A/N: This is an adaptation of a short movie with the same title I saw the other day. The credit goes to the lovely people who made it. It’s really very beautiful, I hope I was able to give it justice.

 

 

 

STRUCK

 

            Junsu was crossing the street that morning when it happened. He was sipping his coffee just like every morning that he did and was about to cross the street when he happened to look at the sliding doors of the building in front of him. That was when he saw the most beautiful creature his eyes had ever landed on.

 

            Junsu’s eyes followed the beautiful man as he walked his way out of the building. His face was exquisite. Junsu didn’t know that a guy could be this enchanting. The guy’s face was gorgeous and he looked like a god as he sauntered down on the pavement. His hair being blown by the wind softly. All Junsu could see was perfection and his heart started to hurt.

 

            Then a three-foot arrow struck Junsu’s chest.

 

            Junsu felt his breath whoosh as the object struck him. He lifted incredulous eyes to the offending object in his body. It was all so surreal. There was an arrow stuck at his chest! But the weird thing was he didn’t feel any pain. No pain at all. Just. An. Arrow. Stuck. At. His. Chest!

 

Feeling panicked, his hands automatically lifted to pull at the arrow embedded at his chest. He pulled and pulled but the thing didn’t budge. He looked like a crazy person twisting and turning on the street while trying to pull the arrow off his body. After a few more attempts, Junsu gave up, his chest heaving at the effort. He knew the arrow wouldn’t come off no matter what he did.

 

Feeling like a thousand eyes were looking at him, Junsu moved his gaze around him and saw people scampering away from his direction. He knew that they got scared of him. He happened to look at a woman and she screamed as she ran away from him.

 

Junsu sighed. He turned his head to locate the angel he saw again but he didn’t see him anymore. It was as if he just dreamed of him. Starting to feel depressed, Junsu walked away from the people. His hands at his sides, his head hung low, Junsu went to his office to work.

 

            The minute he got there however, his office mates skittered away from him too, just like how the people in the street did when they saw the arrow in his chest. Junsu was determined to work that day, arrow or no arrow. So he walked toward his cubicle and started to work. He found sitting down uncomfortable however because the tip of the arrow was protruding at his back.  After a few minutes of attempting to get in a more comfortable position, Junsu finally managed to perch on his seat. After that, he proceeded to look at his files on the desk.

 

            Everything would have been fine if his co-workers just minded their own business and didn’t approach his cubicle to look at him and stare at his arrow. But they just had to do it. There wasn’t anything like it after all. Junsu just let them stare as he tried to do some work. But it got worse. His officemates swarmed around his cubicle as if they could look at something odd. Junsu felt like he was a lab mouse. It was enough to drive him insane.

 

            He stood up abruptly, successfully disrupting the ‘viewing’. He reached for his bag and immediately walked out of his office. He didn’t look back because he knew that his office mates were still looking at him. At the arrow. Struck through him.

 

            The next day, Junsu didn’t go to work and instead went to a doctor to get a check-up. He wanted to get rid of the thing stuck to his chest and if it meant going under the knife, so be it.

 

The doctor came in and Junsu had to keep himself from cringing when he saw the doctor’s expression. But being the professional the good doctor was, he politely didn’t ask why the heck he had a ‘thing’ in his upper body. The doctor just asked him to take an x-ray of his chest and he was asked to wait. After some time, the results of the x-ray revealed nothing was wrong with him. The arrow seemed to have missed vital organs and there wasn’t even a scrape of bruise on his skin. The doctor even announced that Junsu’s case was a really special but he didn’t know how to take the arrow out.

 

That got Junsu more depressed. He got up, thanked the doctor and quietly left the hospital.

 

While he was walking he was thinking how could he go out, go to work, much less look at himself in the mirror everyday with the arrow always there at his face? Well, it was on his back, but that wasn’t the point. He had to get rid of the damned thing and he didn’t even know what to do.

 

Because he was at a loss, Junsu got more and more down. He took an indefinite leave from his work and just shut himself in his flat after getting as much supplies as he could. In other words, Junsu was in hibernation.

 

He constantly remembered the beautiful man from across the street that he saw that fateful day. Junsu knew that wherever the man was, he was sure that he wouldn’t see him again. Who would want to see him or go out with him in his state anyway? There was a big possibility that he might consider turning into a hermit.

 

This thought however was dispelled when Changmin, Junsu’s best friend went over his flat after a few days. By that time Junsu was wallowing full-blast in depression and hopelessness. He was letting himself drown in all the junk food he could find. When Changmin came over, heaps and heaps of tin cans, paper cups, Styrofoam packaging and card board boxes of take out were strewn on his floor. Junsu sometimes tripped over his mess but he didn’t have the energy or the motivation to clean up. He knew he had to shape up, he couldn’t live like this but he was just so low.

 

That was what Changmin also told him.

 

“I can’t believe you’ll be like this hyung! You have to get out of this dump right away!”

 

Junsu lifted his tired eyes from watching TV and he saw Changmin eye his flat like it was a dumpster. His nose wrinkled in disgust. A permeating smell couldn’t be located and Changmin sure didn’t want to know from where it was coming from. Well, Junsu had to admit, his place IS a dumpster. But he wouldn’t admit that.

 

“Yeah, I’m doing that Changminnie. Don’t worry about it—“Junsu muttered as he returned his gaze in front of his TV. He didn’t hear Changmin’s exasperated sigh. 

 

“Well, you’re certainly doing a great job here. The place is really homey. I’d have hired you as my decorator hyung.” Changmin said sardonically.

 

Junsu just silently shrugged. “Whatever you say Minnie. I’ll always be willing to help out.”

 

Changmin resisted the urge to smack his hyung at the back of his head. Sometimes, Junsu was really stubborn and dense. Changmin sat on the couch where there was still space and made the older man look at him.

 

“Hyung, you have to beat this. This is not you. Tell you what, I have the perfect solution—”Changmin then fished a picture from his pocket and stuck it to the end of the arrow protruding through Junsu’s chest. His hyung stared dumbly at it. Changmin smiled encouragingly. “This is the answer to your problems hyung, trust me.”

 

Junsu took the picture and turned it. It was a picture of an attractive man. From his smile, Junsu knew that he was his type. He slowly faced Changmin and his face must have shown his confusion because Changmin just nodded at him. Junsu bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself from cringing.

Junsu sat on the chair trying not to squirm in nervousness. He was in a restaurant waiting for the date Changmin had set him up with. He didn’t really like to go out tonight especially since he still got the arrow in his chest. But Changmin was persistent. He didn’t go home until Junsu said yes to his plan. So here he was holding the menu up to cover his front. He didn’t want to scare his potential date.

 

Not sooner had he put the menu up when a very tall and attractive man strode in the restaurant. Junsu immediately knew him from the picture Changmin gave him. The man walked over to the table and Junsu awkwardly tried to stand up.

 

“Hello, I’m Jung Yunho. Changmin mentioned I’d meet you here.” The man Jung Yunho offered his hand to Junsu so he had to get up, but he was thinking how he could accept the man’s hand without revealing the inconspicuous arrow in his chest. Yunho seemed to have sensed Junsu’s reluctance so he just smiled and motioned for Junsu to sit down. “You don’t have to stand up Kim-sshi. Changmin told me that you have a problem with your leg so it’s fine.

 

Junsu smiled like he was in a trance? Changmin said what? A problem with his leg? That stupid kid, nothing’s wrong with his—

 

“I am so glad to meet you Kim-sshi. I really hope that you’ll like me. I mean, I know this is our first meeting and all but I think I—“Junsu saw Yunho lean towards him and a sudden panic threatened to overwhelm him. The man might see the arrow!

 

But then, Yunho just sat silently as if he was surprised at what he just did. He was almost confessing after all. This didn’t register in Junsu’s jittery brain. He was so worried about Yunho seeing the arrow that he was distracted and was thinking of scenarios that would lead the way to Yunho’s shock. Junsu was really sure of it. Yunho, with all his charm and understanding kind eyes, would bolt right away if he saw the arrow. So Junsu was very careful. He pretended to listen as Yunho launched into another continuous conversation with himself because Junsu couldn’t even gather his thoughts to answer. The menu was still in his hands covering the offending object.

 

Just as Junsu thought he was getting the hang of it, a waitress passed behind him and the other end of the arrow caught her apron. She tried her best to unhook it but the cloth was caught fast. And it wouldn’t budge. Junsu could feel his face flaming as it happened. He didn’t know how Yunho could have missed what was happening in front of his eyes but he was still yapping his merry way. Quite oblivious to Junsu’s discomfort.

 

It was then that the waitress pulled with all her might so she could free herself. The sudden sharp movement caused Junsu to lose hold of the menu and be pitched forward his seat. To keep from falling face down on the table, Junsu had to steady himself on the table by standing up. That was when he realized in sudden horror that Yunho had stopped talking. Junsu didn’t want to look up; he couldn’t take it if he saw pity or mortification in Yunho’s face. He knew then with a sinking feeling that he had just lost a potential love interest. All because of the stupid arrow!

 

Junsu suddenly stood up dejectedly and walked away from the shocked eyes of everyone in the restaurant. He didn’t even look back even when Yunho called his name.

 

The next day Changmin set him up with another man. Junsu didn’t want to go because he knew that he would just have a repeat of what happened with Yunho, but Changmin was really persistent.

 

“Don’t worry hyung, he’s just one guy, here—“Changmin said and stuck another photo on his arrow’s end.

 

The next date Junsu had was with Tae Il. The guy was also attractive. He was what one could call feminine in a way. Tae Il has a nice smile and Junsu liked him immediately. But because he knew he couldn’t hide his arrow, he just let Tae Il see it when they decided to meet up.

 

Tae Il smiled that sweet smile at him and unconsciously kept on playing with his hair as he looked at Junsu and his—arrow. Junsu knew then that he was not Tae Il’s choice of a boyfriend.

 

The third time Junsu had a date was with Jaejoong. Junsu really liked Jaejoong because he wasn’t at least surprised or horrified that Junsu had this big thing at his chest. In fact, the arrow had a completely different effect on Jaejoong.

 

They were in Jaejoong’s car after having a fairly nice dinner. Junsu drank some wine and Jaejoong talked about a lot of things about himself and his job. He was an actor, he said. Junsu found him interesting.

 

In the car, both of them sat facing each other. Junsu nervously fidgeted in his seat. He didn’t know what would happen. But Jaejoong suddenly leaned forward and whispered that he liked Junsu who turned red in embarrassment. Then before Junsu could react, Jaejoong had already put his hands in the arrow and began it.

 

“Ooh, Junsu this is wonderful! Can I touch it?” Jaejoong crooned in his sweet voice. Junsu sputtered, he didn’t really know what to say to that anyway. Then Jaejoong suddenly launched himself in Junsu’s lap and was kissing him full on the lips. Junsu was so surprised of the attack but he instinctively knew that he had to get away. It just felt so wrong.

 

His hand found the latch on the door and got out of the car taking Jaejoong by surprise. Junsu practically ran from Jaejoong that instant.

 

“Junsu come back! I was just kidding! Come on!” Jaejoong shouted, but Junsu was never coming back.

 

Changmin came by Junsu’s house the next day and was talking about getting him another date but Junsu was fed up. He didn’t want any of that any more. He stopped Changmin from sticking another picture to his arrow and shook his head. His friend just looked at him sadly. He knew Changmin was just trying to help him forget about his problem. But he knew that all these dates wouldn’t actually make him forget about the man he saw that morning. Junsu could still see him in his mind’s eye. As if he was in front of him.

 

Junsu sighed in defeat. He wouldn’t forget that beautiful man. He just knew it.

 

Days went by; Junsu struggled to keep on living with the arrow in his chest. Now, he didn’t really pay attention to people who looked at him as if he was a freak. He simply didn’t are. He went to work, went shopping, rode his bike and did some other stuff. All with the arrow in his chest. Junsu found that if he just concentrated on living, the arrow seemed negligible. It was alright with him.  

 

Today, he was doing his laundry. He was putting his clothes in the machine. He was so intent on what he was doing that he didn’t notice a man beside him. This man had been looking at him since he came in the laundry shop.

 

Yoochun found the man fascinating. Not to say a man with an arrow through his chest was normal but there was just something about him. It was how the man seemed so at ease about it. Almost nonchalant. And Yoochun found that fascinating. He then made up his mind to ask how the guy had that arrow stuck in his body.

 

Yoochun walked over to where Junsu was. He didn’t hear Yoochun because he was busy with his clothes. So when Yoochun was just standing a few inches away behind him, he got startled when he felt a tap on his shoulder.

 

“Hey, I was just—“Yoochun started but stopped because Junsu suddenly turned as if he was burned. He didn’t know what happened next but when Junsu looked at Yoochun, he was looking at him with eyes round as saucers. Junsu tried to get away and gasped when he happened to look at Yoochun again.

 

Yoochun had the arrow in his hands! Junsu was free! Arrow-free!

 

Junsu couldn’t believe it. He was so shocked that no words left his lips. His gaze moved to Yoochun’s face and his shock was also seen there. He couldn’t explain what happened. He didn’t know when Yoochun took the arrow; he didn’t feel anything at all.

 

It was then that he remembered the man he saw in front of the building. Yoochun was that guy. Junsu’s heart clenched in sudden remembrance. It was as if his whole being started quivering with emotion. The one he had been looking was here! In front of him.

 

As if he was in a daze, Junsu slowly lifted his hand and leaned towards Yoochun. He touched his cheek for the first time and he felt the air rush in his lungs. He knew then that he was in love.

 

Yoochun was so surprised when Junsu touched him but it felt natural. As if they should have been doing this for a long time. Yoochun couldn’t believe it. Could this be what they call love at first sight? He smiled encouragingly at Junsu and that seemed to be what the other man was waiting for.

 

They leaned closer to each other and kissed for the first time. Their lips met and both felt like they were home. Home with each other.

 

Yoochun didn’t notice it when he lost his grip on the arrow he was clutching in his hands. The arrow fell to the floor unheeded by the two lovers.

 

A burly man, Cupid, as he was well-known on Earth, stepped up beside the kissing couple and picked up the arrow. He smiled as he looked at the two. His job was done. So he left.

 

***

 

Changmin couldn’t really understand his hyung. He was just helping him out of his depression but Junsu seemed so focused on finding his love. Which was so stupid. How could there be something as love at first sight? He snickered. His hyung was a stupid romantic that was all. Love at first sight was just something authors invented to sell their books. Only fools believe in that crap.

 

He sat on one of the benches in the waiting shed and waited for a bus home. He was just looking at nothing in particular when he felt someone move to sit next to him. He turned to look and he saw a beautiful girl. She smiled shyly at him and Changmin felt his heart hurt.

 

Then a three foot arrow struck Changmin’s chest.

 

Cupid smiled knowingly at Changmin who was now staring at his chest like it was from outer space.

 

Love at first sight baby! He mused.