Listen To Your Heart (A KaiSoo Fanfic)

Chapter Thirty-Four | In the End

The next morning after some much-needed lounging around, Kyungsoo got himself ready and dressed for the day that laid ahead. Both he and Jongin had their jobs to attend to, but luckily no classes, which made the time when they got to be together again seem less far away. It took them so long to part once Kyungsoo dropped Jongin off at work that Chanyeol, who became a bystander to their public displays of affection, was forced to come outside and break them apart. They did so reluctantly, but eventually Kyungsoo made it to work on time. Taking the store's inventory was his job for that day and a job that would certainly take him right up to the end of his shift. However, right in the middle of his busy work day, Kyungsoo got the chance to take a break when an unexpected visitor dropped by.

"Hyung." The nickname fell off of Kyungsoo's tongue almost perfectly, a smile spreading across his face in no time when he saw his estranged Ryeowook walk in.

"Hey, Soo," Ryeowook said as the door shut behind him, the little bell chiming as the magnetic locks of the door connected. Setting down the clipboard and pen, Kyungsoo scurried over to Ryeowook and embraced him warmly as Ryeowook did the same. "How have you been lately?" he inquired after the hug had ended. "It's been so long since the last time I saw you."

"Yeah, it has," Kyungsoo replied, the sound and clarity of his voice making Ryeowook proud. "I've been fine, great actually."

"It appears so," Ryeowook said, his eyes quickly scanning over Kyungsoo's body and seeing the glowing aura surrounding him. "Jongin told me that you got that surgery. I'm so happy for you, Soo, that's great."

"Thanks," the younger said, blushing a little as he temporarily lowered his head. "It took a bit of convincing, but I finally did it."

Ryeowook's smile widened. "How's the therapy coming?" he asked next. "I heard it's been hard for you." Kyungsoo nodded his head, the painful memories of the previous day flooding into his mind all over again.

"It is hard," he admitted with slightly tearing eyes. "I don't like the way some people look at me when I talk. It scares me a little bit actually." Sympathy rushed through Ryeowook's veins and made him rub his arm gently. "But that's no excuse to give up," he continued after a moment of silence, the sigh he let out pushing the negative thoughts back into the back of Kyungsoo's mind where they belonged. "At least that's what Jongin says. He says that I shouldn't worry myself over what others think."

"Well, he's right," Ryeowook said, his hand now back at his side. "You've come so far since that shy boy I used to know and nothing anyone says or does can take that away from you."

Kyungsoo smiled at his hyung. "So, what have you been up to?" he asked, moving the subject from him to Ryeowook. "Are you still an interpreter?"

"No, actually, I'm not," Ryeowook said, shaking his head faintly. "I decided to finish my teaching degree and now I'm a special education teacher at an elementary school in my hometown."

"Wow, that's wonderful, hyung," Kyungsoo said in a congratulatory manner. "Do you like it?"

"Yeah, I really do," Ryeowook answered. "I've always wanted to work with kids and now I finally am. I'm really happy."

"Good because after all the stuff my mother put you through you definitely deserve some happiness," Kyungsoo said, emitting a light and close-eyed chuckle from the elder.

"Have you talked to her?" he asked in a more serious tone, making the atmosphere shift.

Kyungsoo sighed. "No," he said, shaking his head. "I don't think I'm ready to. She left a lot of damage and I still don't believe that she's cleaned it all up yet."