Strangers ~ A Taemin Fic

Chapter 30

     We had went back downstairs after my mother called us down to eat. I felt like a child again; the way she called for me reminded of how I was always in the courtyard as a kid playing with the other children.

     We sat down at a small table low to the ground; a table I hadn't sat at for years. My father walks in, his hair and shoulders slightly wet from the evening rain. "Hello, Yuki, Taemin. I'm glad you decided to come over," he smiles widely before also taking a seat.

     Taemin bowed his head as papa took the side of the table beside him. It felt so weird to be eating with them again, and especially with Taemin. "I like the room...a lot," I say in between sips of tea.

"I'm glad," my mother beams as she begins loading my plate up with delicious food. "We tried are very best to not change a thing before..." she pauses, "before you left."

     We began eating, a few comments and small conversations dropping here and there. I tried to keep myself interested when really...I felt hollow inside. This was all so unexpected...I almost feared it.

     "And I must say, Taemin, your Japanese is very good," my father beams. I could tell they were trying to keep their big, ancient words at a minimal so he could flow freely like the rest of us.

     "Really? Thank you so much. I appreciate it a lot," he replies just as a knock is heard at the door.

     "Oh! He's here!" My mother exclaims, getting up and hurrying her way into the kitchen. I raise an eyebrow in confusion.

     "Who's here?" I ask papa, setting my chopsticks down and grabbing my coat. I had to leave as soon as possible. I could just feel my chest tighten from everything that's happened today.

     Papa smiles and also gets up without a word.  "Come on, we're going," I say, following after papa.

     "The food was really good. I'm glad we did this," he begins to say while I come to a stop in the kitchen. My entire body freezes and Taemin even comes to a pause.

     "Daisuke, I'm glad you could make it, although it seems my daughter is just leaving," Papa says to the tall, familiar face holding a glass vase of cherry blossom branches. We make eye contact, my legs feeling as if they had just turned to jelly.

     "Yuki..." he sighs, forcing a smile as he sets the flowers down and unzips his coat. I could sense a growing heat press themselves closer to me as I continue to fix my gaze on him. Taemin was definitely skeptical.

     "Um...Daisuke," I begin, my coat slowly being pulled from my arms. Taemin opens up my coat, allowing myself to slide it on while also showing off his manners. He was confused, but didn't speak another word on the present matter.

     "We thought to tell him of your short stay in Tokyo while it still lasted," mama beams up at the man that was supposed to be taking the place of Taemin.

     I nod, going over to him where we properly greeted each other. 'What is this? A trick by my parents to convince me to stay?' "I've been following you all over the Korean news. You seem to be very popular over there," he breathes almost in relief as he takes my hand and presses a kiss to the back of it.

     "I suppose I am," I shrug, forcing a smile as I take back my hand and slide my shoes back on. "Are you...are you married then?" I ask as he takes the vase and hands it to me. "Oh, thank you."

     "I still remember," he smiles, my lips can't helping but smile back as I retrieve the vase of my favorite scent. "And no, no I never married after you left," he shrugs.

     I see Taemin appear beside me where he too silently slides his shoes back on. "So then you're the amazing vocalist from Shinee? Congratulations on the new album," he goes on, catching Taemin's eyes. They lock for a bit as he forces a smile.

     "Yes, thank you," he bows, showing his respect while pulling his coat back on.

     I needed one last word with my parents...but I couldn't do it around him. He has endured too much of my stupid past for one night. "Taemin, can you go wait outside for the car, please?" I ask in a low tone to him. I could almost see the color drain from his face at my request. "I'll only be a minute, I promise," I sigh, cupping his cheeks and pressing a quick kiss on his lips to show him my honesty.

     He nods, his fingers felt caressing my hand before slipping past Daisuke. The moment he left, I crossed my arms. "You all are real funny, y'know?" I scoff, zipping up my coat and abiding my parents' guilty eyes.

     "Yuki, be reasonable. Anyone would do the same..."

     "But I'm happy, mama!" I snap, tears getting caught in my throat as I attempt to just swallow them down.

     "Are you though?" Daisuke asks, my stinging eyes flickering to him with his arms crossed. "I will admit, you've gotten much more beautiful then when you left. I never truly had faith in you with this whole..." he shakes his head in disgust at the thought, "career."

     "All of you," I scoff. "You're all the same. Daisuke, I don't love you and I never have and I probably wouldn't if I didn't go to Korea," I snap, pointing a hard finger at him.

"Yuki! No need to be so harsh!" My mother sighs is disappointment. I don't know what she was disappointed about. If anything, I should've been the only disappointed one in this situation.

Shaking my head, I strive towards the door without looking back. "I left here for a reason...I don't wish to return either," I sigh, my hand resting on the gold, rusting doorknob.

Just as I'm about to open the door, my free hand is all of a sudden grasped. I'm then pulled away from the door and into the arms of who was once my friend.

I stopped breathing and my heart couldn't take the hug from the stranger. "I've missed you, Yuki," Daisuke whispers so my parents wouldn't hear. "Don't let go of something we've held onto for years. He could never satisfy you and support you through music. I promise you a marriage of riches and passionate love..."

I wanted to die...I couldn't stand to be held by anyone else except Taemin. But, I couldn't move...