[Team Three] Ice Cream Shop Part 4

[alchemicink.livejournal.com]

So here's another part of the ice cream shop au prompted by nachtegael. I still think I'm failing hardcore at writing Joonmyun. orz For reference here is part one, part two, and part three. Also sorry for the lack of actual ice cream again.

(unrelated but here is the link to the complete version of my last shiritori, Lazy Afternoon, if anyone is interested)


“Pet the dog, if you want. It’s friendly,” Yamada said as a ball of fur came rushing towards him and Joonmyun from a nearby yard. Yamada stopped pushing his bike along and waited as his companion bent down to affectionately ruffle the little dog’s fur.

They had only walked about a block away from the ice cream shop since Yamada ended his shift and left the place in Takaki’s capable hands. Joonmyun had shown up a few minutes late but he had appeared with a wave and a slightly winded expression on his face. Joonmyun had explained that he’d taken a wrong turn on the way, but he was grateful that Yamada had volunteered to be his tour guide.

Yamada discovered that Joonmyun was easy to talk to. In the few minutes since they’d left the shop, Joonmyun had already happily answered all of Yamada’s questions about Korea and listened carefully when Yamada explained the parts of the town as they walked past.

“And that’s the post office up ahead,” Yamada pointed to the small brick building tucked away between a car wash and an eye doctor office. They were walking again and Yamada was trying not to stare at the expressions that crossed Joonmyun’s face. One moment his eyebrows would knit together in thoughtful consideration as if he were trying to memorize every detail of each building, and then one corner of his lips would tug upwards into a half smile like he was remembering something nice, and afterwards there would be a sort of sad expression in his eyes that he tried to hide.

“The post office is definitely an important place to know,” Joonmyun nodded with a laugh. “Our friends back home demanded lots of souvenirs.” Suddenly, that wistfully sad look was back on his face and he glanced away.

“Are you homesick?” Yamada asked. He spoke quietly in the hopes that he wouldn’t upset his new acquaintance while also trying to convey some sensitivity to the subject.

“A bit,” Joonmyun admitted. “I was a little reluctant to do this exchange program at first but Sehun finally managed to convince me. I still haven’t unpacked much because that just makes it seem more real, you know, like I’m really not going home for a year.”

“That’s tough,” Yamada said as they continued down the sidewalk. The wheels of his bicycle clicked as he pushed it along. “But I hope this will be a good experience for you. A year goes by faster than you think and soon you’ll be back with your friends and family again.” He smiled and hoped that he’d helped Joonmyun a little. He never really knew how to comfort people. Usually he just opened his mouth and let the words fall out, trusting that they were the right ones.

“True,” Joonmyun nodded. His eyes were focused on all the buildings again, but then he suddenly faced Yamada. “But at least I’ve met some nice people here so far.”

Yamada felt his cheeks grow hot at the compliment he didn’t deserve. He sincerely hoped he wasn’t blushing enough for Joonmyun to notice. “Yeah,” he muttered, suddenly feeling self-conscious. He cast his eyes around for a change of subject. “There’s the library,” he said, maybe a bit too loudly as he pointed to the nearest building.

Perhaps realizing Yamada’s sudden discomfort, Joonmyun switched gears. “How do you like working at the ice cream shop? I bet it comes with a lot of perks. Unless, of course, you don’t like ice cream.” He made that half-smile again.

“No, I love it!” Yamada said. Without even really meaning to get too detailed, he began to tell him all about what he did at the shop and how he’d started working there. He knew he was talking too much but Yamada couldn’t help it. He was always getting too wrapped up in his own stories, getting lost in his own words as he talked. But like back at the shop, Joonmyun didn’t seem to mind. He listened patiently with a look on his face that actually conveyed interest in Yamada’s words.

“And that’s when I—” Yamada stopped mid-sentence as he suddenly noticed his surroundings. He was talking without thinking and apparently walking without thinking too because he’d led Joonmyun right into a residential part of town, right into the middle of a little neighborhood of nice houses and neat yards. Yamada realized which house he had stopped in front of and felt all the blood drain away from his face.

The family name Chinen glittered in bright letters on the outside of the house.

“Are you okay?” Joonmyun asked.

“I’m sorry,” Yamada shook his head. “I didn’t mean to walk this way. There’s not really anything here for you to see.” He tried not to look but his eyes strayed to the bicycle propped up against the side of the house, indicating that his best friend was probably home. Or more accurately, his ex-best friend. Maybe.

“Do you know who lives here?” Joonmyun looked a mix of confused and concerned.

Yamada nodded slowly. Joonmyun might have been waiting for an explanation but Yamada didn’t want to tell his new potential friend how much of a terrible person he actually was. Or maybe it was better to just get it out in the open now. Yamada puffed out his cheeks and sighed.

“That’s my best friend’s house. Chinen Yuri. We…” he trailed off for a moment. “We had a big fight because I did something really stupid and I haven’t talked to him since then.”

He waited for Joonmyun’s judging face, his disapproving face, but it never came. There was only sympathy in his eyes and understanding. Yamada didn’t expect that from someone he’d just met. Clearly, Joonmyun just didn’t fully comprehend the situation yet.

“I tried to break up him and his boyfriend by lying to him,” Yamada admitted. He waited but Joonmyun still didn’t look like he wanted to get away from him. “Why aren’t you treating me like I’m the scum of the earth?”

Joonmyun smiled again. “Because you seem sincerely sorry about what you did. Maybe you should just apologize to him?”

“I wouldn’t know what to say.”

“Maybe just start with hey?” Joonmyun shrugged and his eyes shone brightly. Yamada considered that the other guy seemed to be used to giving out advice. “I think I can find my way home from here,” he continued. “Thanks for the tour. I’ll bring Sehun with me next time I come to the shop.”

Before Yamada could say anything, Joonmyun had already started off down the sidewalk back towards the part of the town they’d walked through earlier. He waved and then disappeared from sight.

Now Yamada was alone. He looked back at the Chinen house and tried to ignore the feelings of guilt that had begun to weigh down on his shoulders. He took a deep breath, hoping the air flooding his lungs would give him courage.

He propped his bike up beside Chinen’s and hesitantly reached out to press the doorbell. He waited. As the seconds stretched on, he felt like he was a melting scoop of ice cream, abandoned outside in the sun for too long.

Finally, the lock clicked and the door swung open. Chinen Yuri stood there, his face devoid of his usual playful smirk.

Yamada took another deep breath and urged himself to speak.

“Hey.”


Tagging su_jin ^_^