Chapter 3: Stubborn Feelings

Taemin’s P.O.V

I woke up to the sounds of loud voices and stomping feet. I rolled over in the small cot to see my cousin was no longer next to me or in the room. It bright outside with a cool breeze flowing through the window; it must be mid morning now, so I stretched sighing at the nice sleep. Well not as nice as my bed at home, but nice enough. Just as I swiveled in the bed to place my bare feet on the creaky wood floors the voices were beginning to grow louder. One voice I knew very well.

With a long groan I shook my hair out and quickly put it up in messy bun. I went out into the hallway to find Kibum and Jonghyun bickering while the sweet older woman was watching worriedly.

“Yah! What are you two bickering about now? Especially in this woman’s home; hyung you know better than this.” I knew I sounded like a scolding parent, but I couldn’t help but be frustrated with my cousin. They could seriously get us kicked out without food and tired. Plus something is wrong with that frog-face (I just know it).

“Hey get your cousin! He keeps saying that we have to work off what we ate yesterday and I’m trying to tell him that don’t and can’t do house work.” I watch how serious this idiot was and knew perfectly well why my cousin was annoyed. I rolled my eyes and turned to the woman and bowed apologetically.

“I am sorry for my cousin and our “friend” behaviors. We will definitely work hard today as a thank you.” She smiled at me sweetly and nodded.

“Well I have wood needing chopping; I was waiting until my son came to visit but it would be nice of you to do it. I also need two of you to fetch me water from out of the nearby well. It usually takes me a few hours to do so because I am not very strong and I have a bad back. Then I need someone to feed and wash our family horses; there two of them.” I listened and new it was going to be a long day, but it was a gratefulness we owe her.

“We will work diligently and hard ma’am.” I heard Kibum begin protesting so I backed up onto his foot making him grimace. Jonghyun accepted the work and she left the hall to begin cleaning the house as she said herself.

“I don’t do house chores.” I turned to the snobby elf in front of me and poked my finger into his chest.

“Unless you want us to leave you and your friend alone to get back; I suggest you learn quickly. We don’t take things from others without giving something back. Now I am going to ask her if she has spare men clothes that are good for labor work. You wake up that lazy frog.” I walked away; leaving Kibum to his teeth. The older woman then asked for us to just call her halmeoni (grandmother). She said her son left plenty out old clothes along with her late husband things.

I quickly gave myself and hyung clothes as we changed, then I went into Kibum and Minho’s room and gave the other spares. Key grimace at the clothes but snatched them from anyway. I look to see Minho not getting up making me sigh in impatience. I left them next to his feet as he rolled over to face the wall.

After 5 minutes Kibum was dressed in the deep brown tight trousers and louse white tunic with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows with his black boots covering his lower legs. I waited another minute and saw Minho was making no show. I rolled my eyes and pinched my nose.

“Just go find Jonghyun hyung—he should be outside by the horses.” Kibum sighed and left without a fight (finally). I went into the room and saw Minho sitting up but his face was looking out into the window. The sun glowing on his olive skin with his black hair tussled from sleep. His face was calm with a hint of frustration written over his brows. My weak heart beating at how handsome he was making my skin burn red. He finally notices me in the room and began frowning even more. The looks of displeasure on his face making me glare back.

“What do you want girly boy?” My lip twitched in anger as I tried to hold myself together.

“Why are you not ready? We have to get started.”

“Tsk…not my problem or job.” He tsked in annoyance as he looked away again; his uncaring personality becoming old quickly.

“It is when you eat someone else’s food and sleep in their bed from free. It is only right to give a hand in some chores, especially such an old woman.”

“She shouldn’t have let herself go and become weak; why does she need my pity?” I lost it at this rate and climbed over his body fast; pinning him to the bed with my strength. Shocking him in the process.

“Get off me!”

“Listen you selfish bastard! How dare you lay in this woman bed and call her weak. She has put up with more bull in this world then your great grandfather ever did. Now we may not like one another but I will not allow you to think you rule anything or anyone out in the real world. Get up and do your ing part!” I hissed in his face as he sat quietly and gulped in a small amount of saliva. Hoping he was actually going to listen to me.

“I-I can’t.” He whispered. I think I growled like a deranged dog.

“Why. Not?”

“…” He just looked down with hesitation and anger.

“Well??”

“I messed up my ankle…” I frown at this and didn’t believe him, but to play his game I got off his yanked the covers from his grip.

“Y-yah!” He stuttered. I look at his ankles and saw his left was very red and slightly swollen; the foot twitching very slightly in pain as he tried to hide it. I then put it together.

“You knew this whole time why you really couldn’t help but decided to say something ignorant instead?”

“It’s my nature…men don’t whine about their own pains. I would have just helped, but I can barely even stand on it.”

“Why lie to me then? I would have not pressured you into getting up then.” He just shrugged and looked away; his face matching one of a young child getting in trouble. If I wasn’t mad I would have found that adorable.

“Fine. Stay in bed idiot.”

“Why am I an idiot?!”

“Because you knew this whole time something was wrong with you and you let us continue to make you walk. You think me and my cousin are that ignorant and mean?”

“I-I don’t know…”

“Exactly—you don’t know. If you weren’t acting like a god damn prick you would realize that every poor person is not a savage. Stay here, I’ll be back with something to wrap up your ankle. Without letting him saying anything back, I quickly closed the door behind me. I walked towards the living area to find halmeoni sweeping while humming to herself.

“Halmeoni?” She jumped from me startling her, making me bow in apology.

“Oh dear, you scared me. My hearing is not up to par like it use to be. Is something wrong?” She asked worriedly.

“Nothing serious halmeoni, my friend just hurt his ankle and its’ a bit swollen and I was wondering if you have any wrappings or cloths we can borrow for the day?”

“Oh poor thing, I believe I have some left over.” She made her way into her small shelves where she had a few wrappings hidden away. She handed me one as I bowed in thank you. She smiled softly patted my head softly, like my mother would, making me grin.

“Such a good boy, your friend is lucky to have a friend like you. Also tell him I will bring him a home remedy for his swelling.” Not wanting to explain that we weren’t friends; I just hummed and thanked her. I walked towards the room and slowly opened the door to find Minho trying to stand up. I quickly rushed to him and forced him to the bed. He glared at me, but I was unfazed sat at the end of the bed and gently grabbed his ankle.

“Look you may not like being cared for, but you are not moving and I don’t care. Now stay still.” I quickly wrapped his ankle with a small amount of pressure. He grimaced but kept his composure, making me commend his strength (in my head of course). Once I was done I got up looked it over to make sure it was comfortable.

“Relax and stay put; halmeoni said she’ll bring you a home remedy for your ankle. I have to start working now; I’ll be back to bring you a cold rag for the pain in a little while. Okay?” I stared into his eyes for a little to make sure he understood. He stared back for a while, before nodding and looking away. I stood up and walked to the door only to stop for a moment when I heard him whisper.

“Thank you…for everything.” I smiled to myself and walked out with a simple “you’re welcome” before closing the door behind me.

Jonghyun’s P.O.V

I looked at Kibum as he walked through the woods by with the bucket of water in his hand. We just got to the well, which was a decent walk for a woman as old as halmeoni. The buckets were already about 5 pounds without water, but once filled they were each about 20 pounds. Now I understood why she took all day to bring water home. You needed to be fit to carry at least one of these through these trees and stones.

I looked at Kibum who was slightly red in the face from the heat and slowing down just a little. I pity him; knowing full well that he only knew how to combat and daily chores were foreign to him. But at the same time if his people weren’t so damn snobby maybe he would actually understand life and not take it for granted.

“How much longer?” He whispered with a heave of the bucket.

“Umm…ten minutes I believe now.” I heard sigh of exhaustion and rolled my eyes. I slowed down and when he paused and looked at me confused, I quickly snatched the bucket from his dainty hands. It was strenuous on my arms, but I didn’t need him passing out me. He stared at me for a moment, making me look away from those damn eyes.

“Don’t look at me like that. I don’t need you passing out; we have work to do.” I walked away from him as he followed behind me. He never said anything, but I could feel his stare at the back of my neck, making my stomach do flips. We walked for the next ten minutes not say a word until we reach the cottage. We found the horses and stood next to one each as I found the brushes and dipped one in the water.

“How do we clean them?” I looked at him and decided to just show him, so I came up to him and grabbed his hand in dipped the brush in the water before petting the horse to calm him. I then took Kibums’ hand under mine made small circles of the horses’ fine far.

“Just brush in circles to clean then bring it down to push the excess water off. Simple; got it?” I looked at him seeing his cheeks were tinted as he nodded. I watched him do it twice before going to the other horse begin cleaning him as well. I then saw my cousin walk by with two buckets.

“Hey Taemin…be careful those things get heavy.” He nodded waved bye as he disappeared into the woods. I looked around to see Minho if he was going with him, but he never showed. I assume he must be chopping the wood.

We scrubbed and brushed the horses for about an hour before deeming them clean. That is until they shook and decided to clean us as well. After being splashed I looked at Kibum and laugh when I saw hair sticking up in odd places.

“What?” He pouted as I just walked up to him and began fixing his hair.

“Nothing…just you look cu—I mean your hair was messed up.” I cleared my throat as I walked to my horse patted him down. I saw my cousin finally show up sweating and heaving the buckets. I ran over to him and grabbed the buckets from his small hands as he bent over taking in some air.

“Where is Minho? Isn’t he helping you?”

“He-he messed up his ankle yesterday and can’t walk. Damn that was farther than I thought.” Taemin pushed his sticky hair away from his face.

“Then I’ll help you. Kibum can you put the horses in the stable?” He sighed and nodded quietly.

“Thanks.” I then help my cousin bring in the buckets. Halmeoni was setting out fresh bread and stew just as we came in.

“How about a break? You guys look like you earned it.” We smiled gratefully as I went to get Kibum.

“Ahh!” I jumped at my name as Taemin looked outside in worry.

“That was Kibum.”

“Kibum?!” I ran outside towards the stables in the back.

Once I was in the back there was guy with Kibum with a blade to his neck. Kibum was out cold on the ground with a man over him. I didn’t think twice before tackling him into the hay.

“Get off me! What are you doing here! Who are you!”

“I should be asking you that!” I shouted at the strangers face. He flipped us through the hay as he went to punch me.

“Where’s my mother?!”

“Mother?”

“Joonmyun?” He paused to looked behind him where halmeoni stood. She had worry over her face as he jumped off me. I dust myself off as I made my way to Kibum who was waking up now. Taemin was checking his head to see he had a gash on his forehead.

“Mom! Are you okay? Who are these men?”

“Joonmyun did you over react again? These boys needed a place to stay, so I let them and today their working off the small favor by helping me, because I didn’t know if you or your brother would make it.”

“Mom I said I was coming. Taking in strange men is dangerous—you know that.” She nodded quietly before slapping his chest.

“You could have still behaved better.” He sighed and turned to us as we helped up a confused Kibum.

“Sorry…I’m Kim Joonmyun. Sorry about your friends head; I thought he was trying to steal my mothers’ horse.”

“No problem. We’ll be leaving soon today anyway.”

“Uh hyung about that…” Taemin scratched his head.

“What’s wrong?”

“You tall friend can’t walk. His ankle is really bad; probably won’t get better until at least tomorrow. I explain to him that I was going to invite you boys for another night as thank you for today.” I sighed as I walked a dizzy Kibum inside as halmeoni scolded her son. I’m not mad at him for doing what he needed to do, but I’m mad at myself for acting like I did. I never been so upset or worry over a person I didn’t know. My heart pounded when I saw Kibum lying on the ground.

“Taemin get a damp rag.” He nodded as I sat Kibum in a chair and checked his head.

“I’m okay…just dizzy that’s all.”

“Kibum?” I turned to find Minho hopping slowly on one foot. I knew from the looks of it we had no choice but to take up halmeoni for another night.

“Yah! What did I tell you earlier?” Taemin scolded Minho as he grabbed him and lead him back to the room.

“I need to know if Kibum is alright.”

“Trust me he’s fine. Just a misunderstanding…now get in bed.” With that I heard the door shut to the room.

“Jonghyun…I’m fine.” I shook my head and continue to pat clean his wound. Just as halmeoni and her son came in; I wasn’t going to act like I was still happy with him. It was surprising to me because he did have a valid reason to hit Kibum, but something about Kibum being hurt really made me want to sock this guy in his face.

“No…”

“Jongh—”

“Let me take care of you Kibum!” I shouted, surprising him, me, halmeoni and her son.” Kibum stayed quiet again with this faint tint on his face. I couldn’t tell if he was blushing or angry. I assume he was pissed.

“Sorry…just let me do this.” But just as I went to touch his head he shoved me away and went outside.

“Kibum-ssi…I made food dear.”

“I’m not hungry…uh…thank you anyway.” He spoke quietly as he left quickly making the three of us sit and look at one another in awkward silence.

“Um…How about some food?” Halmeoni asked me. A part of me was saying to go after him, but the strong hatred that I’ve had for years was stronger. So I nodded and got up and sat at the table.

“You don’t want to go after him?” Joonmyun asked quietly. I shook my head and ate my bread quietly.

“He’s a big boy…he’ll come around. Not really my problem really.” After that we just ate quietly. That small part of me is shaking their head at me in disappointment. I hope I listened to the right one.

Third Person’s P.O.V

Kibum listen outside the window near the door and was met with disappointment after hearing Jonghyun’s answer. The small hope in him wanted Jonghyun to come outside and talk to him. Because honestly Kibum wasn’t mad—he was just confused by his behavior today. Jonghyun had speechless more than once today and it bothered him a lot. He wasn’t the one to be speechless, but with Jonghyun he was like a nervous child. But after hearing Jonghyun indifferent attitude; Kibum knew he was just being foolish.

“I don’t/can’t like him away. No point in being worried about him. After I’m I will never see him again anyway.” Kibum took in some much need deep breaths before going back inside and sitting down across Jonghyun, making sure to eat and immediately leave after. He walk back outside—deciding that ignoring Jonghyun was best way to deal with this. Jonghyun was obviously confused by the even colder shoulder by Kibum, but being slow was his specialty.

Taemin had eaten and brought Minho food as he made small talk. They never asked personal things besides some likes and dislikes. They decided to try and get along better for the sake of being stuck together for another day or two.

That night Joonmyun promised to come in the morning and give the four a ride to the village where he lived and set them up with some horses as an apology for hit Kibum and helping his mother. That night the four went to bed with plenty on their minds. But there was someone in even more stress. Deep in the woods some miles from the cottage was an elf running tiredly. The howls of wolves hitting his ears—telling him they were close.

“Dammit—what is that spell?!” He ran and ran until he slipped off the small hill into the small stream. The growling had the strange elf turn onto his as he quickly grabbed his staff and pointed it at the small pack of black and silver wolves. He quickly spoke in a foreign tongue and his staff glowed white blasting a beam of light at the dogs. The yelped as they ran off from the beam as the elf sighed in relief as he passed out in the stream.

“So…tired…” Soon he passed out in the water.

Heyy! Back again =) with a new update. The story is kind of slow for now but I promise to bring more in the relationships of our boys, but as you can see the four of them stubborn as hell. Please enjoy! How do you like Jongkey or 2min so far? Also…who is the mysterious stranger? =D

Kim Joonmyun (EXO Suho)

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MY Fellow SHAWols & Kpop Lovers

Kori<3