Title: Summertime
Pairing: JongTae
Genre: Poetry (Free Verse/ Spoken Word)
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don’t own SHINee
A/N: I know fan fiction usually involves writing prose, but, I wanted to incorporate some spoken word. I tried to type out the poem as you would recite it, but it’ll still sound weird in some places because it requires a pause or emphasis on a word. OTL. I tried. The hardest part was keeping the integrity of the rhythm while still making sense. I almost gave up but I felt I couldn’t let the poem go.

It wasn’t his first time in the bar. Matter of fact, Taemin showed up every Tuesday night just to hear a certain person speak. He had taken pride in his newfound hobby of attending spoken word nights in the cozy venue. It put him in the right mood. Of course the wooden furniture and walls helped too. All in all, the place actually had a relaxing, intimate ambience when not filled with drunkards.

As always, Taemin chose his favorite seat a few feet directly in front of the stage. He used to sit in the back until one poet arrested his attention. His name was Jonghyun. Taemin learned to never forget that because months later, he was still enthralled. Who could blame him? Jonghyun’s presence alone commanded attention. He had the powerful ability of capturing and evoking emotions Taemin never knew was possible. He decided from then on he wanted—no—needed to come back to absorb Jonghyun’s every word.

So here he was with Jonghyun’s shadow standing in front of him again. He watched as the lights dimmed followed by polite applause, spotlight shining on the mic stand as if waiting, almost beckoning for Jonghyun to step forward and awe the audience. It was always a tense moment for Taemin.  He judged the crowd was beginning to get restless too as the murmuring began to pick up.  After a few moments, he saw Jonghyun inhale before stepping up to the mic and reciting:

“Summer is approaching. Do you know what that means?
warm weather, excitement, a moment to fiend
adventure, but please, tell me one thing:
when you lay down at night, don’t you get lonely?

I can’t be the only
one who needs to find
a partner in crime
drop of a dime
as we enter divine
pockets of time
your hand in mine
we’ll be just fine
in the meantime
doing things we never thought, crossing the line…

It’s in your eyes as you try to fight
you can try as you might
they’re full of longing delight
so let’s do it tonight
let’s start a fling
we’ll be a thing
and haul our things
travel as far as our four legs will bring."

Taemin closed his eyes and let the words seep in.

"Let’s play on the beach stark
and make out in a park
because life is what we make it
carve our names in tree bark.
consequences?  we’ll face it
together in the dark, here, find my hand and take it.                                                            

We’ll do it all
and when we meet fall
and summer’s complete
let the process repeat
our journey’s not over
moreover
I wanna show you
something you never knew
experience new
whatever we see fit
as long as you’re around
love, how does that sound?"

The voice faded away in the midst of snapping fingers causing Taemin to open his eyes. He had no words. His thoughts were glued to his mouth due to dryness. The same glue almost rooted him to the seat except for his legs that were moving and steering him towards the back of the café where Jonghyun was. He didn’t care about reading too much into the lines. He wasn’t worried about what he was going to say either. This time, the tables were turned because it was him who was standing in front of Jonghyun. He knew he only had one chance to grab his attention, just like Jonghyun grabbed his.
It was now or never. Taemin racked his mind for a clever icebreaker, but no avail. “So do you like extreme sports?”  He asked instead.

“Excuse me?” Jonghyun said.

Taemin faltered for a brief second before saying, “I-I mean when you were talking about doing things you never thought. Did extreme sports ever cross your mind?”  

“Um…I’m afraid of heights…so, no.”

“That’s okay, you can take my hand. You’ll be fine.”

Taemin knew he was pushing the line but he felt like it would work. It did. The once bewildered look Jonghyun wore turned into recognition. Before Taemin could react, he felt Jonghyun’s larger hands clasping his, a silent acceptance that said more than Jonghyun’s words could ever say. He looked at their entwined hands then back up to Jonghyun’s bright, beaming face.

And for the first time, Taemin felt excited about summer.