petite frame, yet large curious eyes of ebony. Light brown curly hair framed her round and somewhat chubby face. Her expressions seemed beyond her years as if she had witnessed all the atrocities of humanity.

 

She asked him why he had been roaming around ; where had he come from? She studied him as she came to a conclusion that she found him rather….beautiful. He had dark-brown wavy hair that framed his oval face. She couldn’t help but stare at his strong lower jaw longer than was necessary. But the first thing she had noticed was his height and skin. He was very tall – may be a foot taller than her 5 foot frame? – with abnormally pale skin….almost glowing. She snapped back into reality when he answered her question with an “I don’t remember” and a “Somewhere far away.”

 

He knew his lie was obvious.

 

She knew that he was reluctant, so she kept her distance.

 

Her father called for her from the porch, so she left him with a 'good-bye' and 'take care'. There was no way she could provide shelter to him. Her house was just too small and her parents would never accept a stranger into their abode.

 

He stood there in the middle of the field, a million stars studded in the sky as he watched her retreat, dejected at his predicament.

 

It seems my time has finally arrived.

 


 

She wandered in the fields the next day; looking for him. She found him sitting on a boulder, looking up at the blue sky in sadness. She noticed that the paleness and glow of his skin had reduced, which befuddled her for a moment. He smiled at her and asked her if they could go for a walk.

 

She would later tell him how fast her heart raced every time he smiled at her.

 

Consequently, she spent her day with him, walking and answering his never-ending questions.

 

He found her an interesting little thing. She spoke of her life with wild gestures. About her family’s dependence on these wild sunflowers, of her nagging mother with mild irritation but fondness; of her comical father with admiration; of her younger brother with sisterly affection; of her five friends who would always get in trouble not before dragging her into it too; of the boy who had rejected her and broken her heart; of the beautiful meadow she had found while taking a shortcut towards her home.

 

She even spoke of the unexplainable loneliness she felt these days, even in the company of the people she loved most; also of the emptiness in her heart.

 

Next it was her turn to drill him with questions, most of which were left unanswered. All she learned of him was that he was a lonely soul like her who traveled to many places. It was logical to not trust him. But logic did not necessarily apply to her.

 

She would never understand why she trusted him. But she did, and that was all that mattered.

 


 

They met every day at the same time and spot in the field and always bade good-bye by 10pm. She always brushed off the questions her parents would pose, not knowing how to explain her afternoon escapades. Nor was she a good liar.

 

Eight months passed by and each day they grew closer and closer until they finally fell in love with the other. He was cognizant of her feelings because of the strong bond he now had with her. She, unsurprisingly, was oblivious to his. But that didn’t matter to him.

 

On a hot summer’s day she visited him at the usual hour and place with the usual basket of food she had started bringing for him. He greeted her with his usual blinding smile and they headed off towards the small patch devoid of sunflowers; their usual place of supper. It was a miracle her parents hadn’t walked in on them yet. She spread the blanket on the ground and they proceeded with their daytime picnic.

 

He was quiet today, unusually so. She glanced up at him from her place in apprehension. A feeling of dread overcame her as she studied his stiff countenance.

 

“Taemin?”

 

He whipped his head in her direction and gave her a strained smile. “It’s nothing.”

 

They chatted into the night, her apprehension not really leaving her. She smiled as his skin turned abnormally pale again and glowed a bit. She loved it when he glowed. She had once wished she was as pale as him rather than chocolate brown. She was met with a bomp on the head when she had shared this with him.

 

She was pulled out of her memories by the touch of his hand on her waist and he suddenly pulled her close beside him.

 

“Have you ever wanted a wish to come true?” he whispered to her. Her heart raced as his warm breath fell on her now blushing ears. She almost missed his question due to the drum in her ears.

 

She squeaked out a “yes” before wondering why he was asking her a strange question. He then proceeded to pull her up to her feet and wrap his arms around her while he buried his head in the crook of her neck. She slowly wrapped her arms around his waist as he breathed her in.

 

“Make a wish,” said his muffled voice.

 

“What?” She tightened her hold on him unconsciously.

 

He pulled his face away and stared at her with a sad smile. “Make a wish.”

 

She hesitated. This was too weird. He was too weird. “Wh-”

 

“Just trust me.”

 

After mulling over his request for a few moments, she nodded and made a wish.

 

His eyes widened for a second and he smiled at her sadly. Knowingly.

 

What he did next was the best moment of her life. Past, present and future.

 

He kissed her forehead first, then both her cheeks. Slowly and lovingly. He placed light kisses down , past her collar bone, between her s, and ended on her stomach while his hands caressed her back.  

 

He looked into her eyes after his actions and his stare was so intense that she felt in front of him. He placed his hands firmly on her shoulders as his face leaned closer to her pink lips.

 

“I never thought I’d fall in love with a human, but you know what? I’m glad I fell in love with you,” he smiled, genuine this time; carefree and without restraint.

 

He leaned in more until his breath fanned her face. She was confused, but it didn’t stop the tears from falling. Drop by drop, her every tear equivalent to a waterfall. Don’t. Stop whatever you’re doing. Stop…

 

“The greatest curse and the greatest blessing given to the human race is the ability to love more than one person,” he whispered, dearly. "You will love again. I know you you."

 

With that he kissed her on her lips, pouring all of his emotions into her as he grew warm and hot and flaming. As his body slowly reduced to golden fiery dust; as some of him crawled over her legs and rested on her neck as a golden chain of comets while most of him entered her chest and entered her heart.

 

The tears kept falling as he disappeared into her; as she fell on her knees and wailed and cried and sobbed and wailed. The tears kept falling as she realized her wish had come true; that he had granted it as comets fell from the night sky.

 

 


 

A/N: Wokay!! This one-shot was a result of my studies so yea....

The story is left to you readers; interpret whatever way you want, it's fun that way. :P

The song is a folk song called Wayfaring Stranger. I thought, apart from the prompt, this would be apt for this story. Frankly, both of these things inspired me. 

Rate & Review. Criticism is much appreciated; flames are not!

Thank you for reading. :)

 

Review Replies!

Kindedunya : Hahaha...yea..Capming is a foreign subject to me, so that thought never occured to me. Hey, that rhymes! Anyway, thank you for your review. :)

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DeadHearts
Did someone just UPVOTE this story?!! T^T

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Kindeldunya #1
Chapter 1: I like this a lot. It's a really well written one shot. The one thing I did wonder though is why she didn't give him a sleeping bag and a tent lol