Moon River Waltz

My heart still aches.

I’m still sorry for the words I’ve left unspoken. I’m still sorry I wasn’t there with you during the time you were sick.

I still miss you dearly.

I still hope you’re at least smiling up there.

It’s been a while since he last been to the gym, being bedridden for a while with a twisted ankle. He already made sure to go through rehabilitation routines before even thinking of going back to working out. After getting changed he went to the treadmills to warm up, looking around to see if Taemin-Sunbae was around, but he didn’t seem to be around. Yunho figured he probably was busy and went along with his workout as usual, keeping in mind the advice he got and simply stuck with easy exercises. An hour passed quickly and already quite exhausted, Yunho decided to quit for the day. He got changed, packed up and went outside back home. It was pretty dark outside already and the first thing he noticed was the moon shining big and bright. “Wow…” He couldn’t help but be at awe by the sight and decided to take a picture, hoping to capture the moment accurately. Was it a full moon? He shrugged and went back to the dorms, deciding to go back to the gym later that week.

@leextm

A few days after that Taemin was back to the gym, having been busy on the day that Yunho had been there. And around two days after Taemin was back in the gym he spot the tall male in the mirror as he was working his biceps and triceps. He was still mid-rep so he couldn’t properly greet the younger but he does make a small sign of acknowledgement when their eyes meet in the mirror, a small smile on his lips. 

“You look so different with that short ass hair, I hardly recognized ya! But those lips don’t lie~” Eve grinned up at him as she quickly tossed her cigarette to the ground, stomping it out to keep the smoke from bothering him. She always tried to be conscious of how her smoking could affect others senses. “Yeah I haven’t changed much the past couple of years! Except I gained a bit of weight, but that just went straight to my ass and balanced me out so I’m not just all tits anymore. Not lookin’ like about to fall over face first all the time now!” She gave her chest a proud pat, clearly having no shame - even after all this time she was still just as blunt and out there as ever.

“I kept hoping one of you shining boys would stop by after Hyunnie passed since I never did get your contact info from ‘im before that shit. But I figured you guys were busy and had your own stuff to deal with after all of that, and even now if the tabloids I’ve been reading are right about you.” She nodded as she rambled on before stepping to his side to grab onto his arm and tug on it. “I bet you need a drink with all that bull! Come on in, it’ll be on me. Club is packed, but just stick by me and we can sneak to my little shop in the back.”

Taemin looked at her, clearly still not believing it’s her or that they’d meet by chance after all this time. “Ah come on! It’s not thaaaaat short anymore. It was worse the first time.” It was of no secret that he absolutely hated every little thing that had to do with his time enlisted, and that included the hair. Even if that was the least of it. But upon her comment he couldn’t help but laugh, needing a little to get used to her bluntness again as it had been years. “You’re looking really well though. Have you also been as well as you appear to look?” Yes, it was small talk, and no he had never really been good at it. Especially awkward at first, but he was genuinely curious about how she’d been. 

“Mhm, no problem really. If there’s anything else I can help with, feel free to let me know.” After hearing the other start about the spotting, he looked away in shame. “Ah… you noticed that?” He had been coming here alone after all and hadn’t seen anyone willing to help him out, leaving him to do most of the exercises himself. Sheepishly he scratched the back of his head, a light pink tint appearing on his face and the tip of his ears.

“Actually I’ve kind of been visiting here secretly. I hadn’t considered needing help with certain exercises when I started to be completely honest. Up till now I’ve been using weights way below my reach to keep it safe. But I haven’t really progressed much as a result.” With a sigh he looked down, he had probably wasted a lot of time that way without realising it. “I’ll gladly take you up on that offer! But only if it’s not too much of a bother of course.” He smiled and looked back at his sunbae, showing his gratitude. A low buzz was audible from his pocket and quickly he reached for his phone, finding a rather concerned message for Hongjoong. “Oh shoot, it’s late already. I better get going before hyung kicks my butt for being gone without explanation. How about next time I repay your kind offer by treating you to a drink or meal?”

He was quick to notice the shift and change in atmosphere and his behaviour, wondering if he had said something wrong before he heard the explanation, smiling softly at him, trying to also silently reassure him and not just verbally. “Even if it’s under your goal or even under what you’d normally do, you still need a spot. What if you got a shoulder cramp? Or wrist cramp? Or worse, your wrist would give up? It’s never completely safe to go on without a spot so next time if I’m around, I’ll gladly come spot you, okay? And if I don’t see you first, come up to me without worry.” He of course wasn’t scolding the younger by any means, it all stemmed from concern of his well being, also wanting to assure him that he could always come if he needed it.

Starter for @leextm

Eve stepped out of her club for a bit of a breather, shivering as the cold night air hit her in stark contrast to the extreme heat going on inside. There had to have been a big concert or event that had just let out given just how busy her club seemed to get all of the sudden. Thankfully she was fully staffed that night, but the air flow was severely lacking for that much body heat piled in to that tiny space. She needed to get away from that literal hot mess for a quick break - some fresh air and a cigarette. With a sigh, she leaned against the brick wall and pulled her pack of sevens and lighter out of her bra, quickly tapping a stick out and catching it between her teeth. It took a few tries to light it, but after a few choice words she finally got her dying lighter to work. Looking up from her cigarette with a long drag, she was caught off guard by a familiar face across the street from her. It had been quite a few years since she had hung around the Shinee crew, not since before Jonghyun, her previous friend with benefits, had passed. But even after these years, she could recognize those lips even from this distance.

Raising her free arm to wave him down, she shouted much louder than one would expect someone of her size to be able to, to get his attention. “EYYY MINBUG TAEBY MIIINNIE TAETAE TAEMIN OPPA GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE.”

It simply was one of those nights for him in which his mind was too loud, too crowded, too filled with thoughts even his meds couldn’t shut up. One of those nights where he just couldn’t fall asleep and he’d toss and turn and repeat over and over again, again to the point where nothing would help, not even sleeping aids. Thus he decided enough was enough and he couldn’t take being in the comfort of his own home anymore -something which was unusually rare for him- and he dressed up warmly and headed out for a walk. He hadn’t bothered much with covering up because it was late and dark and it wasn’t a weekend for the streets to be booming with people so he felt that there was no need. 

Another day to love ourselves and those around us.