Going Up [Jongkey Oneshot]

Observing the countless people that pass him by in the busy streets of Seoul has always been one of Jonghyun's favourite things to do.

Although he's not particularly sure why, there's something about the way each person tells a different story, how he can steal a quick glance into the lives of complete strangers in the brief moment they pass him by, that he finds, and has always found to be rather captivating. The few people who actually catch him staring seem to find his presence somewhat unsettling, but he would never considered it intruding; as far as Jonghyun is concerned, it's merely a way for him to explore the many different lifestyles of his hometown. To him, every conversation, every outfit, every aspect of every person just seems to scream for attention, and he has always been interested in giving it, ever since he was a young boy. It's odd -- and he knows it too -- but in all honesty, he sees no point in trying to change the way he is. Jonghyun is now far beyond the point of caring what others think of him, and despite what other people might claim is best for him, he does not intend to stop doing what he enjoys most.
That is, coming up short behind singing and playing his guitar, of course.

So, naturally, he often decides to kill three birds with one stone and do all three at once.

He sits at the corner of a tall, dingy apartment building in one of the city's less polished neighbourhoods, plucking the strings of his guitar to create a pleasant melody. It's his favourite place to sit and perform, or at least, the place he visits most often. He loves the old buildings, how most of their walls are masked with graffiti, the way they have an air of melancholy surrounding them on most days when the sun doesn't quite reach the hidden corners and alleyways concealed around them. He loves the noise, of passing cars, strangers, and the occasional pigeon or stray cat. But most of all, Jonghyun loves the people, who are just as strangely unique as their bustling neighbourhood. By now, they have all grown used to seeing the boy slouched against a wall or curled up in a corner with his trusty guitar, letting his gaze wander dreamily about the area, and on occasion, a few of them will stop to listen to him perform.

And it's all he wants, really. To take time out of his day in order to situate himself in the middle of a busy street, play a few songs, and hopefully brighten a few people's day. The only thing that could possibly make it any better, would be if Jonghyun had someone all to himself, someone to watch carefully on a daily basis, to play the guitar and sing for, to treasure as much as he treasures moments like this. It's nothing complicated, really. It doesn't even have to be love -- not at first, anyways. He's just a little lonely, that's all.

Jonghyun leans his head casually against the brick wall behind him, and begins to sing as he watches oblivious passersby go about their business.

She fills my bed with gasoline, you think I would've noticed
her mind's made up, the love is gone
I think someone's trying to show us a sign that even if we thought it would last,
the moment would pass
my bones will break and my mind will give,
oh, it hurts to laugh

It's one of the few English songs he knows the lyrics to, and it's quite depressing, but it's the first thing that comes to mind so he decides to run with it.

A woman passes by hurriedly with a small child in tow. The little girl turns her head to look at Jonghyun, slipping her hand out of her mother's grasp and padding towards him with a bright smile. Jonghyun returns the smile with one of his own as he continues to sing, before the women strides over to yank her daughter forcefully in the opposite direction, while muttering something about bothering strangers. She wasn't bothering me, He thought. She's the reason I'm here.

And I remember the day when you left for Santa Monica,
you left me to remain, with all your excuses for everything

An elderly couple hears the music, and stands to listen for a moment. The corners of the woman's eyes crinkle when she smiles at the young man in front of her through a pair of crescent-moon glasses, and the man leans down to give him a lighthearted pat on the shoulder. Jonghyun nods in appreciation, and watches them disappear around the corner, still strumming chords on his guitar.