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Forward:
Onew [Lee Jinki] - Dorky but utterly handsome third year at university. Lots of girls like him but he shoots them all down with polite rejections and has garnered a reputation as the school bookworm. He is 1st in the entire third year as far as intelligence and exam results go. Most people believe he turns down the girls because he is too serious to date as he wants to focus on his studies. None the less, the girls just keep on coming.
Key [Kim Kibum] - Key is flamboyant, in the school drama and art department. He also dabbles a little in the music department with his best friend: Jonghyun. Key is outgoing, he will talk to anyone and is openly gay however, he has also turned down many guys who have shown interest in him in the past and people think it is because he is too busy partying and having fun to be tied down. That is the reason that Key tells himself too, he has made out and fumbled around with plenty of guys at parties but they have never lasted to a relationship and any guy accepting Key’s advances are fully aware that he is in this for a quick fling and a bit of fun.
Overall, this is the story of two very different people from two different social circles, walks of life, university years and class. Oh yes, did I mention that Key’s family is insanely rich and powerful? Oh sorry about that. Well, Onew is just ordinary… not struggling for money but not really rich either. He works a part time job not for money but because his parents want him to know the value of money and put in the effort. He pay’s his parents a small amount in rent in return for his mum and dad giving him food, doing his laundry and putting a roof over his head.
Despite a lot of pressure in his classes Key has quite an easy life and with Jonghyun beside him, nothing can bring him down… until he meets Jinki.
Jinki is doing well at school, he has his best friend Minho by his side and nothing short of an earthquake can knock Jinki down…. Until he meets one Kim Kibum.
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So lets go back to the beginning shall we?...
It was a warm summer afternoon and Jinki and Minho were sat on the wooden picnic benches in the university square. The grass was playing lazily in the wind and brushing against the hem on the bottom of Jinki’s black jeans. His large military boots were placed on the bottom of his feet like they were every day; despite the hot temperatures (they are comfy, Jinki insisted one day when Minho asked if the older boy even had another pair of shoes.) The sun beat down on the back of Jinki’s strong shoulders and bounced back into the atmosphere when it hit the boy’s white baggy t-shirt that was blowing in the wind. With his short brown hair falling over his glasses Onew finally glanced over at Minho.
Minho was also wearing jeans but they came to just below the knee and on the bottom he wore a pair of stylish white loafers. His shirt was similar to Jinki’s in the way it was just a little bit too big for his frame but Minho’s was blue and looked like it was supposed to be worn in an oversized fashion, unlike Jinki’s that looked like he stole it from a truck driver on the way to class this morning.
Despite the older boy’s clear lack of style or rather his lack of care about his style, Minho found that Onew was still very attractive. The girls could see it, the guys could see it but Jinki refused to ever really acknowledge it or show it off. Onew preferred to be invisible and stay that way. It took a whole 2 years for Minho to become Jinki’s friend back when they were younger. And since they have grown up, Onew has only become more and more closed off to meeting new people.
He’s not saying that Jinki didn’t know how to be polite. Hell, he was one of the friendliest people around, but behind his big smile and shining eyes was a scared little boy who has stopped seeking for acceptance at the fear of being rejected and thrown away.
So, enough reminiscing, let’s get back to the task at hand.
Both Onew and Minho were studying their text books, the wind occasionally flipping the pages whilst they tried to read and it was really beginning to irritate Minho.
“I love sunshine as much as the next guy but tell me again why we are sitting in the hot sun, with the annoying wind blowing all my papers around when we could be in the nice air-conditioned library?” Minho asked with a huff.
“I never said you had to join me, and I came out here because studying in a fresh location can really help sometimes, especially in the sun because the sun’s rays give off a good energy that is absorbed by your skin and makes you feel good, therefore makes everything you are reading easier to take in.” Jinki finished his ramble with a small smile as he watched his best friend fold his arms and huff next to him.
“Next time, I’ll ask for the key notes version.” Minho replied.
“Hey, you asked the question, I just answered it.” Jinki said with a knowing grin and that’s when Minho knew he was playing around a little and just being overly chattery to annoy him.
“Whatever… So are we gonna move inside or what?” Minho challenged once more.
“Fine, whatever you want. Let’s go back to the library if you’re that bothered, I wanna stop by the cafeteria and get something to eat on the way anyway.” Jinki said, closing his book and giving his best friend his winning eye smile.
Minho could only chuckle in response as they both began packing up their papers into their bags. So off they went in search of food and air conditioning.
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Unbeknownst to the two chuckling friends, across the courtyard lay another pair of best friends. Their names were Key and Jonghyun. The shorter of the two was laying in the grass on his stomach while listening to a song on his iPod, with an earphone pressed into his left ear its partner could be found in the taller boy’s right ear. Kibum was also laying on his front but reading a play for his English and drama classes – the title read: ‘The taming of the shrew, by William Shakespeare.’ This was a classic tale of an unruly woman and her preciously perfect sister who are eventually courted by some noble and some very sly men. Key was reading the play with slight amusement when Jonghyun interrupted him:
“Hey Key, so you know that Minho guy in your year?” Jonghyun asked.
“You mean Mr Frog who always hangs around dance practice even though he doesn’t even do dance class??” Key answered with another question like usual.
“Yeah him, anyway, someone told me he is going to have a massive party at his parent’s beach house in the winter break. You up for it?” Jonghyun asked with excitement.
“What if I say no?” Key answered with a monotone voice.
“You never say no, and I don’t think that’s ever going to change” Jonghyun replied as if he knew Kibum better than himself (which Key thought actually sounded kind of accurate)
“If I don’t go, are YOU still going to go?” This time Key was smirking
“Okay, number one, you’re going to go anyway, you always do. Number two, I don’t NEED you to go, of course I would still go without you.” Jonghyun replied with a small grumble at the end of his sentence.
“Alright then, I’m not going.” Key tried to play cool but you could see his smile almost breaking through.
“Yes, you are.” Jonghyun said with a sigh.
“I’m really not, I have so many plans this winter and I don’t know if I’ll even be in town during Minho’s party.” Key replied with what seemed like honesty.
“What? Please Bummie, you gotta go!” Jonghyun began pleading.
“Sorry Jjong, just go with your other friends this time.” Key replied with a straight face.
“Omg PLEASE KEY! Now I’m practically begging you to come. Please please please please PLEEEEEEASE!” Jonghyun finished with his puppy dog eyes.
“I might consider it if you admitted that the only reason you NEED me to go is because you want me to help you hook up with some girls again?” Key smirked again at this.
“That’s not true.” The older boy said quietly. With a raised eyebrow and a knowing look from Key however Jonghyun continued, puppy dog eyes on full force and a blush on his face “Okay so maybe it’s a little true, there’s this girl I like, Krystal. I need you to help me talk to her, y’know, since you’re like one of the girls and you can go in there and talk me up to her. Please, this time is different, I don’t just wanna hook up with her; I actually want to date her.” Jonghyun finished with a panting of breath.
Still, Key said nothing and just gave the blonde haired boy his best sceptical look.
“Also, I want you there, no parties are fun without you; you know that. I’m for real with this girl and I know she will be going to the party. If not at least I have you there to console my broken heart.” Jonghyun said with as much cheesiness as possible to which the younger brunette burst out laughing.
“OMG! Hahahaha! Okay okay Jjong jeez, I was gonna go all along, if I had plans that took me away from the city don’t you think I would have told you! Haha. Oh, that’s the cheesiest thing I’ve ever heard come from your mouth, and that takes a lot of beating!!” Still clutching his sides and now rolling about the grass Kibum continued to laugh while Jonghyun just snatched back his earphone, now putting them both in and tuning out his crazy friend who looked like he was dying a Shakespearian death on the courtyard lawn.
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It was auditions day for Kibum and he hated that he always got so nervous. He knew he was great and he always ended up getting any part that he auditioned for but for some reason he still got those butterflies in his stomach. Jonghyun saw Key walking into English class, one of the only classes he shared with Kibum. At once, Jonghyun noticed that Key was holding his stomach and he realised it must be audition day today.
“So, when’s your slot?” Jonghyun asked.
“Period before lunch, got half an hour. Firstly for the solo part, and then I have to meet with Taemin in the last 15 minutes to do a paired audition. Eurgh, I feel like I’m gonna throw up. Let’s get this class over with.” Key said before he slid into his seat.
“Don’t worry, you just have to do the audition, get your part and then it’s winter break… then we can – ” The older boy was cut off by his English teacher.
“Kim Jonghyun! Stop chattering!” Miss Park bellowed across the room, apparently she had been talking for 5 minutes already but Jonghyun didn’t notice her.
Miss Park and Jonghyun knew each other well. Last year when Jonghyun was in his first year at university he messed around and managed to fail his English modules so here is, repeating last year’s modules along-side this semester’s modules. Also, life is so great to Jonghyun that he was able to keep the same lecturer…great, just great. Miss Park hated him since he never tried last year and it seems no matter how hard he is trying to make up for it this year, she still doesn’t like him.
None the less, he went quiet and knuckled down to his studying. He was lucky to have Key beside him once again as Key had studied abroad in high school for a while and was practically fluent in English language, what Key was here to improve were his literature skills.
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The audition came around quickly and passed just as quickly too, to which Key was thankful. He was currently sat eating lunch with Taemin. Jonghyun had an earlier lunch on Fridays since he has a class during lunch time.
“I think we were awesome, there is no doubt we got the part but let’s just wait until the results are posted before we celebrate.” Taemin said with bright eyes.
Lee Taemin was a first year and Key hadn’t known the boy very long but still, they had both clicked well with each other straight off the bat. Taemin was a dance major with a minor in theatre, he was a free spirit and always lit up any room he walked into. Key could be dead on his feet but once he was around Taemin he suddenly had so much energy. Also, the boy felt like a little brother to him, Key felt an instinct to protect him at all times and keep him innocent from the bad things in the world. Taemin was a little younger than the other first years since he skipped a grade in primary school, this is why Key thought he felt so protective of the boy 2 years younger than him.
Taemin didn’t mind that Key liked to mother him and take care of him sometimes because he knew it was all in good heart and Key had Taemin’s best interests in mind. It was pretty scary and also very liberating to be in university a year prior to others his own age but Taemin was always up for a challenge and nothing scared him away.
“So… are you going to Minho hyung’s party?” Taemin asked tentatively since Minho was always a sore topic between the two.
“Yeah, Jonghyun is practically dragging me along, what about you?” Key asked with a twitch in his smile.
“Um, yeh, he invited me. It’s gonna be on the last day of term since we only have half day classes and it is to celebrate the end of the winter examinations.” The younger boy replied quietly.
“Great then we can all go together” Key smiled before it faltered a little at the next line he spoke “Just, be careful of Minho yeah? I’ve seen the way he looks…no, stares, at you and it doesn’t seem quite as innocent as you believe.” Key warily spoke trying not to make the younger feel babied or uncomfortable.
“I know Hyung, it’s okay, I can watch out for myself. Although it is nice to know you are watching out for me too.” Taemin smiled his megawatt grin and continued to eat his sandwich.
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The weather was becoming colder and colder each week and Onew really hated the cold weather. He spent most of his days and nights in the university library these days since the winter examinations were coming up. Onew missed studying in the sunshine, feeling the wind blowing along his neck and his shirt flapping in the wind. As he looked outside all he could see was dark black and grey. Onew glanced at his watch to realise it was already almost 9pm. Thinking to himself that he has had enough for today and he should let his mind rest, he began packing all of his belongings into his bag. He was wearing a black leather back pack and his laptop bag slung over his left shoulder. He was walking and carefully zipping up the laptop bag, making sure all of the wires from his charger were pushed inside so it could close. The next thing Onew knew, he was laying on the ground with books all over the floor. Glancing up he saw a slim boy with high cheekbones and dark piercing eyes kneeling and glaring down at him.
“OMG! I am so so sorry, I was just arranging my bag and I guess I wasn’t – ” Onew was cut off by a sharp voice cutting through the air.
“Thinking? Looking? Using your brain you were given as a human being at all?” There was a pause and Jinki didn’t quite know what to do, the boy was calling him stupid and Onew should have been offended but he just kept staring at the other boy, completely perplexed about him for some reason.
“Just…watch where you’re going next time and… can you help me pick up these books you made me drop?” – after a small pause – “please?” Key inquired with as much haughtiness as he could muster, but he knew himself he wasn’t fooling anyone. The boy currently beneath him on the carpet looked up through his big round glasses with a hint of embarrassment and something else etched into his features. Was it confusion? Wondering? Key really didn’t know but taking in the boy’s attire and his eyes he could tell that the boy on the floor was older than himself and by the looks of things, a bit of a nerd. There was something about him that Key couldn’t put his finger on though, something different about the boy and as Key looked a bit closer he could see a good bone structure in the others face. Snapping himself out of staring at the other he finally moved to start picking up the text books from the floor.
“Yeah sure, I’m really sorry I wasn’t looking, actually I’m quite clumsy so this happens to me all the time… so, umm… yeah… sorry.” Onew didn’t know why he was saying all of this and it seemed like the other boy clearly didn’t even care.
“Here you go…oh, wow! You’re reading Shakespeare?” Onew questioned.
Key glanced up to see that the other boy was holding out his copy of ‘taming of the shrew’ and as much as Key wanted to respond with ‘well I was TRYING to, before you knocked it out of my hand’ he just couldn’t. Instead he simply nodded at the other, unsure of what to say at first.
“I am studying it in English class and in my drama class too.” Key responded eventually.
“Oh well, it’s a great play. One of my favourites actually, I hope you enjoy it.” Onew said with his signature smile.
“Umm… yeah it’s really good so far and I’m going to be performing it with the drama club at the end of the year.” Key smiled a little too, but he would never admit that.
“Cool, well hopefully I can get chance to see it. Anyway, I’ll see you around, I really have to go. Don’t study too hard and good luck with the play. Sorry, again by the way. Goodnight.” Onew smiled, this time with his eyes as he walked away.
“Goodnight…” Key barely replied as the other walked away but he knew he had heard him because the older boy turned and nodded his head slightly before continuing on his way. ‘Well, that was…odd.’ Key thought before dismissing it from his mind and carrying his stack of books to a nearby desk. He had a lot of studying to do if he wanted to go out with his friends this weekend.
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Once Onew returned back to his house he began to think back to that moment in the library. He wondered how someone could be so blatantly rude to a stranger when it was clearly just an accident. Then he remembered how the boy’s demeanour completely changed and how he had asked him softly to help pick up the books. Jinki was intrigued by the boy and wondered how someone so sharp and imposing could suddenly shrink into a kind and mature person at the snap of a hat. Jinki mused it over for a while that night before falling asleep. There was just something about that boy that had Onew very curious.
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