Chapter 17
Kidnap Me Hyung
The two weren't hard to spot, both slumped against the bar counter, empty glasses surrounding them. Taemin pushed through the crowd of people and ran over to the boys.as he got closer, he noticed they were both totally knocked out, Jonghyun drooling on the countertop, one snoring lightly.
The bartender saw them approaching and smiled grimly. "These two yours?" He asked gruffly.
Taemin nodded. "Are they okay?" He knawed at his lip in worry, eyes glued to the two older men.
"They're fine, just drunk. They'll have one hell of a hangover in the morning though, that for sure." Taemin nodded again, before looking at Joon.
"Come on, lets get these idiots out of here." Joon said, walking over to Jonghyun and all but throwing him over his shoulder. Taemin took Onew's limp arm and draped it over his shoulder, wrapping his arm around the elder's was it and hoisting him up from his seat. Grunting in pain, he and Joon made their way put of the bar and to the car, shoving the, both into the back seat where they fell on top of each other, still lost to the world.
Joon and Taemin climbed in as well, and Joon started the car so they could get leave. As they drove down the road, all was silent in the car, save fo Onew's snores.
"What's the day?" Taemin asked suddenly.
"What day?" Joon asked, looking confused.
"When I told you about Onew and Jonghyun, you said 'it's that day isn't it'. What is that day?" Joon frowned. "Onew never told you? It's the day Kibum died." Taemin in a surprised breath, not expecting that.
"Oh." He said quietly. "No, he never told me." Taemin's heart thudded painfully against his chest, hating how much it hurt knowing Onew had still yet to tell him anything.
"But wait, why is Onew so upset? He said he and Kibum were just friends through Jonghyun, but earlier he-" Taemin shut up, not wanting to tell Joon about Onew kicking him out.
"He what?"
"Nothing. He just seemed more upset than someone who was just sort-of friends would be."
"You think so?"
"Yeah. How close were they really?"
"I wouldn't know." Joon shrugged. "Onew doesn't tell me much. It's part of the agreement for me living here. No questions, and all is peaceful. I don't mind, it's up to him what he wants people to know. It's not like I don't have secrets either."
"Oh? Like what?" Taemin asked, ever curious.
"Well," Joon smirked. "Lets just say it involves a lighter, pantyhose, and a bank in Busan."
Taemin's jaw drops. "What?!"
Joon roared with laughter, nearly driving the car off the road in doing so. "I'm just kidding!you should have seen the look on your face!" Taemin glared at the elder man.
"Not funny hyung." But he smiled, the atmosphere instantly turning lighter.
Joon's laughter turned to chuckles, and with some deep breaths, he was once again calm, if a little red in the face.
"We're home." He announced, and it was then Taemin realized they were parked in front of the shop. "How about you grab Onew, and I'll get Jonghyun." Taemin nodded.
"Sounds like a plan."
It wasn't a very good plan, Taemin thought, as he dragged Onew into their room. With a groan, Taemin managed to roll Onew off his shoulder and onto the bed, where he landed heavily, sprawled across the mattress. Taemin bent over, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. A moment later, he heard a crash, and then Joon cursing.
"Fine, stay on the floor!" He heard Joon say, before stomping down the hall towards Onew's room. Pausing at the door, he stuck his head in and said to Taemin, "Jonghyun is on the floor, so if you can't get enough room on the bed, the couch is available. I'm going to bed now. Don't wake me up unless they're dead."
Taemin nodded and turned back to look at Onew, who had begun to groan. Mumbled words that Taemin couldn't make out fell from his lips, and he rolled around fitfully.
"Onew? Are you okay?" He asked, worried.
"Ki....bum..." He moaned.
"What was that Hyung?" Taemin said, eyebrows knitting together in concentration as he tried to dephiper his hyung's words.
"Kibum-ah. Mianhe...mianhe..." Onew said, slightly louder, tossing around the bed.
Taemin blinked in confusion. Was Onew talking about Kibum?
"Kibum-ah..." He sighed again.
Yes, Onew was.
"Bummie~" he whimpered, hands reaching blindly, catching the sleeve on Taemin's sweatshirt.
"Bummie don't leave me." Onew cried, eyes still shut. Was he dreaming?
"Hyung, it's Taemin." Taemin said, placing a hand on top of the one gripping his sleeve.
"Bummie I'm sorry, please forgive me." Onew cried. Confused and unsure what to do Taemin played along.
"I forgive you hyung."
"Mianhe Bummie! I didn't mean to, I really didn't. Pleas, forgive me!"
"I do, I forgive you hyung. It's okay."
"I'm sorry Bummie, don't ever leave me. Promis me you'll never leave." Onew sobbed.
"Sshh, Onew, it's okay, I promise." Taemin moved his hand Onew head, petting his wildly tangled hair, and whispered soothing words.
"I'll stay by your side hyung. Don't worry, I won't leave." Onew whimpered, clutching Taemin tighter. Taemin's heart broke seeing the elder so scared and sad, but at the same time, a part of him grew angry. What was it that had happened to make Onew so upset? Just what kind of relationship did he have with Kibum? Taemin was almost positive now it wasn't Onew had lied to him, but why? Why didn't the elder trust him?
Onew cried out softly in pain, and Taemin realized he had began squeezing the elder's arm a bit tight. He relaxed his fingers quickly, feeling guilty for inflicting pain upon Onew, even if accidentally.
When Onew finally calmed down, Taemin tried to stand up and leave, but the movement must have been felt by Onew, as the elder sht out a hand and grabbed Taemin's, gripping it so tightly Taemin feared his hand might break.
"You said you wouldn't leave. Don't leave me Bummie!" He said tearfully, and despite still being unsure of whether or not Onew was sleeping, Taemin sat back down, resting their interlocked hands on the bed.
"I won't leave you Onew. I'm right here, don't worry." Onew settled once more, and this time, Taemin didn't attempt to leave, and instead tried to make himself comfy in his chair, sure this was about to be a long night.
A few hours later, taemin opened his eyes to the sun, and groaned at the pain in his back. he realized he had fallen asleep sitting beside Onew, his head resting against Onew's strong chest. Taemin stood up and stretched, flexing his fingers that had cramped from holding Onew's hand all night. He went to leave for the kitchen, but stopped and turned back around, studying the elder's sleeping face. A pang went through his heart, the night's earlier events replaying through his mind. What is it you're keeping from me? And why was are you so determined to keep me in the dark?
The next day, Onew was back to normal. And pretending like nothing happened. When Taemin tried questioning him about Kibum, he pushed him away, saying it was nothing.
Nothing my . Taemin thought, positive that crying and begging for forgiveness in your sleep was not just 'nothing'. Annoyed and hurt by the elder's refusal to answer any of his questions, he resolved to just ask Jonghyun, and left for practice hours earlier than normal.
He arrived at the studio two hours before it was time for rehearsal, and headed to the back room so he could dance without bothering the class of kids currently in the room, being sight by Hyoyeon.
Inside, he plugged his iPod into the small CD player and cranked up the music, letting the heavy bests soak in for a moment before beginning to dance. It was all freestyle, no choreography, but his moves still as sleek and energetic as usual, no set dance moves needed. It was times like this he felt most free, drawing in his knowledge of all different dance styles and letting the music control his moves. All his worries left his mind as he danced, the world dropping away until it was just him and the music.
He hadn't danced like this in a long time. With his parents constantly on the look out, and everyone being so overprotective, he never had a moment of freedom anymore, and although he enjoyed practicing with everyone, this is where he felt his best. Alone, dancing without instruction, no thoughts, just feeling.
All too soon he had to stop, and when he did, it felt like reality was suddenly crashing back down on him. It seemed dancing was only a shirt release from the pain, fear and worry eating away at him. A quick glance out of the room revealed no sign of his parents, and he quickly sneaked over to the large practice room, ready to start rehearsal, and most all, to ask Jonghyun about Onew's past.
Asking him proved to be harder than he thought. While Onew may have been pretending, it seemed Jonghyun was avoiding. Every time Taemin tried to talk to him about Onew during practice, he ran in the opposite direction. The whole rehearsal went by before Taemin was finally able to corner him.
"Jonghyun?" Taemin called.
"Sorry Taemin, I have to go."
"Jonghyun! Stop running!" Taemin said angrily, fed up.
"What is it Taemin?" He said, sounding resigned.
"How close were Kibum and Onew?" Taemin asked bluntly.
"Taemin, I'm not sure-"
"Hyung! Please, I don't have to know the whole story, I just want to understand. Onew doesn't have to be alone in his pain. I know he has you, but I want to be able to comfort him too. Please hyung, help me understand."
Curse this boy and his pure love for the barista. It was impossible to say no to someone so selfless, it really was, however...
"Taemin, if you really want to know, ask Onew. He may not want to tell you anything, but trust me, when you do get the story, it won't be me you want to here it from." Taemin's shoulders dropped in defeat.
"Ne hyung." He said quietly, turning away to begin home.
As he walked down the street, the wheels turned in his head for ways to get Onew to explain. Nothing decent was coming up though, every idea hitting a dead end. No matter what, it seemed impossible.
It was on the fourth day since Taemin had found Onew passed out at the bar that it happened. The two were alone in the apartment, Joon out partying somewhere, when he finally snapped.
"Who's Kibum?" Taemin said abruptly, startling the elder so much he dropped his bowl.
"Wh-what are you talking about? He's Jonghyun's brother, you know that."
"Yes hyung. I mean, who is Kibum to you ?"
"Just a kid-"
"Stop lying! I know you are."
"I don't you know what you're talking about Taemin." Onew stuttered, trying to think of a way out.
"Please, Onew, talk to me!"
"Taemin, I told you, I can't, not yet. I'm sorry-"
"No, stop. I can't take this anymore. I trust you hyung, enough to tell you about my past, about my parents. Please let me in, don't you know I won't judge you for anything?"
"I'll tell you soon-"
"You keep saying that! When is 'soon' Onew? We've known each other for months now, but I still know barely anything about you."
"Taemin..." Onew sighed, unsure what to do.
"I've told you everything! Why is it so hard to tell me know something about you?" Onew remained silent. "Do I mean so little to you? Am I just some poor kid you pity? Well fine, I don't care. Goodbye, Onew!" Taemin screamed, turning on his heels and heading towards the door.
Onew panicked. He couldn't let Taemin leave, couldn't let him think that what he thought was the truth.
"My name is Jinki! Lee Jinki!" Onew yelled, repeating the words he had said a few nights before. Taemin stopped cold and turned to look back.
The words fall out of Onew's like a waterfall of confession.
"My name is Lee Jinki, I am 23 years old, and I killed my boyfriend." Taemin gasps in surprise.
"It's all my fault that he's dead. I wasn't paying attention, and he walked out into the street, and I- I didn't save him. I was right there, I could have saved him, could have pushed him out of the way and been hit instead."
"My name is Lee Jinki, I am 23 years old, and I am a liar. I lied to Kibum about starting a new life, I lied to Jonghyun about keeping his brother safe, I lied to you about my name, and I lied to you about my past." Onew was choking on his words now, tears streaming down his face.
"My name is Lee Jinki, I am 23 years old, and I am terrible at keeping promises. I swore to Jonghyun I would always protect Kibum, yet he died because of me. Then I promised him I would never love again, but I broke that promise too."
Taking a deep breath, Onew stared right into Taemin's eyes.
"Because my name is Lee Jinki, I am 23 years old, and I am in love with a boy named Lee Taemin."
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It took 17 (18?) chapters, and 68 pages on microsoft word, but it happened! Onew finally confessed! Yay!
Also, the next chapter will be very Onkey based, so for those of you who have been waiting for some Onkey, your wait is almost over! Woo!
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