Work Text:
“What?! It’s canceled again?!”
A boy was seemed frowning and voice rising few octaves higher, hands clutched tightly unto the phone he held up on his ears. He was seated in front of his piano before the call made him to stand up on his feet, now going back and forth mindlessly with head fuming in frustration talking to another boy on the call.
“Huening-ah, stay safe, we couldn’t perform even if we wanted to… it is for the best and our safety.” A gentle voice speaks out to him in an attempt of comforting. He was one of his bandmates and the group leader and they were supposed to get ready for a performance they have long prepared for.
Soobin saw how much frustration has grown in his members because of this current situation affecting globally especially Huening kai who carried an enormous dedication and passion for what they are doing. He can only sigh and offer words of affirmation as there was nothing they could do in this world affected by the pandemic.
Oh, fuck it, fuck everything. Words delivered on call from Choi Soobin were only turning into that kind of phrase that passes through the ears and vanish into non-existent, forgotten. Somehow talking was the last thing he would need right now when he used to find comfort in expressing his thoughts out loud before. He only sees burning embers in every word thrown in his direction as the anger in him rises slowly, filling him full as time ticks by.
“We could perform again when—”
These were the last words that came through the speaker of his phone as he abruptly ends the call. Those same words of ‘again’ and ‘when this or that..’ ringing with annoyance in his head. It was the same word over and over. The same word of hope that he slowly loses faith in. It was all merely words and no doing. There were no promises, no whatsoever of when exactly this will ever get better.
He sighs, stress written all over his face as he looks up to the ceiling, falling to his sofa as it sinks down like a sponge being squished, his body settles in the curves around the soft material while he lays his body down. What could he possibly be doing right now when his concert appointment with his bandmates in one of the most visited bars around his neighborhood got cancelled? He could be spending his time practicing in perfecting his musical techniques but all of it was seen as if it was all going to go to waste at that moment. He was in the state of being hopelessly defeated.
All in his mind was only the matters of his work, what about his love life?
This 20-year-old boy named Kai Kamal Huening had never been in love. He has only ever known love in the form of his music. Both practicing in producing and performing ever since he was little. He grew up in a family of music, you see. His father was a performer in China and his mom was a songwriter. A perfect blend of a couple in love, both in each other and in music. But for him, all in his life he only had the latter.
With his eyes gently flutters shut, the stress and the emotional turmoil driving him to sleep, and that is when he heard a sound of a piano was being played.
It was the sound of heaven. The grace in each of the keys being pressed that he recognized so well in. The song, it was ‘River Flows in You’ by Yirumi, a familiar melody that brings the memories of early days.
The sound was obviously from his neighbor next door. It was loud regardless of the walls separating them. It occurred to him that the walls aren’t really soundproof as he thought it was.
Suddenly he gets up. Mind empty with only the sound lulling him as he walks straight to his piano. He sat down and his fingers began to play. A melody in reply to the one he heard behind these walls.
~~~
That was how the first time had he fallen in love.
It doesn’t bother him much after that, no matter how many times the news of his performance cancellation he receives. His heart only blooms in joy waiting for the other someone next door to start playing. As soon as there is a pause, he would meddle in and completes the song, all pleasant and worthwhile.
On some days, he would be the one to start playing, choosing a song of his choice and his neighbor had never failed in replying to it. Each time planting even more flowers in a garden built inside his heart along with the heavenly tune.
As days passed, it slowly has become a tradition for him with the person next door.
And it was gratifying, to have someone he felt connected to even though a wall apart and he did not even know the person well. He does not even know how they might look like, yet, through the melodies of a piano, he felt like knowing the person since forever.
One day with the sun shining as bright as the enthusiasm burning up inside of him, he folded 3 paper planes and stood in front of the balcony. Hands picking up the first one, he folds it again nicely, making sure the edges are all sharp and sturdy for it to be able to glide through the wind to reach the window of that special neighbor.
He tiptoed a little, tries to aim to his destination as close as he possibly could and with a little force, he frees the paper plane to the air.
Face forming a frown when it landed on one of the trees, stuck on it for a few seconds then it landed on the grass.
For his second attempt, he yelled “shit” for the paper plane that landed on someone’s car. Embarrassed at the thought of someone picking it up and read what was written. He hoped no one does.
And still, he never gives up, his determination only grew stronger than everything else he had in mind. He will try again even if it takes hundredths of time. This time his third. He watched as his paper plane swiftly flew through all the obstacles and landed right where he wants them to be.
“Yes!” heart jumping in joy as his body follows it too. He bounces in excitement and stopped, eyes focusing back on that neighbor’s window, waiting for someone to pick it up. This also comes with the intention to know who is the person that has been playing beautiful melodies of piano with him. Who is this person he had fallen in love with? How does this person look like?
He waited and waited until the sun sets below then gently lays down on the floor, his eyes closing, dozing off.
He wakes up in cold sweat later on that evening with the words, “oh shit I’ve fallen asleep” forming on the tip of his tongue and total darkness. He quickly got up, hands searching for the light switch and turns it on. He turns his head at that spot and his eyes immediately landed on a piece of paper plane sitting on the most corner of his balcony.
He rushes for the paper and read his own written words,
This is your piano-mate next door here ^3^ How do you feel about lunch at my house at 2 on a Sunday?
The name’s Huening Kai btw!
Eyes then dropped at a foreign but pleasant handwriting he’s going to get himself familiar with below it.
cool!
Simple words were seen as if winning a diamond to him as he jumps in joy for the second time that day.
~~~
Sunday came sooner than he realized and there is already a knock on his door.
They’re here. Heart thumping in excitement as he swiped his hair with his hands for the last finishing touch and races to the door.
“The name is Choi Beomgyu. People call me Beomgyu.” The person had a deep voice with an earthy feel, along with the polite smile he has been showing ever since he walked in that door.
The boy, a year older than him sat down on the sofa facing him after he welcomed him inside and offers a drink. He found out one thing about the boy already. He likes coffee, especially iced americano and it honestly suits him. If he was a color, Kai would say the color of coffee. As cozy and as warm the existence of this boy had made him feel. He watched as Beomgyu adjusts himself in his position on the sofa, eyes glittering with curiosity and heart racing in enthusiasm.
Oh, he was totally head over heels for the boy. Beomgyu was a head shorter than him and with the way he expresses himself; full of brightness that even the sun couldn’t defeat. Not to mention his locks and the lovely scent of the first day of spring. If emojis could represent his emotion, he would say that he was the heart eyes emoji the whole time.
He realized that he had fallen in love with Beomgyu the way he would fall for music.
“Are you comfortable enough? Is the aircon too cold or the drink too hot or…” locking eyes with Beomgyu, searching for things that would make his time the most pleasant while being in his space for the first time. A good first impression towards Beomgyu is something he aimed for.
“Oh, no I am the most comfortable I can be right now. Please don’t worry.” there it is, a small chuckle followed by another smile from Beomgyu and his heart felt starstruck-ed, as if an invisible cupid had shot an arrow piercing straight into his heart.
Time ticking gets louder in his ears as the awkwardness in the air surrounding both of them begins to thicken. How do you even converse with someone you just met? What were you even supposed to talk about?
“So, I’m just curious what do you do for a living? Your piano skills are amazing.” Ending the sentence with the best smile he could show and some hand gestures of thumbing up. What more can ease any conversation by using compliments. This trick had worked for the most people he knows.
“Oh, I used to be a music teacher but not anymore though.” Beomgyu laughs hesitantly and immediately looks down, fiddling with his fingers a little.
Oh shoot, Kai was so wrong. The mood has turned even more awkward now. A bit strange to him that Beomgyu doesn’t seem to be moved by his compliment at all, looking even more like repulsing the statement he made. What would he do now?
He was considered lucky that his anxiousness slowly eases when Beomgyu begins to fill up the air with his voice, taking his turn in directing the conversation.
“You seem to be more of a professional piano player though, judging by the lyrics sheet you had placed on the piano and that classic model….” Beomgyu briefly pauses, meeting his eyes and reading the room. “Oh, if you don’t mind me looking over?”
“Oh, surely no. Please, go ahead.” Kai smiles, the fat under his eyes shoots up and teeth were showing.
There was a slight bow out of habit from Kai before Beomgyu stands up and shifts his gaze to the direction of the piano placed right at the side of the room.
The black and white keys made way to his fingers first as Beomgyu starts to lightly press on it, earning a sound. His gaze flew up to the lyrics sheet next.
He took a good look at it, “you are a musician, I presumed?” body twirling, facing Kai again as he asked.
Kai stands up too, immediately makes his way to the piano. “Yeah, I was.” Stopping right behind of Beomgyu.
“Was?” Beomgyu asked again, searching for more explanation.
“Uh..” Kai laughs nervously, hand reaching up to his neck, rubbing it a little. “I mean… I am!”
It has been a while since he last played for an audience, he wasn’t sure if he likes the title ‘musician’ being on him anymore.
Beomgyu then abruptly looks down, reaching for a white key on the piano, feeling the sound as he presses it down gently. He looks a little melancholic with eyelids drooping down, reminiscing something in his head then turns to Kai again, looking into his eyes. “Could you play a song for me?”
Kai stares deeply. There were stars twinkling in Beomgyu’s eyes though he did not know what it means but he agreed.
“Sure! Is there any song you wanted me to play?” he went forward, bottom landed on the stool. “I can play any song you like.”
Beomgyu beams, “any song?”
“Any song.” Kai replied with a gentle smile, eyes not leaving Beomgyu’s as he waited to receive a name of a song from him. He continues to suggest one himself upon seeing him lost in his thoughts. “Ah, I know! I have a song I wanted to play for you, if you let me?”
The song started to be played at the sight of Beomgyu nodding, fingers pressing tenderly creating a familiar melody his heart holds dearest to. “This is my personal comfort song to play on the piano.”
Suddenly a memory was played in the back of Beomgyu’s mind, cradling his heart into a nostalgic hold. He was reminded of a song that had started all of this, all of these feelings that dances in Beomgyu’s heart every time his eyes landed on Kai.
It started with a melody.
~~~
The dark alley of the road was peaceful, but not in a good way for Beomgyu who just came back a little dizzy and disdainful. The peaceful being from the only one left still walking below the gloomy, lightless sky and around the muted neighborhood, the times where all shops were closed and the only thing left was the cold wind he felt blowing.
He walked down the road, past the lamp posts and bushes and rocks. His route was in a zig-zag line, mindlessly let his legs carrying him to wherever he felt in the middle of the night. He holds something in his hand; a tote bag, filled with shreds of torn paintings after getting disapproval from his art teacher in class.
He was totally out of it the moment his teacher starts ripping out the piece of paper with colors that contain his soul and heart poured into it. He felt like quitting art school, giving up on life. And works as a part-timer or whatever, he doesn’t care anymore.
The moment he felt droplets of sad tears begin consuming him from his inside and welling up in his eyes, some loud melody reaches his hearing.
He had to look for it and it occurred to him that it came from a lighted-up bar in a color he doesn’t use in his paintings; orange and yellow.
Not that he hated orange or yellow but he personally finds the color too bright and distracting for his liking. He is more of a black and white as a person and in his emotions.
The melody lulls him into opening the entrance for himself and he soon steps inside a different world that he never recognizes himself with; figures of people, lots of chattering, noises, entertainment and fake laughter. His world was more of in the form of old worn-out books, ceramic sculptures, garden of roses and genuineness.
Into the deeper part of the crowd, he saw a group of people on stage, each with their own set of instruments. He assumes that they were bandmates and assigned to positions based on the thing they play. He watches them waving to the audiences as they were making their way down the stage but based on how there was only one of them left standing and still smiling, the performance wasn’t ending yet, he guessed.
And he was right. He confirmed that the moment he saw a piano was carried and placed in front of the boy on the high platform. The boy sits on the provided stool and he swore that he saw something changed in the boy once he started pressing on the black and white keys of the piano.
The song that the boy plays was not the kind of music people usually listens to in a bar. It was rather classical and the spectators seem to enjoy it too, strangely, all watching closely and humming to the tune, rather than dancing. (Not speaking from the lack of experience Beomgyu has going to a bar since he mostly filled in his free time with completing drawings obviously.)
For once, the music soothes him and his worries eases, no longer roaring in his head or tearing him down over his own incompetency.
“He is Huening Kai, right? One of the proteges to a world’s famous pianist.” He heard a girl talking on his left.
“You’re right! He’s so good, I know. Their band practically owns this bar.” Another girl replied.
He learned the name of the person currently doing the solo on stage, Huening Kai. What a name for someone looks to have gained his physical features outside and far from Korea. He’s handsome with the spotlight shining and the stylish shirt he was wearing, along with his eyes changing gaze as soon as he creates melodies with the help of the piano. It is almost as if, he was the one controlling the melody instead of the keys he follows into playing the song. His touches look so light, it’s like magically floating, it’s like the piano weren’t there and he was creating the melody of his own will.
Beomgyu was mesmerized, his heart blooming differently with each note that enters his ears and mends his soul.
And after the song ends, he watched again as the boy stands up from the piano and gave the crowd the kindest smile he has ever seen on someone who isn’t a little child. Kai has a smile only of those pure-hearted and innocent children owns, almost as if the smile alone could scare away all the impurities effecting amidst the darkness of the world, coloring into them brightly again. It is almost impossible for Beomgyu to not feel like his worries are being washed away completely upon seeing Huening Kai smiled.
And that marked Beomgyu’s starting point of falling into music.
He falls for music under one singular reason: the existence of the man named Huening Kai he was entranced by at a local bar.
Ever since that day, his soul screamed for music, especially the sound of a piano, bringing himself into learning piano as a hobby.
It has started with a hobby, until he finds himself no longer interested in his paintings one day. He wanted to create melody and bring himself closer to his muse.
His muse being the last painting he created and brought to life after that. Black, purple and white filling up most of the spaces in the canvas. The black details on his shirt, his light blond-colored hair and the black, shadowy background with a huge purple spotlight shining and white glitters, all surrounding the man playing a black-colored piano in the middle, appearing all angelic and magical on a once blank canvas.
With the art school turning to his dark past, came three months later where he has mastered the skills of playing piano, although not as professional as Huening Kai, it was sufficient for him as he gains the chance in making some profits through guiding the beginner learners of the instrument he came to love so much.
It was a bit unexpected to him that the outbreak of a pandemic came hitting on like a wave, brushing away his opportunity in continuing to become a piano teacher, with his students stop wanting lessons out of their financial difficulties and that he has been doing some side jobs with the art skill he has left from art school. But still, it was all well for him, as long as the inspiration of his muse he sown inside of him continues to flourish.
Few months later came the knowing of the fact that Huening Kai and him were neighboring after accidentally caught a sight of him in the parking lot. This was even more of an unexpected event to him, as he was watching Kai from a distance shortly after getting out of his car one evening.
“How many times does our performance need to get cancel? I want to get back to performing already.” Kai pauses, continuing after the man he was on a call with was done speaking. “What am I supposed to do that our concert keeps getting cancel?” the figure then disappears into an elevator.
Beomgyu’s head was spiraling at the moment as thousands of questions came flying around. What, is that The Huening Kai? What the hell? We’re neighbors all along? His face forming an obvious expression of being in the state of shock.
He starts to play even more of the piano after that, but never had he expected that one day someone would give him a reply every time he had stuck on a song and completing the melody full. What’s even more of a shock was that it was Huening Kai himself.
The paper plane that finds its way to him one day, it came to him as if in the form of a key unlocking the deepest chamber to his heart.
His heart that falls in the hand of a man playing the piano at this moment.
This song flowing beautifully into his ears right now. How did he come to hear this song from Kai once again? this song being the first song that Kai ever played for him, also the first ever he had listened to Kai back at the bar a few months ago. How did he know? Oh, if only he knew.
Kai felt free, it was always those emotions he got after ending a song. Melodies that the piano makes have the ability to give him such healing, this time playing them in front of the person he likes had amplified such effect even more.
Kai waited for a while for a response from Beomgyu, he slowly turns around, not rushing anything after it has been some minutes passed since it was silent, finally speaking up. “So, what do you thi—”
A pair of lips landed on his, suddenly caught him off guard as his eyes went wide, not earning him a chance of spouting any of his remaining words out.
Beomgyu was kissing Kai like that, slow in pace but catching him off by his feet, pushing a little hesitant.
He pulled away once his words started forming in his mouth, simultaneously catching the sight of Kai closing his eyes, parting his lips, still floating around in the aftertaste. “I’ve actually went to one of your performances before.”
Huh? What was it? Kai was too far in his head to respond but he gently opens his eyes, staring deeply into Beomgyu’s after, giving a look of half in daze, half wanting an explanation.
“Ah, I’m sorry i—” Beomgyu starts to glance away from him, pupils shaking out of embarrassment. The truth is, even he himself doesn’t know why he did that.
“No, it’s just, that was my first kiss.” Kai begins to correct himself.
oh, what. Beomgyu blinks.
That earns the both of them turning away from each other, each feeling the heat rising up to their cheeks and filling up their faces, forming them into a shade of pink.
Took a few minutes until one of them finally take the chance to start talking again. It was Beomgyu this time, repeating himself that he used to went to Kai’s concert before, earning a look of amazement from Kai.
Then he begins to slowly explain how he had known Kai before all of this happened, way before from the start of their piano tradition together. Though he doesn’t tell all of the details out of shyness, he’ll let Kai to naturally discover them himself along the way of this beginning to them, whatever the thing is it might be that was connecting them to each other at the very moment.
“I’ll meet you at your house tomorrow then?” Kai giving his brightest smile.
“Oh, sure.” Beomgyu replied.
Wait, he shouldn’t have said yes to that, who knows what else has Beomgyu kept as the remembrance of Kai in his house. The feeling of embarrassment rising inside as he was taking his walk back home.
His thoughts were soon get distracted by a message notification from his phone he suddenly receives from someone.
‘Bbomgyu-hyung, arrive back home safely ♡♡♡’
Ah, he remembered, that painting of Kai. He should hide it before tomorrow comes when he gets back.