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@exkyumin-stretto
i'm sorry i couldn't be here to say goodbye.

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ristretto 2022 // (kyubyul)
"Oh, no, donāt get me wrong, I do."
AtĀ leastĀ Kyumin had that hand on his hip. It eased Hanbyulās actions, made it seem like maybe Kyu would be okay with what he was about to do, maybe return it. God, please let him return it. Heād never sin again if only this one boy would return this one kiss. (That was how important he saw this.)
Byul was started to get worried again at his exās unresponsiveness, but he wouldnāt pull away. Wouldnāt dare. Because ohā oh, his lips were finally moving back against his own and it was probably the definition of bliss for the Aussie. Not like the way Kyuminās body pressed against his didnāt help. Like always, Hanbyul would pull Kyu down to his level instead of going up, his ego too hard to swallow to rise onto his toes or lift his chin up. That didnāt mean anything less about their kiss.Ā
Abruptly the blissful kiss was broken in quite the rough way, Hanbyul left blinking dumbly as the otherās expression changed. He came around as his Kyutie spoke, lips curling into a crooked grin before they were claimed again. Like heād protest.Ā
He protested instead was his bare back against those shiver-inducing cold tiles, his hands moving from where theyād been rubbing his shoulder to framing the otherās face. He couldnāt help but let a small smirk slip as he turned, pinning his ex up instead in an all too familiar way.Ā
"What wasĀ IĀ supposed to do, idiot? Itās not like I could go and drag you back by your collar just because I needed you. But you sure as hell arenāt running away again. Iām not twenty anymore, I know what I want, and I wantĀ you."Ā
Any sort of reply from those pretty pink lips was cut off, reinforcing just how much he wanted the younger as he held him in place. It was as simple as that. He would have his Kyu, if just for this night, by whatever means necessary. Right now, those means were kiss after helpless, needy kiss, each of which were delightfully returned.Ā
he didn't really feel bad for having an outburst like that. it would've been something that would happen on any usual day if they were still togetherā but oh wait, he had to remember, hanbyul had a girlfriend. and he, himself, had a 'boyfriend'. yeah, right. like he'd be able to find someone after that. it sounded stupid, sounded clichĆ©, but honestly, how can someone live up to his stubborn standards now?
a faint hiss escaped his lips when he was pressed against the wall instead. of course, of course, hanbyul always liked the upper hand. maybe kyumin didn't want to make it as easy for him as it usually was. it wasn't fair, after all. plus, he was trying to be angry with him, and how the hell was he supposed to do that when he had him pinned against a wall?
nails raked down hanbyul's bare chest, and kyumin hoped that it stung at least a little. not out of spite, butā yeah, out of spite. out of spite that both their egos were too big. that hanbyul didn't run after him after all those years. that he didn't even pick up the phone to see if his number was the same. he wouldn't listen if someone said he had double standards; he'd say he was gone for a reason. he disappeared from the stretto life to figure out his own, which ended up quite pathetic after he was left alone for long enough.
"do you want a list?" he threw back, words hushed and gone unnoticed by the rest of hanbyul's spiel. oh. oh. well, that was certainly straight forward. hanbyul surely didn't expect him to deny something like that.
and he didn't, because his fingers laced back into the shorter's hair and lips crashed back together in a fury of neediness. he hoped hanbyul had needed this as much a kyumin had. honestly, he wanted it. he wanted to know that hanbyul needed him all this time; he wanted to hear it.
but he also hoped he changed in the best ways. he hoped that he wasn't actually cheating on his girlfriend, that it really was casual, or else he'd be uncertain. how can you agree to be with someone that cheated for you?
then again, no one ever said they were going to be together. he ruined that, after all.
that made him slap hanbyul's chest, tugging his hair with a face of frustration. "it was so stupid. you were so stupid. i was so stupid." the last sentence spoken quieter, mind you. "you could've taken me by the collar!" i wish you had. "look at you now, obviously there's nothing stopping you now." please don't let me leave again. "stupid, you knew you wanted me then, too. what's different now?" the difference is i'll stay. i'll stay for you. "dumbass." give me a reason to stay.
ristretto 2022 // (kyubyul)
Hanbyul kept glancing over his should at Kyumin, trying to see an expression, a reaction of some sort, somethingĀ as he played with his fingers in front of him. Hey, at least there wasnāt judgement, eh? Maybe there should be. Then heād hear a couple more of those snide comments heād learned to love.Ā
He wondered how he saw him, now. Disliked or liked the more tanned skintone, the couple of tiny scars that were dusted here and there, the tightness of his shoulders. Not from the past ten years, but more the past ten minutes of Kyumin saying nothing. Jesus, boy. Way to make a guy nervous. Why was he so quiet? Now was no time to be quiet. There was a person willing to listen to and commit every word you said to memory, and yet you were silent. Tch.Ā
Then he saw it, that cute smile just out of the corner of his eye, felt the gentle brush of his fingertips across his back, and his idiotic grin was back. God, how he had missed him. If he had his way, he wouldnāt much longer. Slowly, he turned back around, grin faded to a soft smile. You were soĀ cute.Ā And that ability to hold anything back was crumbling by the second. So he gave in.Ā
Wearing a sheepish smile, Hanbyul wove his fingers into Kyuminās hair, untying it and finger-combing it out around his shoulders. It was long. He told him that. āDid you stop cutting your hair when I left? Itās ridiculous.ā There was a soft hum as he tucked the less than straight strands behind the boyās ear, giving him an apologetic shrug as he did.Ā
(Sorry was definitely not one of the things he was in that moment.)
Ā Byul leaned closer, brushing his nose gently against yours before kissing you. It could very well be the last kiss the ever shared, and heād make it memorable. His heart pounded against his ribcage because there was every possibility that Kyumin would push him away, that the boyfriend was real and he had been over his ex the moment he left him. He couldnāt go another ten, twenty, thirty years in love with this frick without having at least one more kiss. Just one stupid, shirtless, hidden kiss. Just one. Ā
he liked that hanbyul noticed his hair. well, it was hard not to notice, but most people wouldn't really comment on it, considering they haven't seen each other in about nine years. still, it was something that made him smile. along with the feeling of hanbyul's fingers sliding through his hair-- that was definitely part of it.
"you don't like it?" he asked absently, focusing on how his hand moved when hanbyul turned, placing itself on his hip instead. god, it was almost too much that he was shirtless. his skin felt so warm and so real underneath the palm of his hand, his fingers curling against his hipbone and urging him to move closer. he could see where this was going; he wasn't going to stop it.
it was a miracle to him that hanbyul kissed him first. well, not really, maybe. he was always good at initiating things, after all. kyumin, not as much. but that was okay, he knew when he should make his own move.
but that wasn't really on his mind because, oh my god, hanbyul's fingers were in his hair and oh my god, his lips were against his again. half of him wanted to pull away and pinch himself to see if he was dreaming this, but he wouldn't dare wake up now if it was. it was too good of a dream if it was, and he would gladly be stuck in it if he could.
the way his body pressed up against hanbyul's was an instinct of his. even after ten years, his body reacted the same as it always would. one hand on his hip and the other on the side of his face, never wanting him to let go of him now.
but he did. even if just for a minute there, he pushed hanbyul off of him and against the wall closest by, his expression completely changed. he looked huffy again and pissed with hanbyul.
"I can't believe you let me leave like that years ago, you idiot!" and his lips were back on hanbyul's, rougher and needier, like he'd been waiting nine long years for this again.
well, he had.
ristretto 2022 // (kyubyul)
"Guilty as charged." Hell, if Kyumin had said no heād still had dragged him away. A grin tugged at the corners of his lips as he reached for his hand, resisting every urge in his body that was screaming for him to hold it, taking him by the wrist instead and pulling him to the bathroom with him. Away from everyone.Ā
Not like he wouldnāt have taken his shirt off in front of everyone under different circumstances. His resolutions for five straight years hadnāt been āWork out moreā for nothing. Ā
By the time they were actually inside, tile under their feet and a chill to the air that really made Hanbyul not want to take his leather jacket off, he noticed that the lighting was actually better and he could see his ex better. The forming laugh lines that hadnāt been there before, difference in his haircut and even his slimmer face.Ā
But there were similarities, too. The cupidās bow of his lips, the way he held himself, hisĀ heightĀ that Byul still couldnāt get over. It was ridiculous how much this kid grew when he hit his growth spurt. It relaxed him, though. This was the Kyu that pushed him around and joked with him and allowed him to slip kisses every once in awhile.Ā
"Be nice, alright? It was a rash decision when I thought tattoos looked manly and I could pull it off."Ā
With that he was shrugging his jacket off, giving you one of his classically stupid grins as he did. He missed grinning like that. What was more, he missed seeing your stupid grins and your shy smiles. Those were gold.Ā
'haircut' was a bit of a overstatement, considering kyumin couldn't remember the last time that he cut his hair. it had been pulled back into a ponytail for a while now; a style he preferred. it suited him, anyway. and it gave him something to tug at when he was anxious and stressed.
he was a little disappointed that hanbyul's hand couldn't have just sneakily slipped into his own as they left for the bathroom. he wanted to do that himself, but he wouldn't be the one to crack here. well, not that he expected either of them to break, butā it was a hope in the back of his mind. swimming around like a blowfish, puffing up and becoming annoying noticeable at some points.
"no judging here," was his reply, hoping his eagerness didn't leak through with his words. his hands were behind his back nowā probably to hide the fact that his fingers were curling around each other and knotting nervously. man, was he ever this nervous before? he shouldn't be now. snap out of it, kyumin, this man's got a girlfriend now, after all.
but fuck his girlfriend, honestly. it was casual, after all, right? he was lee kyumin and he was going all out at tis goddamn reunion and no one could stop him unless necessary.
kyumin found his courage again when hanbyul lets the tattoo show, and wow, he missed seeing him like that. that used to be his to look at. it was those thoughts that blowfish'd in his head and caused him to reach out and run his fingers over hanbyul's lower back, slow and curious. admittedly, a tattoo suited hanbyul. he had always wondered when the other would end up inking himself. he was just the reckless type to do it without thought, and that's what made kyumin smile, his hand tracing the lines of the tattoo.
he hadn't said much now; he was silent in all the glory that was jason jang hanbyul. always rendering him speechless, that idiot. his eyes were cast downwards but his smile was obvious. hanbyul missed his shy smile, right? he wouldn't need to, for much longer. all he needed to do was turn aroundā all kyumin wanted him to do was turn around and have his hand under his chin again and tilt his head up so he can see the smile again and then kiss him like that.
would he be so lucky?
ristretto 2022 // (kyubyul)
Sad thing was, he did. He hated that he did, he hated that sometimes he stared at Kyuminās contact in his phone, knowing heād changed it and itād be useless to try and call. Hated that every little while heād cuddle up to someone who was absurdly smaller than the teen he used to know, that heād fall asleep and dream of things that would make him force that person out of his place before they were even properly awake. It was useless. No one was him except forĀ him,Ā and there was only one of him, so trying anything or anyone else was futile.Ā
Denying this when Kyumin was right in front of him, so close and accessible so unlike heād been the past ten years, was becoming much too hard to do any more. Ā
"Good. Fine, I guess, hardly the best relationship Iāve been in, though."
He rubbed his arm, taking his turn staring at the floor again. God, to say anything, anything besides what he was thinking, thatād be fantastic. Was it hot in here? Yes. It was definitely too hot, too hot and too public for his tastes. (Not like he had a reputation to uphold anymore. Everyone knew the hopeless romantic he was.)
"Hey, I got a trampstamp, wanna see itā?"
the response actually satisfied him. he felt a little more at ease, hearing that. not because he wants hanbyul to be miserable, but because he'd like to believe that by that, he was hinting that kyumin and his relationship was better. good, because he'd say the exact same thing.
but replying saying 'good' would just be too rude for him to do. so he just pulled a sorry smile, one that wasn't really all that sorry. it was a good thing, he thought again, that this girl isn't here. he would probably feel on top of the world if she were here and hanbyul said that to him. that was something he wouldn't forget.
hanbyul's question made him blink once or twice, but he couldn't help but hold back a snide reply. as usual. "'cause you are a tramp," he snorted, although he is interested. he wondered how much hanbyul's changed, physically. hm. maybe he's more fit, maybe he's gained a little weight.
he'd still be gorgeous either way.
but hey, woah, slow down there, kyumin, your fake boyfriend might get a little jealous.
mentally rolling his eyes at his own stupid thoughts, he offered a shrug, like he doesn't really care either way. "sure." see: yes, god yes, let me see it, just take off your shirt and let me see you like that again because i miss it more than anything in the world.

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ristretto 2022 // (kyubyul)
Ha Ha, heād passed it off flawlessly. Now he had a fake girlfriend, whoād be fake nothing like Kyumin, even though if there were a girl the opposite of Kyumin he definitely wouldnāt be dating her. If there was a girl the exact same as Kyumin he wouldnāt even date her unless his Kyu was absolutely not an option. Even then heād try.Ā
"Oh."Ā
He echoed, voice hollowing out more and posture growing better with every passing word. He didnāt want to believe it, he really didnāt, but jealousy did that to you. Made you think irrational things and do things you shouldnāt and say things you shouldnāt and believe things you otherwise wouldnāt have.Ā
"Oh, yeah, I know. You always did have a thing about being all coupley in public." It wasnāt a direct assertion, really, but it could have been, and was probably perceived as one. Oops. Hanbyul shifted again, looking around nervously for someone else. They all seemed to be preoccupied with something that they had been too distracted to notice. Not a surprise. The next thing out of Hanbyulās mouth he had little to no control over, as it just kind of⦠Happened. It came out fast, the only thing that really mattered if Kyumin was honest about this whole non-exclusive absent boyfriend thing.Ā
"He treats you well, right?"
he didn't feel good lying to hanbyul like that, but he didn't like to be the one left behind like that. if hanbyul moved on, he'd show him that he'd moved on, too. he doesn't fuckin' need him.
well, that was a lie.
he would've laughed lightly when hanbyul pointed out how he hated public affection, but he was too busy watching his reactions. he could tell he believed him. whether he wanted to or not, he couldn't tell, though. whatever. he didn't care. he didn't want to care.
his defenses were lowered a little when he heard the question. his expression softened momentarily. he still cares about that? it was a bit of a surprise to kyumin, to hear him ask that. hanbyul still cared for his well being. it's been ten years, and he does. kyumin wondered if hanbyul ever laid down at night and thought about whether or not he had been in the hospital that year or if he was asleep or what time it was where ever the other was.
kyumin did.
"he treats me.. alright. yeah." he can't even force himself to say that this imaginary man treated him better than hanbyul did. no, he couldn't hurt hanbyul with lies like that. "and her? your girlfriend?"
ristretto 2022 // (kyubyul)
Yāknow. Kyu still sucked at conversation. Keeping up with it, understanding it, continuing it. Good. The less that had changed, the better. That way he felt like a whole decade hadnāt slipped through his fingers without him,Ā
"Ahh. Iā Well, I couldnāt bring hi-er. I couldnāt bring her. Plane sick real easy, yāknow. Shame, I really wanted to introduce herā¦"Ā
He didnāt know why he did it, why he so blatantly lied about his status, maybe it was just to finally have something over Kyu and his history of witty remarks and admittedly funny comments. Maybe it was to make him jealous, but did it really matter any more? No. Yet the asshat did it anyways.
"Even though itās still pretty casual. Not, yāknow, exclusive or anything." Those yāknows would be the death of him. Theyād give him away, then heād look like a bumbling idiot. Which was the thing he probably wanted to do least. He stuck his fingers into his pockets, another familiar habit, as to keep himself from touching him again. A brush across the cheek, tap to the nose, tuck behind his ear, anything. It simply couldnāt happen because he wouldnāt let it happen because if it didĀ happen thereād be no stopping it from going places it didnāt need to be.Ā
Sadly.Ā
"oh."
that wasn't disappointment in his voice. that wasn't a bitter look on his face. that wasn't his arms folding over his chest unhappily. he was still a child. still a protective child; he didn't want anyone else to have hanbyul. no.
he was glad that this girl wasn't here, honestly. he probably would have been petty and ignored her and possibly spilled something on her 'by accident' if she kissed hanbyul in public or something. that's gross. kyumin didn't do that. he rarely did when they dated. public things weren't his thing.
"well, i mean, he's not here with me, but he wanted to be. he wasn't a stretto, so he didn't think he should come here," he replied after a few moments of stupid jealousy. he wasn't going to let him have that over him. he wasn't going to be the pathetic single one here. he was gonna fake it 'til he made it, a forced, sickly sweet smile on his face.
"i'd sure love to meet her." there was a bitter edge on the word 'her'. not that he didn't know that hanbyul wasn't gay, but because there was a her. hmph. not fair. "no, yeah, he and i aren't exclusive, either. plus public things, y'know? not really excited about that sort of thing. didn't want people to make a big deal of him if he came."
ristretto 2022 // (kyubyul)
First it was the eye contact that made him smile. Then it was the widened eye contact that made it grow wider, even though he pretended not to notice. Pretended not to notice, and silently filed away for the plane ride home, something to remember the boy by when he left here. Had it really been ten years? Standing in front of him like this, he could almost pretend no time had passed at all. But that was when something else flashed across his gaze, and Hanbyul grew a more concerned. Had Kyumin not been as okay as he saidāĀ
Enough of his worrywart self. This was fun. Fun, fun, fun. Kyu had probably been fine. Heād better have been, or heād have somebodyās head on a platter.Ā
"Iāve been pretty good. I opened up my own candy shop, back home. Hah, guess you canāt really escape the lifestyle can you?"
God, did his voice really sound as strained as it felt? Probably not. Probably just really foreign. He probably had a really bad accent again. ā¦Accents were still hot, right? He hoped so. As he was rubbing the nape of his neck his gaze left Kyuminās face, not wanting to stare, and slowly drifted back. He bet he was still a good kisser. Probably better. His husband was lucky. But he probably already knew that.
"Have anyone here I can meet?"Ā
that smile most definitely did not just grow because his eyes were getting bigger. nope, kyumin wouldn't believe that. yeah, he was going to ignore it and stick to the trying to make words happen aspect of things.
his own candy shop. that doesn't really surprise him, honestly. he did really well at the candy shop in stretto, it's only likely for him to do the same after leaving. sadly, he couldn't really hold a job for very long, himself. he cringed at the thought of it. jobs weren't his thing.
but he's glad that hanbyul managed something. it was obvious that he was back in australia doing his thing. he could tell from the way his accent slipped into his korean. it was cute, he liked it.Ā
"anyone you can meet?" he repeated absently. oh, he meant did he have someone? no, of course not, you idiot, i still love you. that's what he wanted to say. he wanted to grumble it like he would always grumble these sort of things at him.
".. no. i don't."
ristretto 2022
Oh my god was right, and it took Shinyeong a moment to wish she said that instead of practically shrieking in the middle of Fleurs. No one can truly blame her though. Her baby brother ā her precious dongsaeng way back when ā was actually back.Ā
Suddenly things got blurry and it scared her for a second, only to feel tears dance down her cheeks. She sniffles and wipes at her eyes, but they keep coming. She says it again ā the āYah, Lee Kyumin!ā ā but in a much softer, hushed, and whimpering one of relief, sadness, and happiness all merged into one.Ā
She takes a step forward and wraps her arms easily around him. āI missed you, you butt.ā She sniffles again, pulling back and reaches up to fix his hair like how she usually would. Smiling despite her tears, she gave a happy little squeak and hugged Kyumin once more.Ā
"Tell me everything, baby brother! Aigoo, where have you been? Where did you go after you left Ristretto? Has everything been okay?" She asked a bunch more questions, the rest being if he met Taemin yet ā and then regretting pulling Sehun away from him ā and then asking if he caught on with any of the others. Her eyes were shining with pure curiosity and delight to see him here and safe. Finally.
he's worried that the reason she yelled was because she was angry, and that definitely freaked him out. the last thing he wanted was for her to be angry with him for being gone. after all, he regretted it a lot in the time he was gone. thank god someone could still get in contact with him to invite him to this.
the hug put him to ease, and wrapping his arms around her was a good feeling. he misses the older sister way that she acted with him. it was something he didn't get when he was younger and man, he missed it.
"i missed you too, noona," he replies with a widening smile. this feels comfortable. he's comfortable. he's not upset or worried, he's happy. shinyeong is here and it's like normal again, because she's fixing his hair and asking a million questions and worrying over him just as he was used to, once upon a time.
his eyes lit up, hearing all the words rush out of your mouth. he's so glad to have you here again. he's glad he can tell someone about everything. "i've been out. i was in hong kong for most of the time. it's different there, it's nice. everything's been alright, yeah." not a complete lie, but he can't manage to think about the bad things right now.
he says yes, he's seen taemin, and a smile accompanied that. he says he's seen sehun briefly and not really met up with many others yet; it's all too crowded and cluttered for him. but he's enjoying it. "so what did i miss in ten years?"
you guys wonāt regret listening to thisā¦.

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ristretto 2022 // (kyubyul)
Kyumin wasā¦Tall. He was still looking at the damn floor, but hey, he was still taller. Taller than he was, and though he hated it, it still managed to be endearing whenever he saw him. This wasnāt the teen he used to know, the boy was now nearly thirty (like he was) but he still acted the exact same.
How cute.
"Was that anotherĀ old joke?Ā I take that as an insult, Kyu, I think Iāve aged well.ā He reached forward, chucking the boy gently under the chin. Now isnāt the time to be handsy, maybe his husband is here.Ā
Oh god. Maybe his husband was here. How stupid would he look, still in love with his ex, but they were off and married. Thatās how itād been, really, Byul was always the more loving one, had vied for the elusive boy for over a month before actually snagging him, but oddly he still didnāt care. Heād kind of liked it. Yeah, heād dated since his time as a candymaker, but none of it was really the same. No one insulted him or saved their affections until they were out of the public eye, and that never settled well with him. What did a guy have to do to get insulted every once in awhile?Ā
Hanbyul shifted, head tossing habitually in the way heād never really stopped doing as he flicked at his dark locks.Ā
"S-So, ah, howāve you been? Good, I hope?"
he couldn't help crack a smile at that response. of course he'd think he aged well. the nudge of his chin is what got him to finally look him in the eyes. and oh dear god, he definitely aged well. almost too well. he hoped the way his eyes widened a little and his adam's apple bobbed when he swallowed hard wasn't noticeable.
there was still a part of him sayingĀ get the fuck out of there, he's probably taken now. that thought would break him if he lingered on it. and there was no way he was going to linger on it, because he came here to see everyone again and he wasn't going to have a fucking breakdown right there in front of his ex.
he probably hadn't dated as much as hanbyul had; no one really liked putting up with his attitude. not like hanbyul did, at least. he missed it. missed it a lot.
and he was a little sad that the hand didn't stay on his chin for very long. he could easily see it turning into a kiss like back in the day, when the only time hanbyul put his fingers under kyumin's chin was to coax him in for his lips.
wow, he needed to stop remembering these things.
"i've been--"
lonely. quiet. detached. missing you. tired.
"--i've been okay. what about you? ever go back into dentistry?"
ristretto 2022 // (kyubyul)
Hanbyul had come for a couple of reasons. One, being that after he moved back home, he had always just thought of āStretto. Ristretto, and the crazy-ass people heād met and things heād learned. Two, to reminisce and laugh with those people, because God knew he hadnāt laughed harder since. Three, stupidly, undeniably, to catch a glimpse of Kyu. Heād spent hours before and after the plane arranging his hair, checking his face, picking at that one spot on his jaw and surely only making it worse.
What else could you do when you were meeting the people whoād been the only thing on your mind for ten years?
The one person he didnātĀ see was his ex. Almost thankfully. It was a truly nerve-wracking thing, knowing a single evening could take so many twists or go completely smoothly. (Which would he had preferred? Good question.) That was, until he saw the boy right in front of him. His round face and flop of a fringe that made Hanbyul subconsciously reach up to fix his.Ā
Heād reached to say something, anything to fill the space and get Kyuminās damn head up. Was it really such a crime to want to see his eyes again and make sure they were still as he remember them?Ā
They were. And his smile was just as perfect as heād always known it to be, unfortunately.Ā
"How could I not, Kyutie?"
oh man, oooh man. there was that nickname that helped him fucking fall for hanbyul in the first place. maybe talking to him wasn't as good of an idea as he thought it was. maybe he should leave now before he breaks down in front of him.
but he can't, because he already is thinking hard. he wanted this to go well,Ā god does he ever. he doesn't want hanbyul to remember him as the bitter ex that never got over him. because he hadn't. he hadn't in ten years and probably wouldn't in another ten.
"because it's been, like, fifty decades?" was the only reply he could think of. yeah, go you, kyumin, you're still sarcastic and mean to him after all this time.
he shouldn't be; hanbyul deserves everything from him. he deserves all the smiles and sweet words he can manage to say. but instead, they're all lashes and mumbled half hearted insults. of course, none of them were meant seriously.Ā
after all, hanbyul wasn'tĀ actually smelly. he smelled amazing. kyumin wondered if he still did. that was not something to think about right now, fuck, kyumin--
his eyes were slowly moving up. not to check him out, but that could happen too, not that he'd complain. god, hanybul still looked amazing, and-- oh, his dyed his hair again? jesus, this boy wasn't even stoppable at his middle age.
ristretto 2022 // (kyubyul)
it took a lot for him to imagine what to do if he saw his ex at this party. he can't even remember if they ever broke up properly. no, not really, considering he left so suddenly. would hanbyul remember him like he remembered hanbyul? questions like this made kyumin bite his nails, standing to the side. his weight was shifting from foot to foot.
it had been a few minutes since hanbyul had arrived, and honestly, he didn't know if he could muster the courage to say hello. he felt like he was going to melt into a puddle and not be able to do that again. besides, would they even be able to see each other after today?
he kind of--
he hoped so.Ā
and for that hope, he swallowed his nervousness and took the few steps that were needed to stand in front of hanbyul and stare at the floor instead of him. he had spent a long time before staring at hanbyul, now he wasn't sure if he could do it without blurting out something stupid.
he was still taller than hanbyul, though. he had noticed that before. it made him smile at the time.
"hey. remember me?"
ristretto 2022
he crosses his arms, at least trying to act a bit cool to his best friend. especially after meeting him for the first time in what seemed like too (well it was). āthatās all you have to say after ten years?ā
asshole. standing there smiling like he did nothing wrong after not even talking to him. sehun steps closer, huffing a little before he gives you a quick hug, muttering an "i missed you" as quietly as he could.
he knows that sehun can't be mad at him like that. he should probably be a little less smug about it, but he's happy to see his best friend again. he's been lonely for a long time and calling up sehun seemed to be an option a lot, but he needed the distance.
from a lot of people.
he chuckles and holds sehun to make sure it's not just 'a quick hug', because god knows he doesn't just want to hug him fast and have it be over with. "see, i knew you missed me," he coos, finally letting the other go.Ā
he smacks him gently on the shoulder, a friendly gesture. "what've you been up to all this time, man? what's new? it's been ten years, of course it's all i have to say, what else should i say?"
ristretto 2022
Okay, so perhaps she lied a little to herself. She did see a male walk in that had striking features just like him but she was in total denial. Shinyeong shook her head and didnāt think of it to be true. She tried not to think much of it since she would break down in tears in less than a second if it was him.
So after gathering her daughter back from outside, Shinyeong let the six-year-old Yoonmi run ahead as she spotted her father from the door. āAppa!ā rang through Fleurs, blending perfectly with the other calls the rest of the children were making to their parents. Shinyeong smiled as Sehun looked up to see her, before gesturing to the person he had been talking to all this time. Spotting Jiwook over on the other side playing with the other children, she was at ease to finally talk.
Making sure she looked presentable, Sehun moved away just before she came to him. Giving him a confused look, he simply smiled and winked, mouthing āTalk to him.ā before leading their daughter off to play with Jiwook and the other kids.Ā
Shinyeong pouted a little, but continued to walk forward to the other. Something didnāt feel right ā but at the same time it did. Quietly clearing her throat, she raised her hand and tapped the otherās shoulder.
"Hello, itās nice to see you again ā babā¦y⦠broā¦therā¦ā
Blink, blink, blink. Pause. Blink, blink, blink. Pause.
Somewhere in the distance, Sehun counted down from three⦠two⦠oneā
"Yah, Lee Kyumin!"
sehun had left a little suddenly in kyumin's opinion, but he couldn't complain. i mean, he had a kid here to deal with and everything. that was crazy. how did kyumin end up being one of the only single and childless people there?
he didn't get the chance to ask who shared parenthood with him, but he would soon find out with a tap on his shoulder. the words made him squint and he took a few moments to turn around and meet the face.
his mouth opened in an 'o', staring at shinyeong. oh myĀ god. it had been so long. he didn't even know how to form words to greet his noona, mouth opening and closing like a beached fish.
the yell made him wince, looking around quickly to see if anyone else had heard it. probably, but no one really cared. lots of people were yelling, but after all, this was the stretto gang, of course people would be yelling.
"n-noona--" he mumbled out, raising his hands quickly to make her quiet down. he was more than happy to see her, but the yell was something he hadn't expected from her. "i'm right here, you don't need to yell, i'm sorry--"

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ristretto 2022
he wanders around for a bit, greeting random others whoās faces and names he didnāt exactly remember. fleurs is filled with kids running around, parents chatting with friends they hadnāt bother to contact in years. except sehun was one of those parents.
maybe, just maybe his best friend decided to show up. kyumin, who hadnāt bothered to say a word after 10 whole years. was he still with hanbyul? probably not? was he totally changed or was he the same person from before?
somehow, he finds someone that looks like him. and that probably pisses him off more when he realizes that itās kyumin who really hasnāt looked like heās changed at all. walking up, he sees that he finally caught up to him in terms of height, feeling a bit of pride at that.
"you asshole."
thatĀ should've been something he expected to hear when he entered the store, but it wasn't. even if he couldn't see the voice the harsh words belong to, there was only one person he could think of that would say that to him after all these years.
and despite being called an asshole, he turns around with a wide grin on his face. just as he thought, his best friend, mr oh sehun, was standing right there. he had definitely grown a bit. basically the same height now, which was amazing.
"i missed you, too, man."
ristretto 2022 | open
"Can I touch your wheelchair?" is his answer, and Taemin smiles.Ā
"Sure," he says, because heās used to itāand because the wonder in her eyes far bettered the pity he garnered from others. Children are so easy to please, he thinks idly as the girl clambers onto his lap. He amuses her a bit by giving it a few spins; although his legs donāt quite work like they used to, he isnāt completely invalid. Itās easy enough to push himself around the room a bit, and soon enough the rest of the children crowd him, following along like a choo-choo train. Taemin is thirty years old and the ringleader of a group of children.Ā
The quiet āheyā hadnāt gone past him, though.Ā
He glances up, the kid still in his lap, and blinks several times.Ā
Was that Kyumin? Ten years certainly changed a man, but he could recognize Kyumin when he saw him. A smile tugs at Taeminās lips before he can stop it.Ā
"Here to steal my couch again?" he teases. "Youād have it easier this time around, thoughāIām not exactly in the position to stop you anymore."Ā
that looks more familiar to him, that smile. he's glad taemin recognizes him so easily. he's still skinny and tall, just as he was known to be, 10 years ago. his eyes are a little more tired and his hair is in a ponytail-- a fashion he had had once, back then.
he might have a little hunch now, his height not really helping him. but he was still recognizable. that was a plus.
the question pulls a quick, uncertain laugh from his lips. it sounds a little choked, really. the whole reunion made him feel a little choked. but it's better to go along with it rather than pull out some bad memory that taemin might have with the injury-- yeah?
"your couch is the only couch for me, y'know," he finally manages to answer, eyes lighting up a little with his smile. the second part made his smile falter the slightest, but he wouldn't comment on it.
it just seemed.. so sad? not pathetically sad, but just.. sad. taemin was the same age as kyumin and they both seemed to be two of the few who were single and without kids at this party. but obviously kyumin had it better. it was sad just comparing it, really.
taemin wasn't the same taemin as ten years ago, but it was as expected. after all, when was the last time kyuminese was what someone used to describe his outbursts of hyperactivity?Ā