Default State Of Being

7

Kyungsoo was perched on a bench in the park, the sun shining down and hitting his face as he watched the neighborhood children kicking a ball through the grass. He chuckled when a cluster of them all ran in for the ball at once and ended up on the ground in a pile. He could hardly remember being that young, that carefree. Now his life was full of responsibility and bills and taxes. And somehow, Jongin. It was with a heavy heart that he stood, stretching his legs before chucking his empty coffee cup in the nearest bin. The walk back toward his hotel was uneventful and he just enjoyed being outside in a different setting - no loud honking at all hours, no yelling from the people down the hall and no Jongin to muddle his thoughts.

He's back in the small town he grew up in, letting a bit of nostalgia tint his vision as he remembered things being different and yet the same. The small barber shop his mother had taken him to for those awful hair cuts as a child was still there and he assumed still tormenting unsuspecting children. The restaurant that had been next door, however, was gone and replaced with a coffee shop. Those damn things were everywhere. CB would love it out here, but alas, she's spending the week with Baekhyun who was only too happy to take her in. He had a feeling she'd be more spoiled than ever by the time he got back home and it brought a smile to his face.

There was an edited version of his novel sitting on his made up bed, waiting for him to open it and see how much it'd been torn apart and he had to admit he was a little anxious about it. It's not like his editor was cruel in his notes, but that didn't make them any less daunting to read. It's not easy seeing something you worked so hard on ripped apart no matter how nicely it's done. Which is why he's out here, relaxing and putting it off until later.

He pulled out his phone to check the time, making sure he could find someplace still serving breakfast as he ignored the three text messages Jongin had left him already. This vacation was a no Jongin zone. With a heavy sigh and all intentions of pushing Jongin to the back of his mind, he walked down the small main street until he came across the diner that had been there forever. Ah, familiarity.

Kyungsoo allowed the low tones of conversation around him lull him into a false sense of security because all too soon he was ripped right out of it.

"Kyungsoo?"

He'd know that voice anywhere and the sip of hot coffee he'd just swallowed now felt like a ball of ice sliding into his stomach. It took all his nerve to look up at the man standing beside his small table. And there he was, smiling down at him like he hadn't sent his heart through a paper shredder years ago. "Joonmyun," he acknowledged with a polite tone despite the distinct urge to be so very impolite. Joonmyun was one of the reasons he'd been alone for so long.

"It's good to see you. Are you back in town?"

"No. No I'm not. Just here for a few days."

Joonmyun was smiling wider and Kyungsoo thought he might be sick all over his expensive shoes. Perhaps that would be a small bit of justice. A man Kyungsoo was unfamiliar with walked up and linked his arm in Joonmyun's, drawing his gaze down to the contact. Oh this can't be good.

"Oh, Yixing, this is Kyungsoo. Kyungsoo, Yixing. My boyfriend."

And Kyungsoo wondered if the boyfriend heard the strain in Joonmyun's voice when he said that, too.

"Nice to meet you."

"You know, I have to go," Kyungsoo said suddenly, rising from his seat and forcing Yixing to take a step back. "Good luck," he told the man before giving Joonmyun a forced smile and a nod, tossing bills on the table and getting the hell out of there. He was three blocks down before he stopped, a stitch starting in his side while his chest felt like it was going to combust. He'd always vowed that the next time he saw Joonmyun he'd punch him right in that amazing smile. And he couldn't even do that.