I'm with you Chap. 3

[kumo_is_kumo]

Title: I'm with you

Pairing: Jongkey

Genre: Romance, Fluff, Drama, Angst

Length: Mini-Series

Summary: Kibum has never thought that his life will be turned over like this, by the young Prince that this country still has. But this is what’s exactly happening and he doesn’t even know how to escape from that.

003



The party takes place at one of the restaurant that the royal family owns. Kibum takes a deep breath before entering the place. He is stopped by two guards at the front door, asking who he is and when they check his name in the guests list, he is allowed to enter.

Kibum takes his time to explore the prestigious place and stares at the various people from the high class noble. What is he doing here? Maybe he should just head out to the door and—

“Kibum!” calls Jinki hyung’s voice. Kibum turns on his heels and greets him with a polite bow.

“I’m glad that you come here, Kibum! Let’s get inside! The party is about to start!”

Kibum wants to argue but he knows he would never be able to win over the older boy. They enter the place where the party is held and Kibum can see the famous people of the country. The ministers, the advisers, the ambassadors, and even idols of the country are there.

“Jinki hyung,” calls Kibum silently.

“Yes?” The Crown Prince waits for his next word.

“Do you think...Jonghyun-ssi would like to see me here?”

Jinki stops on his track and stares into the younger boy’s eyes.

“Stop looking at yourself in such a low profile, Kibum. He would be happy with your presence here. I hope so...” answers Jinki and the last part is mumbled softly in order for Kibum not to hear that.

Kibum sighs and slowly nods his head. “Alright...”

Jinki apologetically leaves him alone since he has to greet the other guests. Kibum stands by himself at the corner of the room and he runs his eyes randomly to here and there. He really feels out of the place here. Maybe coming here is really a bad idea.



***



Yes, it is indeed a bad idea. Kibum frowns from the moment his and Jonghyun-ssi’s eyes met. Jonghyun-ssi seems to ignore him very well and Kibum realizes it. Something is wrong and that something is him.

Kibum can see how happy Jonghyun-ssi—ah, no, I can’t call him Jonghyun-ssi anymore—Your Highness Jonghyun is talking with high class people. Kibum feels so small there. He doesn’t feel like eating or drinking or doing any other thing since he is so out of place. He can feel Jinki hyung is staring at him in worry, giving him concerned stares as if asking whether he is fine, and Kibum shakes his head lightly at him to not make him any worried. Sometimes he feels Your Highness Jonghyun’s eyes are on him but he doesn’t dare to stare back at him.

Kibum knows he has no presence in people’s eyes so it is not that bad since the beginning. Once the party is over, people are standing up from the seat and walking towards the royal family to shake hands with them. Kibum sends a quick sad smile to Jinki hyung before slipping out from the door.

Coming here is indeed a very, very bad idea.

Jinki bites his lips as he sees Kibum walks out alone. He excuses himself and runs after the lonely boy. The young second Prince watches it all from the corner of his eyes.



***



“Kibum!”

The said boy turns around when he hears his name is being called.

“Jinki hyung? What are you doing out here?”

Panting, the oldest boy smiles at him. “I’m bored there. Where are you going?”

“I’m heading back home. You shouldn’t be here, Jinki hyung. What if people see you here?”

“I can just cover myself with this,” says Jinki while covering his head with a hoodie of the coat he is bringing with him. Kibum stares at him and is about to talk when Jinki beats him by talking first. “Can I go with you?”

“With me? To my house?” asks Kibum. Jinki nods with a smile.

“...are you sure? It’s not the right place for a Crown Prince to come so—”

“Kibum!” warns Jinki sternly. Kibum bites down his lower lip and mouths a ‘sorry’.

Jinki shakes his hand to wave it off before he says, “Let’s go!”

Kibum smiles a bit before directing the way to his house, with the oldest boy walking beside him. They talk about a few random things until Kibum announces that they have arrived.

There’s a look of amazement on the Crown Prince’s face. “You live here?” asks the Crown Prince.

“Yes...” Kibum shyly answers.

“It’s surely big! You live here alone?”

“...basically yes. Not before, though.”

Jinki freezes and lightly hits his own mouth at the mention of the sensitive topic. They walk pass the front door and Jinki sees a small round aquarium filled with water only without any fish in it. He frowns but decides to ignore it.

“Do you want to eat something, Jinki hyung? I can make you something.”

“How do you know that I’m hungry?” asks Jinki hyung while licking his lips in anticipation.

Kibum lets out a tiny smile and goes to the fridge. “Your face tells me that you are hungry from greeting too many guests. What do you want to eat, Jinki hyung?”

“Do you have chicken?” asks the Crown Prince with bright eyes.

Kibum shakes his head no before saying, “We can order it. The chicken shop is not that far away from here.” And he takes his phone to make a call.

While he is making an order, Jinki looks around the house and he spots a few photo frames on the wall. He walks closer and he smiles when he sees little Kibum who was smiling happily towards the camera. He bets the woman who was hugging little Kibum must be his mother. And then there is another photo of teenage Kibum with an older man which he was sure Kibum’s father.

There is also a photo of a little kid, hugging Kibum by his waist and the small kid was practically half-hidden behind Kibum. Jinki frowns when he sees the kid. He seems familiar but he doesn’t really remember who it is. Maybe just his feeling.

“Make yourself at home, Jinki hyung. The chicken will be here in ten minutes.”

“Okay!”

Kibum goes into a room which Jinki thinks is his room. Jinki can feel the once-nice atmosphere in this house. But now it just feels so dull. Dull without colors. No wonder Kibum feels so lonely. He feels sorry for him.

Kibum walks out from the said room after changing his clothes into some comfortable sweater and pants. He sits on the couch and calls Jinki hyung to sit with him. They watch some random shows once Kibum switches on the television, while randomly giving out comments about the show.

The bell rings and Kibum stands up while mumbling, “It must be the chicken man...”

Jinki bursts out in a chuckle after hearing the sentence is out from Kibum’s mouth. Chicken man... This kid has a humor sense in him before he turns into this dull person.

“Jinki hyung, let’s eat.” Kibum comes back to the living room, holding a box of chickens.

With a wide smile, Jinki takes a drumstick from the chicken box and munches on it happily. He misses the sight of Kibum’s wide smile as he is eating gratefully. They eat in silent, only the voices from the television as the background noises echoing in the living room.

“It has been a while...” starts Kibum and Jinki stops chewing onto the chicken.

“Huh?”

Kibum repeats with, “It has been a while... since the last time I ate with someone... Bring back so many memories...” He says softly, staring at the piece of chicken in between his fingers.

Jinki stops eating and swallows on the remaining food in his mouth. “Kibum... do you want to talk about it?”

Kibum looks down on his lap and remains silent. After a while, he decides to nod his head.

“I hope my story is not boring.”

Jinki waits patiently as he sees Kibum closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. The clock is ticking its time and Kibum feels the sound is so loud that it starts to make him deaf.

“I... My parents passed away in an accident and I was left alone in this house. I thought I could make it; being alone by myself in the near future because I could feel my parents were still here with me. But I couldn’t.” He starts out softly, slowly going a bit louder as second passes.

He takes another deep breath and Jinki hyung decides to scoot closer to him. He carefully puts his hand on the younger boy’s shoulder, rubbing some comforting circles on his shoulder.

“I was left alone and I thought I could make it... since I still had my best friend with me before. I kept telling myself that I would live like usual as long as he is with me. But, then something happened and it changed everything. He—my best friend—had to leave as well, so that he could be together with the one he loved the most. I tried to keep him to stay here with me but what could I do? I couldn’t hold him up and forbid him from getting his happiness, right?”

“I see... Then, what happened?” asks Jinki hyung when he thinks it is right for him to talk. Kibum stares down on his intertwined fingers and lets out a tiny sad smile.

“He left. They left. They were not allowed to be together and in the end they had to leave on their own just to be with each other. I’m happy for them but I’m breaking as well. Ever since that time, I know that there is no forever. Relationship would not last until forever.”

“Is that... why you close yourself like this?” Jinki asks carefully.

Kibum silently hums as an answer and closes his eyes. “My parents left me. My best friend left me. Even my favorite fishes died and left me alone. I’m always left alone and would always be alone...”

Jinki hyung ponders over in his mind and he remembers the sight of the empty aquarium before. It hurts his heart to hear the younger boy talks about his life. They remain in silent and Jinki hyung lifts his head in shock when he feels water drops on his hand.

Kibum is crying.

“K-Kibum...”

“I’m alone... I’m always alone...” mumbles Kibum softly as he lets the tears roll down his cheeks.

Jinki hyung gently brings the weeping boy close to him and lets him cries against his shoulder. He takes a deep breath as he listens to the silent cry that Kibum lets out. Never has he thought this quiet boy would have such a hard life.

He rubs his hand up and down on the younger boy’s upper arm to calm him down. Kibum doesn’t let any sound out from him yet his tears seem can’t be controlled.

After a while, he calms down a little and lets out some silent hiccups. Jinki hyung smiles at his adorableness and wipes the remaining tears with his thumbs.

“I think I’m one lucky guy,” starts Jinki hyung to break the silence. Kibum looks up at him with his usual blank face, not getting what Jinki hyung means.

Jinki hyung smiles at him before explaining, “I got the first chance to see you smile and now I see you cry as well.” And he grins.

Kibum remains silent before he slowly breaks into a small grin.

“And now I get to make you grin!”

Kibum just smiles at him before pulling back from the comforting embrace.

“I... Thank you so much, Jinki hyung. It has been a while since I talked to someone about this and now I feel better. I appreciate your company so much.”

Jinki hyung waves his hand at the sentence. “Don’t mention it! It is nothing! I’m glad I can accompany you here.”

Kibum lets out another tiny smile before slowly taking the older boy into another gentle hug.

“Thank you so much. You mean a lot to me, Jinki hyung.”

“You mean a lot to me, too, Kibum. Just call me if you want to talk. I’ll hear you out.”

Kibum hums and releases him. “It’s late, Jinkihyung. Don’t you think you should go back home now?”

“I think so. Then, take care of yourself, Kibum. I’ll see you around soon! And thanks for the chicken!”

Kibum smiles while taking him to the front door. They wave for one more time before Kibum walks back into his house. He closes the door behind his back and leans against the wooden door. He lets a soft sigh escapes his lips before a small smile creeps onto his lips.



***



“Hyung,” calls the second Prince when he sees his older brother is entering the house.

“Oh, hey, Jjong.” Jinki greets, a bit distracted as he takes off his coat.

“Where were you?”

“I was with Kibum.”

The younger boy furrows his eyebrows before crossing his arms in front of his chest.

“What do you think you are doing, hyung?” Jonghyun asks silently, a look of annoyance and curiosity across his face.

Jinki hyung glances questioningly at him. “What do you mean?”

“Why are hanging out with a boy like him? Aren’t you afraid that your reputation will be screwed up and tainted because of him?”

Jinki’s face goes rigid and he makes his way towards his brother. “I don’t get what you mean with those words, Jonghyun.”

“He is not in our level. He is attending the low level classes and do you forget that we are the Princes of this country? People are looking up at us and we don’t need gold diggers trying to woo us.” Jonghyun repeats what his advisors had told him before.

The Crown Prince steps closer to him, practically staring at him with fire in his eyes.

“I do remember that I’m the Crown Prince, but I don’t go around talking about someone with those low words,” snaps Jinki.

The younger brother is taken aback at the feedback thrown to him. He parts his mouth and tries to talk back but there is no word he can come up with.

“We may be Princes, Jonghyun,” Jinki hyung says again, “But you should remember that we are still humans. That’s my friend that you are insulting with those cruel words and I won’t stay still when I hear you say something rude about him.”

“H-Hyung—”

“I thought we are friends with him. What happened with you, Jonghyun? You changed and I don’t feel like you are like my brother, moreover to hold over the status of a Prince.”

Jinki walks pass him and Jonghyun stands still on his spot, not moving a single muscle.

The Crown Prince stops on his track and continues to talk without even glancing at his younger brother and keeping his back to him.

“You know nothing about him, Jonghyun.” He says with silent voice, “I’m so disappointed of you. You know nothing about his life, you know nothing about how to make him smile, and you know nothing about what would make him cry. I do know everything about those things and I’m going to tell you that I like him. I like him so much, even more than as a friend.”

And with that, Jinki walks away from there to enter his room, leaving Jonghyun to silently understand about every single thing he had just told him.

His brother—the Crown Prince—falls for Kim Kibum.









***








A/N: Merry Christmas! ^^ Another update for you guys! I really spoil you, don't I? Heheh, hope you enjoy this chapter. Comments will be very much appreciated and will make me very happy!