For HiNataLi
~Infinite Secret Santa 2013~ *Santas Revealed!*Voice of My Heart
For HiNataLi
Couple: Myungyeol
Prompt: "There is no sound so sweet as the sound of one's own name." (W. Shakespeare)
“Lee Sungyeol.”
The crowd went nuts.
Lee Sungyeol’s song played in the background.
It was the song that hit South Korea and eventually the world, like a storm.
There was silence as he made his way up the stairs, a worker leaned forward to help but Sungyeol brushed him aside. The loud and heavy steps of his shoes echoed around the circular shaped auditorium where the award ceremony was being held.
Shades of gold and red enveloped the gigantic room in a hot embrace.
Once Sungyeol reached the podium, claps, screams, whistles, and chants of “Lee Sungyeol, Lee Sungyeol” made way to his ears. He breathed it all in.
From the corner of his eyes he saw that gigantic images of his face were projected on the walls on either side of him. Although he wouldn’t have minded basking in the blinding lights and cheers a little longer, he knew he couldn’t handle staying too long.
“Thank you, for this tremendous honor. I am aware that this title is a very huge deal and I am so so grateful.” Applause all around. “First and foremost, I would like to thank my husband. I never would have made it this far without that one person. Sometimes I wonder if it was fate or mere coincidence that I met that man but I don’t care. “
The observers, in the crowd and watching from a screen, waited for him to continue as he wiped off his sweat.
"I remember the day I met him….”
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"Come get me you losers!" Sungyeol hollered. Looking behind him as he ran, the adrenaline addicted teen stuck out his tongue and put his hands above his ears and wiggled his fingers, which enraged the pursuers even more.
On the edge of a street, Sungyeol swung quickly around a pole as he waited for his chasers to catch up, then he made a wrong turn. A wrong turn that may as well changed his life.
Kim Myungsoo was headed to the library; having finished several mangas he had checked out, he couldn't wait to read more. He breathed in the sweet scent of busy bakeries and almost entered several restaurants that opened their doors to lure in customers with their beautiful aromas. His eyes took in the bright colors of nature through the lense of his camera, the usually abundant sun was covered by accumulating clouds, leaves with the hues of fire hung ever so dangerously on thinning trees which were swaying in the slight wind. This was autumn indeed.
As mentioned, the idiot, also known as Sungyeol, hadn't particularly looked in the direction where he was running and ended up in a dead end. Before he could run right back, he turned to see that the group of four buff friends he had criticized, had him surrounded.
"Uh, hey guys! What's up! You know I was just thinking, I'm pretty hungry. Why don't I treat you guys to s-"
The tallest one pushed him to the ground, "Apologize."
Sungyeol wore a face of fake bewilderment, "For what!?" For a coward, he had quite the ego.
"For calling my friend fat, you !" The apparent leader of the group pointed to the sad looking fellow hiding behind another person.
Slowly getting up, Sungyeol carefully observed for any holes in their barricade, "Haha, what are you talking about? You've got the wrong person.."
While his words captured their attention, he make a break for it.
From across the street, a boy around Sungyeol's age was taking his time crossing the road, since he was taking pictures of this and that.
"Hey! Hey! Help me! Please!"
The boy ignored him and continued to snap pictures of everything in sight.
So close, Sungyeol was so close to escaping, having nimble legs didn't do much if didn't have the brains to put them to the best use. He was being held back by the very boy whom he made fun of.
"Help!!!" screamed Sungyeol, he waved his arms, trying to catch the attention of anyone who gave a crap. Maybe it was because Myungsoo saw the movement of Sungyeol's arms in the corner of his eye, but he chose to look over to his right just in time to see the scene that was playing out. What he saw was a frail, crazy looking person getting yelled at by some very angry looking teens, so equipped with ten years of taekwondo, he waited to cross the street as to provide assistance to who he assumed was the victim.
Struggling to loosen the iron grips of the kind-hearted but gangster looking boys, Sungyeol saw a person quickly walking towards the alley all the while looking up and down the street for oncoming cars.
Sometimes, although rarely, there are people who are so beautiful that they take your breath away. For Sungyeol, this angelic being who was highlighted by the sun's ray on his back-the sun had come out again-had him speechless for the first time in his life. This beauty of a man was wearing cute purple headphones that were easily noticeable among his almost jet black hair, around his neck was an expensive looking camera which he gently placed on the ground beside the brickwalled alley before allowing himself to be engulfed by the shade.
It was in perfect slow motion for Sungyeol as he saw this mysterious helper take one of the really buff students by the collar to flip him over. When another came running, he simply dashed behind the goof to jump on his back with his hands on attacker’s shoulders and used one of his feet to push the student's own head towards the ground. With the other foot, he kicked another kid who was running to the fallen one's aid, on the chest. All of this took around...ten seconds.
Three of the four were withering on the floor, the only one left was the one holding Sungyeol in a headlock. Glaring at the slightly chubby teenager holding the weak, flailing boy, Myungsoo started to walk confidently forward. "Wha-what! We're the vict- We weren't even gonna- Urgh!" Sungyeol was released as the fourth one gave a last hurtful gance and leaned down to help his companions.
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Even though the strange helper kept shaking his head and refusing, Sungyeol bought him some ice cream to thank him for the heroic act of saving his .
"I don't even know why they were chasing me! Anyway, thank you, my name is Sungyeol."
Silence resumed as Sungyeol waited for the other to introduce himself. For some weird reason his heart was beating faster and he was more nervous and talkative as usual.
"Oh, you don't talk much huh?" his ice cream happily, Sungyeol's magnificent savior was blatantly ignoring him. "Well I'm okay with that. Since people have told me that I talk for the weight of two, this is actually better."
The stranger smiled and nodded his head as he stared at Sungyeol's lips, then he continued to savor his ice cream.
"Hey!" Sungyeol grabbed the stranger's arm, "Be careful! You'll get run over!" a car honked at them.
Not knowing what to do, the stranger placed his other foot back on the sidewalk and noticed that they were on the edge of a street, and the stoplight was red. Blushing, he walked a few steps back, Sungyeol realized he was still tightly holding the stranger's arm. He quickly let go.
Since the stranger was leading, Sungyeol merely followed him.
"So what school do you go to? Where are you headed? How old are you?" The stranger started at Sungyeol's rapidly moving lips. It unsettled him but it also kind of turned him onm "Where did you learn those awesome kungfu skills? What's your name? Can you even hear me with those headphones on?" He reached up to take it off, surprised, Myungsoo swatted Sungyeol's hand away.
"Fine, fine! Haha."
"What music are you even listening to? You know I’m an aspiring musician? You don't believe me huh? I know I look silly but I'm really serious about this! I may look like a fellow student but I’m in college. Last week I got accepted into a company!" Sungyeol noticed the stranger had stopped in front of a library.
"So uhh....this is your stop huh?" The stranger slowly nodded, still gazing Sungyeol's mouth. There was a moment of silence. Sungyeol's lips stopped moving. The stranger's eyes slowly traveled up to Sungyeol's. Anticipating a farewell, Sungyeol stepped forward.
"You haven't said a word. I mean, you practically saved my life. I want to know your name." Alarmed eyes quickly moved again to Sungyeol's now moving mouth. Then the stranger looked quizzingly back up Sungyeol's eyes and then to lips once again as if he didn't catch what Sungyeol had just said.
"Please. Tell me your name."
This time the stranger seemed to understand, "Myu-"
Suddenly a thought struck Sungyeol, "You've only been staring at my yap and nodding this whole time. Do you want one that bad?"
The stranger looked confused.
"Sigh, fine. I mean I know I'm handsome and all that but this is a first."
Then, right there in the middle of the sidewalk, people walking here and there living their plain boring lives saw a spectacular sight. It was a strange thing to see, people kissing so outright in public was very uncommon, and they were nonetheless, boys!
The taller, with long, golden, mane-like hair bent his neck a bit to place his lips on the slightly shorter's.
Although Sungyeol did quite a few things without thinking, this was even a bit too crazy for him. To kiss a person he just met; it was a new low. But the stranger kept staring at his lips! He didn't know why, but it really drove him insane and he really wanted to do it so he just came up with an excuse to plant one on the poor guy.
As soon as warm lips touched his, Myungsoo heart began to race immensely fast. Startled to the extreme by the very short kiss, he jumped up and pushed sungyeol away. He placed his hand on his chest, it was racing as if it almost reached the finish line and needed a final burst. He glared at Sungyeol as if blaming him for this heart-attack like feeling.
"Why! Why did you do that!" shouted Myungsoo to a frazzled Sungyeol. "That wasn't nice!"
Backing away, Myungsoo was screaming loudly which caused even more people to stop in their tracks. Frightened, Myungsoo looked around at the bystanders like a scared little bunny.
"Go! Away! Sungyeol!."
A shadow fell across Sungyeol's face.
That explains it. The mouth staring. The silence.
When Myungsoo was done stomping around and having a tantrum and letting his pounding heart slow down he gave a blowing death glare (which Sungyeol thought was very cute) and started angrily going up the stairs to the library entrance.
“I heard the awkward pronunciation, are you deaf?”
The stranger stumbled on one of the middle stairs, then he turned to face the golden haired boy and shouted, "My name is Kim Myungsoo!" He then continued on his way, determined footsteps leading more and more far away from the statue still Sungyeol.
Sungyeol was a selfish person. He couldn't and wouldn't allow himself to fall for a person without the ability to hear. Imagine how hard his life would become. And yet, he felt hot tears dripping down his face and snot began to drip down his nose. Since he could read lips and speak almost perfect Korean he must had this disability for a long time. What a difficult life this person must have lived.
Myungsoo was his name, Sungyeol guessed. Sniffing back his boogers he let out a scream which caused a few people to pee their pants in fear.
He wanted to know more about him, Myungsoo, this mysterious superhero who saved such a loser like himself. So he sat in the middle of the sidewalk watching Myungsoo's lonely looking back until it vanished behind huge, oak doors. For some reason, seeing Myungsoo's sad backside broke his heart. In that very second he resolved that Myungsoo had to be the one for him.
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"...oh, sorry for dazing off."
It wasn’t because of nervousness, but Sungyeol was starting to sweat a great deal.
“Because I met him, my life changed so drastically. I went through so much in a such short amount of time, the worst and the best day of my life were brought on by this person." Sungyeol smiled at the memories. Those were really horrible days, but the happy ones made up for it.
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Sungyeol leaned back in the thin, green, plastic chair and gazed at the moon, a tiny beacon among the cobalt night sky. He took a sip of his beer and let out an impressive burp, “Being a trainee is so exhausting.”
It was evening; Myungsoo was walking home from school and Sungyeol had come from practice, they met up in front of the convenience store almost everyday.
As usual, Myungsoo was conservative and quiet, he was sitting up straight and drinking banana milk like a timid child. He was always nervous when they were out in public.
Sungyeol felt his heart speed up, “Remember the first time I met you Myung? I can’t believe it’s been three years.”
Feeling embarrassed, Myungsoo started blushing and signed, ‘Please don’t bring up that memory I’ve been repressing.’
Laughing, Sungyeol choked on his beer, “Sorry.” He sighed, “I remember those long days of pestering you at the library. When you finally gave me your number I felt like I died and went to heaven.”
‘You were a stalker, Sungyeol.’ signed Myungsoo immediately.
‘I was only a man in love. See, I even learned sign language for you.’ Sungyeol smirked.
‘Stop joking around. You have a girlfriend.’
Myungsoo saw Sungyeol’s face harden for a second, “You know, if Korea was more open about…..if Korea was less homophobic, then may-”
“Stop.”
Sungyeol eyes widened, Myungsoo hardly spoke.
“Myungsoo.” Sungyeol breathed.
He looked at the younger, the love of his life. Sungyeol always knew that there was no one else for him other than Kim Myungsoo. They both knew. However, they also knew that Sungyeol would soon be debuting from one of the largest idol companies in Korea, and there was no way that their unspoken mutual feelings for each would be allowed.
Elbows touching the cold, white, flimsy table in front of the convenience store, hands over his eyes, Myungsoo had no idea that his sobs could be clearly heard from across the table.
With a resolved heart, Sungyeol reached across the table and took Myungsoo’s tear covered hands in his.
Sungyeol looked into the other’s red, watery eyes. Myungsoo watched Sungyeol’s lips, as always.
“Myungsoo, I lo-”
His face burned.
He found himself suddenly looking to his right.
Sungyeol grasped his quickly reddening face and looked up at the dark figure standing up in front of him. Shadows covered his face but Sungyeol saw tears dripping down from his face to the floor. They stayed in that position for a few seconds as if they both hadn’t realized what just occurred. Myungsoo then unfroze and tucked in his outstretched hand in his pocket which was also starting to feel the burn.
Without a word, signed or spoken, Myungsoo picked up his backpack and started walking. Too much in a rush, he bumped into a old lady and both fell to the ground. Desperately needing to escape Sungyeol’s hurt gaze, Myungsoo impatiently helped up the grandma and walked quickly away.
Worried that something might happen to Myungsoo in his state of disorientation, Sungyeol, who was slightly drunk, got up and followed him.
He took another swig. Unknowingly, he had brought the can of beer with him.
At this point, Sungyeol desperately needed to get drunk. Why was the world so cruel, why can’t people accept love the way it is, why do they care what we do, why can’t Myungsoo and I be together, Sungyeol was drowning in his thoughts and questions.
He saw Myungsoo, a street or two ahead, hurrying to get home, to leave Sungyeol behind.
“I love you!”
Myungsoo didn’t even flinch.
“Hey you crazy bastard! I said I ing love you!!!!” Pedestrians began to stare but Sungyeol didn’t care, he never cared.
Myungsoo walked on.
Another gulp of beer.
“If you love me back...turn around right now!!”
Myungsoo walked on.
“Jerk!!!”
He tapped on the bottom of the can to make sure there wasn’t any drops he missed.
Myungsoo walked on.
“DAMN IT ALL!” He threw the can to the side.
“Wh-”
A bright light made way to his eyes. He turned his head and, lo and behold, he was in the middle of the road and a car was headed right toward him. The driver and Myungsoo made eye contact, they both knew it was too late.
While watching Korean dramas, Sungyeol always wondered how it was so easy to get hit by a car, couldn’t you just jump aside when you saw it coming? Why did someone always have to get hit even though one person saved the other? Couldn't they have jumped together?
Now he knew.
His legs refused to move. It didn’t really help that the alcohol he drank was lagging his senses and reactions. Sungyeol was terrified but all he could think about was Myungsoo. Would he ever get to see him again?
“Oh my gosh, oh my freaking gosh.” Gasping for air, a man got out of the car. The kids in the back seat were all shocked and the baby started to cry. One of them motioned to get out, “Stay in here!” screamed the mother as she exited the car and called 911 simultaneously.
People were starting to gather around, a lot of them turned around and fought the instinct to puke when they saw the young adult’s broken figure on the ground.
“Myungsoo..”
“He’s saying something!” one of them noticed.
Sungyeol tried to blink the blood and spots out of his eyes, his body longed to rest but he couldn’t let that happen. Myungsoo’s lonely back was getting farther and farther away.
“Turn...around.”
Confused, the onlookers looked around.
Myungsoo stopped.
“Myungsoo! Myungsoo! I’m right here!” screamed Sungyeol, coughing up blood.
Myungsoo leaned down.
He tied his shoe.
Myungsoo walked on.
The observers were alarmed when they heard heart wrenching laughter coming from the victim of the car accident. In the distance there were approaching ambulance sirens. They could see the man’s body shaking as his laughter turned into sobs. Sungyeol’s last thought before he out was, at least the universe has a sense of humor.
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“"If it wasn't for my meeting with him. If only that family had spent five more minutes at the diner. If only I hadn't fallen in love with this jerk. Just think, all of these different scenarios and none if it happened. This happened. I know it's for a reason. Kim Myungsoo, even if you can't hear my babbling words and tender whispers, please feel the way that my heart feels towards you. The way my heart speeds up when you look at me with that light in your eyes. The way you always look like you don't care but I know you do. Hear me Myungsoo. I love you. I don't care. I don't care that you're deaf. As long as you can hear the voice of my heart."
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Everyday.
Myungsoo came to visit every single day.
Sungyeol knew very well that it was a long trip, and even when he pestered Myungsoo to get some rest, he just ended up falling asleep beside the hospital bed.
A whole month, Myungsoo sat and listened, never speaking, never signing.
Very often Sungyeol saw the silent visitor’s hands shaking and fidgeting.
No matter how many times Sungyeol tried to convince him that it wasn’t his fault, Myungsoo always just smiled and nodded, but his eyes were blank and hollow and unbelieving.
“Are you punishing yourself? Do you plan to stay trapped within your thoughts forever? I’m telling you, this happened because of me and only me.” insisted Sungyeol.
Myungsoo sighed and nodded, indicating that he got it.
Deflating a little, Sungyeol gave up, “At least I didn’t lose my memory. Well that’s one cliche drama thing that I am not going to let happen.”
Sungyeol caught Myungsoo’s rapid glance at his form under the blankets. Using his hands for support, he swung his body over to the side so that his stubs were uncovered and facing the solemn figure. “These, are no big deal. I can live with these. What I can’t live with is you being mad at yourself.”
Myungsoo rolled his eyes.
“Okay, I know that I was screaming and being a crybaby the first few weeks but I’m okay with it now. And I’m cool with not being a singer any more, I have you right?”
With a gasp, Myungsoo signed, ‘Are you crazy? You can’t give on your dream! You lost your legs not your vocal chords!’
Happily surprised, Sungyeol burst out laughing and hugged Myungsoo, the latter catching the former as he almost fell out of the bed.
“Yay! I thought I would never get to see your wonderful signs again..And uhh, that company let me go of course. They can’t tolerate an idol with no legs!”
‘Forget that company. Be careful. I’ll be back soon Sungyeol.’ Myungsoo got up to leave.
The older snuggled back into his sheets, “Yes, my love. You take care of yourself too. And you better not come back for a while! Get some sleep.”
He was starting to get loneley, Sungyeol regretted telling Myungsoo to leave. An entire week crawled by and not a glimpse of his knight in shining armor.
It was night, Sungyeol was woken up by knocks on his door.
After maneuvering onto his wheelchair he rushed over and slid open the door. A flushed Myungsoo stood in front of him. Bathed in the hospital lights, Sungyeol was reminded of the first time he laid his eyes on his very own angel. Seeing Myungsoo did crazy things to him. Even though he would never admit it, Sungyeol knew that even after 10, 20, 30 years, to his death, Myungsoo would never fail take his breath away.
‘I was going to throw rocks at your window but then I remembered that your room is on the 10th floor.’ Myungsoo signed playfully.
“Where’ve you been Myungsoo! I missed you,” whined Sungyeol.
‘The hospital only gave me a short amount of time so we need to hurry,’ signed Myungsoo as he threw a heavy jacket on Sungyeol went behind to push the wheelchair.
“Wait! Where are you taking me? You kidnapper.” Sungyeol knew Myungsoo couldn’t hear him but he trusted that the emotions would convey.
For both of them, the fluorescent hospital hallways were quite scary, especially at night, so it relieved them to get on the elevator and soon the roof.
“Why on Earth are we doing on the roof….”Sungyeol’s words slowed as his attention was stolen by a sole object standing in the middle of the plateau.
They continued on toward it.
Myungsoo positioned Sungyeol right beside it and sat himself down on the glassy, white piano stool.
The piano itself was white but it was decorated all around in blindingly white tiny bulbs of light. It was dazzling against the Seoul skyline and it was as if the full moon’s light was directed entirely at the instrument.
“What? Why? How?” It was hard for Sungyeol to stick to a question.
Beaming at Sungyeol’s baffled face, Myungsoo signed ‘Just listen.’
He then turned to face the piano and began to play and eventually sing.
Halfway in, Sungyeol was already bawling. It wasn’t as if it Myungsoo got every single note correct or his voice was prodigiously amazing, but Sungyeol thought it was all perfect.
When he finished, Myungsoo got up and squatted in front of Sungyeol’s chair.
“You know, it would be perfect timing if it starting snowing about now but I guess not.” Myungsoo wiped of Sungyeol’s tears.
Unable to stop his tears, Sungyeol started hiccuping.
“Did you know today is Christmas?”
Blinking several times Sungyeol sat up straighter, would it be shameful to admit he had no idea?
“I was right. You had no clue huh?” Myungsoo laughed.
Sungyeol hiccuped.
“I have a present for you.” out of his pocket, Myungsoo took out a hand sized rectangular box.
Sounds of traffic and talking and music seemed to gone for those few seconds, Sungyeol took the green and red box in his hands. There was a tiny white bow in the middle, his hiccups stopped, Sungyeol’s hands were shaking and he looked down at Myungsoo questioningly.
“Go on. Open it.”
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Sungyeol fumbled with the ring hanging on his necklace, he felt the engravings and recited the words he would never forget, “I can hear the voice of your heart.” The crowed recognized those words, “Yes, those are the lyrics to my song. But first those were the words that broke me and inspired me and gave me hope.”
Some of the people in the crowd were beginning to yawn.
“Well my speech has been long enough, my darn leg prosthetics are killing me. All I want to say is that it’s the tenth anniversary of that day, so Merry Christmas everyone!”
Sungyeol started laughing,”I couldn’t have done without you Myungsoo. It’s been three years since cancer took you but I know you’re watching over me. My guardian angel.”
A tear managed to escape his eyes. Looking up, not to the stage ceiling but closing his eyes Sungyeol visualized Myungsoo’s face, and he signed ‘Me too. I can hear the voice of your heart. I love you Myungsoo.’
The host picked up his mike and talked over the applauding audience, “Thank you Mr. Lee for that very moving story.” Sungyeol walked over to receive his award. “You will be remembered forever and I’m sure Myungsoo is smiling down at you from heaven.”
Taking the award in his hands, the golden haired, lightly beared man bowed in thanks.
“Any last thing you want to say?” Asked the host.
‘I miss you.’ Sungyeol was careful not to drop the gold trophy.
“I’m sure all of us are curious, but what did you just sign?”
Taking the award in his hands, the golden haired, lightly beared man bowed in thanks.
“Any last thing you want to say?” Asked the host.
‘I miss you.’ Sungyeol was careful not to drop the gold trophy.
“I’m sure all of us are curious, but what did you just sign?”
“Thank you.”
AN: Uh, sorry for this being way late. I still made it Christmas themed though. *sighs* I hope you enjoyed it! As you noticed, I kinda had trouble with the prompt. It was really cool but all good ideas evaded my head. Anyways, everyone have a life! Be happy always :] (Merry Christmas and Happy New Year)
StarlightSpirit: I was adoring this all the way through and then I got to the end and now I am sobbing unconrollably so I hope that you're happy :(:( I adore Myungyeol and poor deaf Myungsoo and Sungyeol learning sign language. My counsin's boyfriend is deaf and she learnt signing just for him and I think it's just so romantic x.x This was amazing <3
Updates will be just me adding direct links as they come in and adding the santas to the chapters, don't worry too much :3
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