[Oneshot] Better
Life was shitty.
There was no other word for it as far as Jaejoong knew. His car was the worst piece of crap there was. It wasn’t worth driving even just down the block to get the gas- not that it would even survive the trip- so he took public transportation instead, wondering why the hell he hadn’t scrapped the piece of junk that was only acting as a drain on his limited funds for the parking spot anyways.
It was always a struggle to catch a bus where he lived- and catch the right bus at that, assuming that it was on time- and Jaejoong scrambled for it every day, trying his best not to be late again. There were already too many rumors about the boss favoring his pretty face as his reason for keeping his job, and he didn’t need another to add to the stack (because little did those assholes that bussed tables know that it was another pretty face that the boss favored- Yunho had a thing for the long-legged, snarky barista that mixed his mocha lattes every morning). But no matter how much Jaejoong wanted to quit, he couldn’t- he had to pay rent, had to pay taxes, had to pay for any little thing he hadn’t sold away.
Lucky for Jaejoong, life was shittier than usual on one particular day.
He’d missed the bus- his only option to get to work involving walking in the rain- his landlord was asking for his long-overdue and overlooked rent (amiable, Park Yoochun was, and a good friend, but Yoochun needed to pay bills as much as he did), he spilled coffee on his one clean shirt, and he was flat broke and living off TV dinners without a TV to watch them in front of. To top it all off, Jaejoong was almost sure that no matter how nice Yunho was to him, he was going to get fired one of these days.
A passing car kicked up a wake of water in a shallow spot and Jaejoong found himself even wetter than five seconds before, a frustrated half-scream tearing from his throat as he stormed after the car, “Real fucking beautiful, asshole! Grow some fucking consideration!”
And just when Jaejoong was ready to give up and turn back around to start packing- an inch away from deciding to just move back in with his parents like they were always harping on him to do- his cellphone- the cheap piece of plastic- rang. It, at least, was in his coat pocket on the side away from the curb. Somehow it had survived the splash completely dry and Jaejoong scrambled to pick it up.
“Yeah?!” It was rude, but Jaejoong was weary of life’s downs.
“Jaejoongie?”
“Junsu?” The change in Jaejoong’s tone was astonishing, but it was involuntary. Hearing the other’s voice evoked a slew of memories from before Jaejoong made his way to the city, memories of a sweet small town boy that he loved though their paths led them to different places.
“Jaejoongie! It’s so good to hear your voice again. It’s been too long-“
“Way too long.”
“Yes, way too long. I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you too, baby. I’m so sorry I haven’t been calling lately but-“
“Jaejoongie, it’s alright. Guess what?”
“What?” Jaejoong’s voice trembled with overwhelming joy and something like love. He’d nearly forgotten how sweet the younger boy could be, the sort of happiness that he could bring.
“I’m coming to the city! I auditioned to sing at this little café and they loved me-“
“You mean, you’re coming to see me? Stay with me?”
“If you want me, then yes.”
“Of course I want you! What sort of statement is that?” he laughed brightly, freely into the phone, feet moving a little quicker in his elation. Maybe the day wasn’t so bad after all. Maybe it actually was pretty fucking brilliant. Like the rain wasn’t as bad as he’d thought or something, or rather…
His little ray of sunshine found him.
Junsu’s joyful laughter filtered through the line and Jaejoong couldn’t stop smiling. Junsu just had that effect on him (on everyone really, but Jaejoong liked to believe that it was only for him).
“Hey, Jae? I should go; I have to pack but I can call you later.”
His world fell a bit, but his elation lingered, “Oh. Alright, you should do that…”
“Hey, Jae?”
“Yeah?” Jaejoong couldn’t resist Junsu’s call, especially not when it was his own name.
“I love you.”
And now nothing could bring Jaejoong down. The rudest, crudest asshat could come up to him and steal his wallet and Jaejoong would still be smiling.
“I love you too, Suyah.”
Jaejoong got off with a little click of his phone steps away from the café that he worked at, eyes alight with radiant happiness.
Maybe, he thought, he could ask Yunho for a little raise, look things up on the internet and fix his car, and borrow a little money from Changmin while he was at it to tie him over until the end of the month. Then, he would make sure charming Mr. Park Yoochun could no longer see through the curtains into his unit for when Junsu came over (not that he didn’t trust Yoochun or Junsu, but still, that beautiful ass was off-limits) and he could maybe clean a bit with a little optimism even.
Life never looked better.