Short Stories-Kai Ships Only! Volume 3

Tyunning- Anomaly

Realities, no matter how different they are, all tend to follow the same timelines. Those that don't are considered "anomalies". This timeline was one and Yeonjun died in his 20s because of it.

The end of Yeonjun Choi began when, like every other reality, Kai found out he cheated. Not even a month later, the younger moved back in with his parents, got a new job, and went no contact with his ex.

Five years had passed since being back in his small hometown. Kai was surprised at how much he missed it. The sense of community, of belonging, was foreign in the big city that he left. People waved to him on the street. A mother, a complete stranger, struck up a conversation with him at the grocery store. People in general just seemed happier compared to the misery of engineered social competitiveness.

One week in, the elderly man next door welcomed him home with a basket of fresh bread and homemade butter. Old memories came back when Kai saw the crack in his smile from a fall many years ago. With the same enthusiasm, he jokingly asked "which store did you buy this from?"

The old man slapped his shoulder and teased "yah! Did they not teach you manners in that fancy city with your overpriced lattes and your avocado toasts?!"

"So you did buy it!"

"My grandson made it you brat!"

Kai's eyes widened when he remembered his childhood best friend. "Taehyun is still here?" They hadn't spoken since they graduated high school. He didn't even know if they would still recognize each other let alone what they would talk about after five years.

"He's home right now actually. Wanna stop by? I'm sure he'd be glad to see you."

"Oh um-"

"-I'll go grab him!" Awkward wasn't a strong enough word to describe how Kai felt when he saw Taehyun standing next to his grandfather on the porch. He looked drastically different than their school days. To start with, he looked a bit tanner. His body type could also no longer be classified as "scrawny". Kai knew everyone fills out in college but the older's weight gain stemmed from muscle building. Not fat. Despite how good he looked, it didn't make the interaction any less uncomfortable. Redness shaded both of their faces while the old man remained content. "Wow! It's been so long huh?! Lots of catching up to do! I'll leave you two alone."

The silence continued when it was just the two of them left. Taehyun finally broke it when he noticed the basket still in the taller's hands. "I um... I assume you still like bread."

"Yeah." Kai set the food down on the little glass table then shut his front door. Dirt kicked up in a cloud when he sat down on the wicker porch chair. A breeze made the light above creak in it's sway. Taehyun remained standing. Kai watched his eyes dart back and forth between both of their houses like he was looking for an escape. Confused, he asked "do you need to be somewhere?"

"Oh." Taehyun ran his hands through his bangs after deciding to sit down. "No, I don't."

"Thanks for food. I didn't know you baked."

"I uh... I didn't until a year or so ago. It was the one suggestion my therapist made that I could actually stick with."

Kai was about to ask why the older was seeing a therapist until he remembered his mother passed while he was away. Not going to her funeral still remained one of his biggest regrets. Unable to think of anything else to say, he remarked "it smells great."

"It's okay. It could be better."

Out of politeness, Kai pinched a piece off of one of the loaves. Steam floated off of the corner. Soft butter melted on top as he dipped it into the little glass dish. He was shocked. It was not only the best piece of bread he had ever had, he was astonished that it was still fresh.