Annoyingly Beautiful - 1
Title: Annoyingly Beautiful
Pairing(s): YunJae, One-sided JaeMin
Author: tvfxq
Rating: PG 13
Genre: Romance, Drama, Slight(?) Fluff, Slight Angst
Disclaimer: Some of the characters and scenes in story were inspired by the ones in the drama ‘You’re Beautiful’, so inevitably, there will be some similarities.
Length: 1/??
Summary: Jung Yun Ho was never a people person. Having only three friends in the entire world - who, most of the time, got on his nerves - he never learned how to act anything but hostile towards other people. But does that all change when he one day meets Kim Jae Joong, the clumsiest and most naive klutz he had ever known? Maybe not…
a/n.: This dedicated tomusik_love because she’s my non-related sister, and also because it’s been a year since everything ♥
Annoyingly Beautiful
~;~
Yun Ho was an only child, this he knew. His parents had died before he could even have another sibling, he’d been told. But apparently it was a lie. For at his doorstep stood a rather ethereal, pale-skinned boy with large, emotive doe eyes, silky ebony black hair - that only made him seem even paler, full, plump, red lips… and a birth certificate to prove that he was his younger sibling.
“Please, you’re the only family I have in the world.” the annoyingly beautiful boy with an equally annoying beautiful voice pleaded, holding the birth certificate in his hands even higher, “I don’t have any place to go.”
Yun Ho crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe, an uninterested and impassive look on his face. He regarded the boy coldly and scoffed, “If that’s the case, then where did you come from?”
“The Gongju orphanage-“
“You came all the way to Seoul from Gongju, expecting me to take you in?” Yun Ho jeered, cutting off the poor boy’s sentence. He straightened himself and moved closer to the boy in front of him, their faces merely inches apart and hissed, “Look, I don’t care how many birth certificates you show me. You’re not my brother. Just go back to that damned orphanage that sent you here.”
The boy, startled by the harshness of the other’s tone and their proximity took a step back; a worried look settling upon his beautiful face. He eyed Yun Ho cautiously and bit his lip, wondering whether or not he should talk. Eventually his desperation took over and he said, more like whispered his next words, “I’m 18 already… I can’t stay there anymore…”
The stiff, cold expression on Yun Ho’s face softened for a minute upon hearing the other’s words; but it failed to alter his resolve. “You said your parents’ names were Kim Na Yeon and Jung Tae Ho?”
The other boy nodded. “I was told you were their son, too. So we’re brothers.”
Yun Ho shook his head and chuckled rather mockingly, “You’re easily fooled. I’m not the only person in Korea to have parents with those names.”
“But I was told-“
“You’re gullible for believing.” Yun Ho interjected, “Go look for someone else who’ll buy your story.” Without giving the other the chance to respond, he quickly shut the door. He had not the patience for other people claiming to be his brother.
Actually, he simply had no patience for other people.
~;~
Yun Ho sat himself down on his couch, stretching out his legs and leaning his head back, events of earlier that day completely forgotten. He closed his eyes, listening to the peaceful sound of the rain splashing gently against his windowsill, and just as he was about to open the book he had been reading the past few days he heard a muffled sneeze coming from outside.
He put his book down on the coffee table in front of him and frowned. Somebody was sneezing outside his property. The thought angered him slightly for interrupting the peaceful state he once was in; but more than angry, he was curious. His friends rarely come over without warning; so he had no idea as to who could have been outside. Unless…
As though pressed for time, Yun Ho kneeled on his couch and pulled open the curtains that shut him away from the rain, and the rest of the world outside, only to see a small figure sitting by his porch, shivering and desperately trying to keep warm under the rain.
A wave of compassion washed over him suddenly; and he knew he’d regret it sooner or later - and most probably sooner - but he couldn’t just let the poor boy shiver in the cold. And what if he really was his brother?
“I’m going to regret this, I know.” Yun Ho grumbled to himself before closing the curtains and getting off the couch. He made his way to the front door and held the doorknob. “Dammit if he’s not my real brother.” He grunted before twisting the brass knob and opening the door that separated him from the outside, from the rain.
“Hey, you.” Yun Ho called out; the boy from earlier turned his head, a hopeful smile on his face. Yun Ho gulped. If they were related, then damn, he had one beautiful, effeminate brother. “You can come in.”
Suddenly, the other’s face lit up and despite the cold, he stood up quickly and rushed over to Yun Ho, “You mean it?” he asked rather cheerily.
“Yes, now hurry in before I change my mind.” Yun Ho stepped to the side so that the drenched boy could enter, and closed the door right after he had gone in. “Now, I want you to know that-“
“Thank you!” the boy exclaimed excitedly, hugging Yun Ho’s waist tightly, as though there was no tomorrow.
“Ahh!” Yun Ho yelled in shock and in horror, flailing his arms everywhere; quickly pushing the other boy away from him. He looked at his shirt and his pants, arms still in the air, before glaring at the cause of his wet clothes. “What possessed you to do that?!” he roared, and the other boy whimpered.
“I’m sorry. I was just so happy that I’d finally have a real brother.”
“Well you,” he said, pointing to the boy in front of him. He then paused when he realized that he never actually knew the boy’s name. “What did you say your name was?”
“Kim Jae Joong.”
“Why are you a Kim?” he asked, a bit confused, and still irritated, “Whatever. It suits you better than Jung.” Jae Joong smiled at him widely, and his mirth was exactly why Yun Ho remembered what he was saying earlier, “Right, well, if you’re going to live here with me, there are going to be certain rules you will have to follow strictly.”
Jae Joong nodded; his gesture prompting Yun Ho to continue.
“The first rule is that you absolutely cannot come near me if you are any of the following,” Yun Ho paused dramatically before continuing, “Wet, dirty, or wet and dirty. I am very particular about cleanliness and about keeping clean, so don’t you dare do that again.”
“Got it.” Jae Joong nodded enthusiastically, the water from his hair splashing around. Yun Ho widened his eyes in anger when he noticed a small drop of water splash from Jae Joong’s hair and onto the book he was reading earlier. Quickly, he grabbed his book and desperately wiped the drop of water off before glaring at Jae Joong with horror in his eyes.
“The second rule is that you are not to touch any of my things without my permission; and you can’t contaminate them either.”
“Sorry…” Jae Joong apologized sheepishly, biting his lip in guilt. “Is there anything else?”
“Is there anything else he asks,” Yun Ho laughed to nobody, “Yes. Yes there is.” He put his book back down and jabbed his index finger in the air, “Actually… I can’t think of anything more at the moment…” he trailed off for a while. Yun Ho glared at Jae Joong suddenly, “Just don’t get on my nerves.”
“I won’t!” Jae Joong cheered, and motioned to give Yun Ho another hug, but decided against it when he saw the terrorizing look in Yun Ho’s eyes. “…Sorry.”
“I don’t need your apologies.” Yun Ho stated coldly. “Now, is that measly little backpack and that birth certificate the only things you have with you?”
“Yes.”
Yun Ho ran a hand through his hair and dropped it dramatically, “Fine.” He turned on his heel and headed for the huge flight of stairs to his right. He stopped in his tracks halfway up the staircase and stared at Jae Joong, “Well follow me. I won’t allow you to wet my floor any longer.”
“Right.” With that, Jae Joong rushed to Yun Ho; but on his way he tripped on nothing and ended up falling down flat on his face. “Oow…” he groaned, rubbing his forehead, trying to lessen the throbbing pain.
Yun Ho sighed and rolled his eyes before going down to help Jae Joong up, “Kim Jae Joong, keep this up and you’ll get on my nerves. I don’t like clumsy people.”
“I’m sorry…” Jae Joong apologized, still rubbing his forehead, “I’ll be more careful next time.”
“You’d better be.”
~;~
“Kim Jae Joong, I’m meeting my friends.” Yun Ho called out from the bottom of the staircase. Just then, the sound of footsteps running towards him could be heard, and it only seemed to have been getting louder and louder until Jae Joong appeared, a huge grin on his face.
“Can I come?” he asked excitedly.
“No.” Yun Ho quickly answered, and Jae Joong pouted. The latter took a step forward in an attempt to go down the stairs when the inevitable happened - he missed the first step and ended up rolling down the entire flight of stairs. Lucky for him, Yun Ho had good hand-eye coordination, as well as strong arms, or else he wouldn’t have been caught and would have most likely smashed his face on the marble floor.
“Oww…” Jae Joong groaned in agony and Yun Ho sighed, helping the former to stand straight.
“Where does it hurt?” he asked, his voice uninterested; a contrast to his words.
“Everywhere…” Jae Joong mumbled embarrassedly. Yun Ho rolled his eyes and led him to the couch. He left for a moment to fetch an icepack from the freezer, and when he came back, he deemed it the perfect time to sermon his brother.
“You said you’d be more careful yesterday,” Yun Ho began as he handed the icepack over to the boy on the couch, “but then here you are, somersaulting over a whole flight of stairs. What if I wasn’t there to catch you?”
“I’m so-“
“I’m not done yet.” Yun Ho hissed before continuing, “You’re like a walking accident zone; pure clumsiness on legs. Do you even try to be careful? Were you a crippled old woman in your past life or something? Why can’t you walk without falling down?”
“It’s not like I like falling down.” Jae Joong replied with an angry pout, grumbling “I don’t do it on purpose.”
“That’s what’s even more annoying - you can’t help it. -Which means that you’ll be unconsciously annoying for the rest of your life.”
“…I’m sorry.” Was all Jae Joong could come up with at the moment. He pressed the icepack harder against his head and looked at Yun Ho, who was still fuming, “But thank you for saving me.”
Yun Ho’s expression softened then, and his anger slowly dissipated. He cleared his throat awkwardly and stuffed his hands in his pant pockets before he said, “I’d do it for anyone. So don’t think you’re special.”
Jae Joong smiled warmly and nodded his head.
“Well, I’ll be going now. And one of my friends is probably coming over, so if you’re uncomfortable being around other people, then I suggest you hide in your room.”
“I’m perfectly fine with company~” Jae Joong smiled widely, starting to get excited, “I get along with everybody.”
“Good for you, then.” Yun Ho remarked flippantly before walking towards the door, “I’m going.”
“Bye!”
Yun Ho nodded and exited his house. Before actually leaving his property he scoffed to himself, “Everyone? Who said we’re getting along?”
~;~
“You’re late.” Was the first thing Yun Ho was told once he sat down at the table in the café where his friends were. “You’re usually the early bird, what happened?” Yoo Chun asked, intertwining his fingers together.
“My brother fell down the stairs and I had to help him.” Yun Ho answered, earning gasps from the three other people at the table.
“You have a brother?!” Jun Su practically shrieked, and Yun Ho frowned. He hated Jun Su’s high-pitched squeals.
“Since when?” Chang Min added, and Yun Ho grunted, running a hand through his hair.
“Since yesterday.” He said whilst snatching the cup of coffee that sat idly on the table. “He’s so clumsy. Too clumsy. I dislike him.”
“He sounds like a nice guy.” Yoo Chun shrugged before taking a sip of his own coffee. Yun Ho sent him a look of disbelief.
“Did you not just hear what I said about him?”
“Hyung, usually, when you ‘dislike’ somebody, they turn out to be decent people.” Chang Min said before smirking, “Except for Jun Su.”
“Hey!” Jun Su hissed, glowering at Chang Min, “I am decent.”
“Yes, and I don’t like food.”
“Nobody doesn’t like food.”
“Guys,” Yun Ho interjected. He looked like he was suffering from a migraine, “Quit bickering. My brother’s annoying and that’s that.”
“Why don’t you let us meet him, then? To see if he’s really as annoying as you say.” Yoo Chun suggested, a sleazy grin tugging at the corner of his lips.
“No.” Yun Ho stated, taking a sip of the coffee he stole. “Even if he’s annoying, I feel obliged to watch over him somehow. So you’d better remove all your thoughts of my brother from your head or I’ll do it for you.”
“If he’s anything like you, then he’s probably unattractive.” Yoo Chun mumbled, crossing his arms in front of his chest and Yun Ho scoffed.
“Me? Unattractive?” the look on his face was full of disbelief. He knew for a fact that despite his animosity towards everyone, people still fantasized about him. Therefore he could not have been unattractive.
“He was talking about your personality.” Chang Min chimed in, the smirk on his face never leaving. Yun Ho pouted angrily and slumped in his seat, arms crossed, “I don’t even know why I’m friends with people like you.”
“I think you’re attractive.” Jun Su suddenly said, a huge smile on his face.
“Jun Su, you’re my only friend.” The entire table then broke into laughter. Yun Ho was mean and cantankerous majority of the time, but he did have a lovable side to him deep, deep, deep, deep down inside. And that was probably why his friends stuck by him.
~;~
“I can’t believe I get to meet your infamous brother.” Chang Min grinned as he trailed behind Yun Ho. It was more or less tradition for him to visit Yun Ho’s house after they’d meet - most of the time to raid the other’s pantry. “I feel lucky.”
“You should.” Yun Ho retorted before digging his hand into his pocket and fumbling for his keys. They were finally home.
“What did you say your brother’s name was again?”
“Kim Jae Joong.” Yun Ho shrugged before sticking his keys into the keyhole. Chang Min arched his eyebrows in confusion.
“But he’s your brother, right? Why’s he-“
“Kim suits him. I told him to keep it.” Yun Ho interpolated before twisting the doorknob and pushing the door open. He motioned for Chang Min to follow him in, and the moment they entered, they were greeted by the sight of an overly excited Jae Joong, grinning happily at them.
“You’re back~” Jae Joong singsonged, “I made dinner. And I cooked for three, just in case.”
“That’s your brother?” Chang Min suddenly inquired, jaw hanging open in the air. Jae Joong smiled amiably at him and extended his hand for a shake, “I’m Jae Joong.”
“Chang Min.” he said with sticky eyes. He couldn’t for the life of him believe that that was Yun Ho’s brother.
“Stop staring, Chang Min. You look stupid.” Yun Ho grunted, rolling his eyes. He practically karate chopped Jae Joong and Chang Min’s linked hands and Chang Min frowned.
“Are you sure you guys are related?” Chang Min asked, finally taking his eyes off Jae Joong. “I mean, he’s like, a Korean Snow White - except he’s a guy - and you’re…” he raked his eyes up and down Yun Ho and continued, his tone pejorative, “You’re you.”
Jae Joong smiled widely, “I think you look handsome.”
“Thanks.” Yun Ho uttered monotonously, “Anyway, I didn’t know you knew how to cook. What did you make?”
“I cooked prawns.”
“Ah~ he can cook, too.” Chang Min crooned dreamily, but at the moment, sad to say, nobody was paying him any attention.
“I hate prawns.” Yun Ho stated irritably, “Why’d you cook prawns?!”
“…I found it in the freezer and I thought…” he trailed off for a moment and regarded Yun Ho in slight confusion. “If you hate it, then what was it doing there?”
“Oh, that’s my fault…” Chang Min then chimed in, and both Yun Ho and Jae Joong stared at him - Yun Ho in annoyance, as usual, and Jae Joong in a mix of confusion and amusement. “Remember when we went grocery shopping and I bought all that shrimp? I kinda left them in your freezer because there was no more room in mine… I didn’t think you’d suddenly get a cute brother who knows how to cook!”
“Well, whatever. I’m not eating.” Yun Ho frowned and pouted angrily, crossing his arms and turning his head away.
“But… you mustn’t skip meals. And… I made that for you, especially…” Jae Joong pouted, suddenly feeling guilty for cooking the prawns Yun Ho apparently hated so much. “I’ll cook again!”
“I’ll help!” Chang Min offered. He didn’t really give Jae Joong the time to respond as he quickly took hold of the other’s wrists and dragged him to the kitchen. “I’ll be good, don’t worry.”
Jae Joong nodded and smiled wanly. He took a few steps closer to the freezer and paused. He turned his head and looked at Chang Min, “What does he like…?”
“Anything in that freezer.” Chang Min shrugged, “Except seafood. He hates seafood.”
“Oh. Okay.” Jae Joong nodded and opened the freezer; he took out some beef and placed it on top of the counter.
“How can I help?”
“Um… wash the vegetables?”
Chang Min nodded and pursed his lips, he walked over to Jae Joong’s side and picked up the vegetables that lay idly on the counter. “You know, Jae Joong, you and Yun Ho are nothing alike.”
“I think we could be…” Jae Joong replied whilst cutting the beef into thin strips. “I think underneath that hostile exterior of his, he’s really warm.”
“He somewhat is.” Chang Min then placed the vegetables he had just finished washing in a bowl and walked over to the counter, standing opposite the other so that he could watch him more closely. “Is there anything else?”
Jae Joong smiled and shook his head, “No. But you can talk to me and keep me company. I feel like you’re really easy to talk to.”
“That I am!” Chang Min grinned, a smug expression on his face. “In fact, some people even call me easy-to-talk-to-Chang-Min.” It was an evident lie, but it made Jae Joong chortle nonetheless, and Chang Min smiled. “I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re really beautiful.”
“Thank you, I guess.”
“You don’t like being called that, do you?”
“It’s a bit awkward…” Jae Joong admitted, trailing off. “But it’s okay if you say it, because you’re my friend.”
“I’m your friend?” Chang Min beamed excitedly, “That’s good, because you’re my friend too.”
“I just wish he could be my friend too…”
“You have me, you don’t need him!” Chang Min joked, and Jae Joong laughed. “But hey, if you need anyone to talk to, you should just call me. I’ll pick up any time. Give me your phone.”
“I don’t have a phone…”
“Oh…” Chang Min’s smile fell for a moment, but quickly it returned, “That’s all right.”
“If I get a cellphone, you’re going to be the first person I’ll-ah!” Jae Joong suddenly cringed, dropping the knife in his hand. He clasped his hands tight together and hugged them against his chest. Chang Min then, as if out of instinct, reached for Jae Joong’s hand.
“Are you all right?” he asked, worry evident in his tone, and on his face.
“I’m fine. I was just being careless.” Jae Joong tried laughing, but Chang Min didn’t buy any of it. Judging by the large amount of blood flowing from Jae Joong’s hand, Chang Min just knew it had to hurt.
“I’m not sure if I believe you.” Chang Min said before he brought Jae Joong’s wounded hand to his lips and started sucking on the blood.
Jae Joong hadn’t enough time to react to Chang Min’s gesture, for at that precise moment, Yun Ho chose to walk in; and when he saw the fuming expression on the other’s face, his eyes widened to the size of saucers.
chapter 2
Pairing(s): YunJae, One-sided JaeMin
Author: tvfxq
Rating: PG 13
Genre: Romance, Drama, Slight(?) Fluff, Slight Angst
Disclaimer: Some of the characters and scenes in story were inspired by the ones in the drama ‘You’re Beautiful’, so inevitably, there will be some similarities.
Length: 1/??
Summary: Jung Yun Ho was never a people person. Having only three friends in the entire world - who, most of the time, got on his nerves - he never learned how to act anything but hostile towards other people. But does that all change when he one day meets Kim Jae Joong, the clumsiest and most naive klutz he had ever known? Maybe not…
a/n.: This dedicated tomusik_love because she’s my non-related sister, and also because it’s been a year since everything ♥
Annoyingly Beautiful
~;~
Yun Ho was an only child, this he knew. His parents had died before he could even have another sibling, he’d been told. But apparently it was a lie. For at his doorstep stood a rather ethereal, pale-skinned boy with large, emotive doe eyes, silky ebony black hair - that only made him seem even paler, full, plump, red lips… and a birth certificate to prove that he was his younger sibling.
“Please, you’re the only family I have in the world.” the annoyingly beautiful boy with an equally annoying beautiful voice pleaded, holding the birth certificate in his hands even higher, “I don’t have any place to go.”
Yun Ho crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe, an uninterested and impassive look on his face. He regarded the boy coldly and scoffed, “If that’s the case, then where did you come from?”
“The Gongju orphanage-“
“You came all the way to Seoul from Gongju, expecting me to take you in?” Yun Ho jeered, cutting off the poor boy’s sentence. He straightened himself and moved closer to the boy in front of him, their faces merely inches apart and hissed, “Look, I don’t care how many birth certificates you show me. You’re not my brother. Just go back to that damned orphanage that sent you here.”
The boy, startled by the harshness of the other’s tone and their proximity took a step back; a worried look settling upon his beautiful face. He eyed Yun Ho cautiously and bit his lip, wondering whether or not he should talk. Eventually his desperation took over and he said, more like whispered his next words, “I’m 18 already… I can’t stay there anymore…”
The stiff, cold expression on Yun Ho’s face softened for a minute upon hearing the other’s words; but it failed to alter his resolve. “You said your parents’ names were Kim Na Yeon and Jung Tae Ho?”
The other boy nodded. “I was told you were their son, too. So we’re brothers.”
Yun Ho shook his head and chuckled rather mockingly, “You’re easily fooled. I’m not the only person in Korea to have parents with those names.”
“But I was told-“
“You’re gullible for believing.” Yun Ho interjected, “Go look for someone else who’ll buy your story.” Without giving the other the chance to respond, he quickly shut the door. He had not the patience for other people claiming to be his brother.
Actually, he simply had no patience for other people.
~;~
Yun Ho sat himself down on his couch, stretching out his legs and leaning his head back, events of earlier that day completely forgotten. He closed his eyes, listening to the peaceful sound of the rain splashing gently against his windowsill, and just as he was about to open the book he had been reading the past few days he heard a muffled sneeze coming from outside.
He put his book down on the coffee table in front of him and frowned. Somebody was sneezing outside his property. The thought angered him slightly for interrupting the peaceful state he once was in; but more than angry, he was curious. His friends rarely come over without warning; so he had no idea as to who could have been outside. Unless…
As though pressed for time, Yun Ho kneeled on his couch and pulled open the curtains that shut him away from the rain, and the rest of the world outside, only to see a small figure sitting by his porch, shivering and desperately trying to keep warm under the rain.
A wave of compassion washed over him suddenly; and he knew he’d regret it sooner or later - and most probably sooner - but he couldn’t just let the poor boy shiver in the cold. And what if he really was his brother?
“I’m going to regret this, I know.” Yun Ho grumbled to himself before closing the curtains and getting off the couch. He made his way to the front door and held the doorknob. “Dammit if he’s not my real brother.” He grunted before twisting the brass knob and opening the door that separated him from the outside, from the rain.
“Hey, you.” Yun Ho called out; the boy from earlier turned his head, a hopeful smile on his face. Yun Ho gulped. If they were related, then damn, he had one beautiful, effeminate brother. “You can come in.”
Suddenly, the other’s face lit up and despite the cold, he stood up quickly and rushed over to Yun Ho, “You mean it?” he asked rather cheerily.
“Yes, now hurry in before I change my mind.” Yun Ho stepped to the side so that the drenched boy could enter, and closed the door right after he had gone in. “Now, I want you to know that-“
“Thank you!” the boy exclaimed excitedly, hugging Yun Ho’s waist tightly, as though there was no tomorrow.
“Ahh!” Yun Ho yelled in shock and in horror, flailing his arms everywhere; quickly pushing the other boy away from him. He looked at his shirt and his pants, arms still in the air, before glaring at the cause of his wet clothes. “What possessed you to do that?!” he roared, and the other boy whimpered.
“I’m sorry. I was just so happy that I’d finally have a real brother.”
“Well you,” he said, pointing to the boy in front of him. He then paused when he realized that he never actually knew the boy’s name. “What did you say your name was?”
“Kim Jae Joong.”
“Why are you a Kim?” he asked, a bit confused, and still irritated, “Whatever. It suits you better than Jung.” Jae Joong smiled at him widely, and his mirth was exactly why Yun Ho remembered what he was saying earlier, “Right, well, if you’re going to live here with me, there are going to be certain rules you will have to follow strictly.”
Jae Joong nodded; his gesture prompting Yun Ho to continue.
“The first rule is that you absolutely cannot come near me if you are any of the following,” Yun Ho paused dramatically before continuing, “Wet, dirty, or wet and dirty. I am very particular about cleanliness and about keeping clean, so don’t you dare do that again.”
“Got it.” Jae Joong nodded enthusiastically, the water from his hair splashing around. Yun Ho widened his eyes in anger when he noticed a small drop of water splash from Jae Joong’s hair and onto the book he was reading earlier. Quickly, he grabbed his book and desperately wiped the drop of water off before glaring at Jae Joong with horror in his eyes.
“The second rule is that you are not to touch any of my things without my permission; and you can’t contaminate them either.”
“Sorry…” Jae Joong apologized sheepishly, biting his lip in guilt. “Is there anything else?”
“Is there anything else he asks,” Yun Ho laughed to nobody, “Yes. Yes there is.” He put his book back down and jabbed his index finger in the air, “Actually… I can’t think of anything more at the moment…” he trailed off for a while. Yun Ho glared at Jae Joong suddenly, “Just don’t get on my nerves.”
“I won’t!” Jae Joong cheered, and motioned to give Yun Ho another hug, but decided against it when he saw the terrorizing look in Yun Ho’s eyes. “…Sorry.”
“I don’t need your apologies.” Yun Ho stated coldly. “Now, is that measly little backpack and that birth certificate the only things you have with you?”
“Yes.”
Yun Ho ran a hand through his hair and dropped it dramatically, “Fine.” He turned on his heel and headed for the huge flight of stairs to his right. He stopped in his tracks halfway up the staircase and stared at Jae Joong, “Well follow me. I won’t allow you to wet my floor any longer.”
“Right.” With that, Jae Joong rushed to Yun Ho; but on his way he tripped on nothing and ended up falling down flat on his face. “Oow…” he groaned, rubbing his forehead, trying to lessen the throbbing pain.
Yun Ho sighed and rolled his eyes before going down to help Jae Joong up, “Kim Jae Joong, keep this up and you’ll get on my nerves. I don’t like clumsy people.”
“I’m sorry…” Jae Joong apologized, still rubbing his forehead, “I’ll be more careful next time.”
“You’d better be.”
~;~
“Kim Jae Joong, I’m meeting my friends.” Yun Ho called out from the bottom of the staircase. Just then, the sound of footsteps running towards him could be heard, and it only seemed to have been getting louder and louder until Jae Joong appeared, a huge grin on his face.
“Can I come?” he asked excitedly.
“No.” Yun Ho quickly answered, and Jae Joong pouted. The latter took a step forward in an attempt to go down the stairs when the inevitable happened - he missed the first step and ended up rolling down the entire flight of stairs. Lucky for him, Yun Ho had good hand-eye coordination, as well as strong arms, or else he wouldn’t have been caught and would have most likely smashed his face on the marble floor.
“Oww…” Jae Joong groaned in agony and Yun Ho sighed, helping the former to stand straight.
“Where does it hurt?” he asked, his voice uninterested; a contrast to his words.
“Everywhere…” Jae Joong mumbled embarrassedly. Yun Ho rolled his eyes and led him to the couch. He left for a moment to fetch an icepack from the freezer, and when he came back, he deemed it the perfect time to sermon his brother.
“You said you’d be more careful yesterday,” Yun Ho began as he handed the icepack over to the boy on the couch, “but then here you are, somersaulting over a whole flight of stairs. What if I wasn’t there to catch you?”
“I’m so-“
“I’m not done yet.” Yun Ho hissed before continuing, “You’re like a walking accident zone; pure clumsiness on legs. Do you even try to be careful? Were you a crippled old woman in your past life or something? Why can’t you walk without falling down?”
“It’s not like I like falling down.” Jae Joong replied with an angry pout, grumbling “I don’t do it on purpose.”
“That’s what’s even more annoying - you can’t help it. -Which means that you’ll be unconsciously annoying for the rest of your life.”
“…I’m sorry.” Was all Jae Joong could come up with at the moment. He pressed the icepack harder against his head and looked at Yun Ho, who was still fuming, “But thank you for saving me.”
Yun Ho’s expression softened then, and his anger slowly dissipated. He cleared his throat awkwardly and stuffed his hands in his pant pockets before he said, “I’d do it for anyone. So don’t think you’re special.”
Jae Joong smiled warmly and nodded his head.
“Well, I’ll be going now. And one of my friends is probably coming over, so if you’re uncomfortable being around other people, then I suggest you hide in your room.”
“I’m perfectly fine with company~” Jae Joong smiled widely, starting to get excited, “I get along with everybody.”
“Good for you, then.” Yun Ho remarked flippantly before walking towards the door, “I’m going.”
“Bye!”
Yun Ho nodded and exited his house. Before actually leaving his property he scoffed to himself, “Everyone? Who said we’re getting along?”
~;~
“You’re late.” Was the first thing Yun Ho was told once he sat down at the table in the café where his friends were. “You’re usually the early bird, what happened?” Yoo Chun asked, intertwining his fingers together.
“My brother fell down the stairs and I had to help him.” Yun Ho answered, earning gasps from the three other people at the table.
“You have a brother?!” Jun Su practically shrieked, and Yun Ho frowned. He hated Jun Su’s high-pitched squeals.
“Since when?” Chang Min added, and Yun Ho grunted, running a hand through his hair.
“Since yesterday.” He said whilst snatching the cup of coffee that sat idly on the table. “He’s so clumsy. Too clumsy. I dislike him.”
“He sounds like a nice guy.” Yoo Chun shrugged before taking a sip of his own coffee. Yun Ho sent him a look of disbelief.
“Did you not just hear what I said about him?”
“Hyung, usually, when you ‘dislike’ somebody, they turn out to be decent people.” Chang Min said before smirking, “Except for Jun Su.”
“Hey!” Jun Su hissed, glowering at Chang Min, “I am decent.”
“Yes, and I don’t like food.”
“Nobody doesn’t like food.”
“Guys,” Yun Ho interjected. He looked like he was suffering from a migraine, “Quit bickering. My brother’s annoying and that’s that.”
“Why don’t you let us meet him, then? To see if he’s really as annoying as you say.” Yoo Chun suggested, a sleazy grin tugging at the corner of his lips.
“No.” Yun Ho stated, taking a sip of the coffee he stole. “Even if he’s annoying, I feel obliged to watch over him somehow. So you’d better remove all your thoughts of my brother from your head or I’ll do it for you.”
“If he’s anything like you, then he’s probably unattractive.” Yoo Chun mumbled, crossing his arms in front of his chest and Yun Ho scoffed.
“Me? Unattractive?” the look on his face was full of disbelief. He knew for a fact that despite his animosity towards everyone, people still fantasized about him. Therefore he could not have been unattractive.
“He was talking about your personality.” Chang Min chimed in, the smirk on his face never leaving. Yun Ho pouted angrily and slumped in his seat, arms crossed, “I don’t even know why I’m friends with people like you.”
“I think you’re attractive.” Jun Su suddenly said, a huge smile on his face.
“Jun Su, you’re my only friend.” The entire table then broke into laughter. Yun Ho was mean and cantankerous majority of the time, but he did have a lovable side to him deep, deep, deep, deep down inside. And that was probably why his friends stuck by him.
~;~
“I can’t believe I get to meet your infamous brother.” Chang Min grinned as he trailed behind Yun Ho. It was more or less tradition for him to visit Yun Ho’s house after they’d meet - most of the time to raid the other’s pantry. “I feel lucky.”
“You should.” Yun Ho retorted before digging his hand into his pocket and fumbling for his keys. They were finally home.
“What did you say your brother’s name was again?”
“Kim Jae Joong.” Yun Ho shrugged before sticking his keys into the keyhole. Chang Min arched his eyebrows in confusion.
“But he’s your brother, right? Why’s he-“
“Kim suits him. I told him to keep it.” Yun Ho interpolated before twisting the doorknob and pushing the door open. He motioned for Chang Min to follow him in, and the moment they entered, they were greeted by the sight of an overly excited Jae Joong, grinning happily at them.
“You’re back~” Jae Joong singsonged, “I made dinner. And I cooked for three, just in case.”
“That’s your brother?” Chang Min suddenly inquired, jaw hanging open in the air. Jae Joong smiled amiably at him and extended his hand for a shake, “I’m Jae Joong.”
“Chang Min.” he said with sticky eyes. He couldn’t for the life of him believe that that was Yun Ho’s brother.
“Stop staring, Chang Min. You look stupid.” Yun Ho grunted, rolling his eyes. He practically karate chopped Jae Joong and Chang Min’s linked hands and Chang Min frowned.
“Are you sure you guys are related?” Chang Min asked, finally taking his eyes off Jae Joong. “I mean, he’s like, a Korean Snow White - except he’s a guy - and you’re…” he raked his eyes up and down Yun Ho and continued, his tone pejorative, “You’re you.”
Jae Joong smiled widely, “I think you look handsome.”
“Thanks.” Yun Ho uttered monotonously, “Anyway, I didn’t know you knew how to cook. What did you make?”
“I cooked prawns.”
“Ah~ he can cook, too.” Chang Min crooned dreamily, but at the moment, sad to say, nobody was paying him any attention.
“I hate prawns.” Yun Ho stated irritably, “Why’d you cook prawns?!”
“…I found it in the freezer and I thought…” he trailed off for a moment and regarded Yun Ho in slight confusion. “If you hate it, then what was it doing there?”
“Oh, that’s my fault…” Chang Min then chimed in, and both Yun Ho and Jae Joong stared at him - Yun Ho in annoyance, as usual, and Jae Joong in a mix of confusion and amusement. “Remember when we went grocery shopping and I bought all that shrimp? I kinda left them in your freezer because there was no more room in mine… I didn’t think you’d suddenly get a cute brother who knows how to cook!”
“Well, whatever. I’m not eating.” Yun Ho frowned and pouted angrily, crossing his arms and turning his head away.
“But… you mustn’t skip meals. And… I made that for you, especially…” Jae Joong pouted, suddenly feeling guilty for cooking the prawns Yun Ho apparently hated so much. “I’ll cook again!”
“I’ll help!” Chang Min offered. He didn’t really give Jae Joong the time to respond as he quickly took hold of the other’s wrists and dragged him to the kitchen. “I’ll be good, don’t worry.”
Jae Joong nodded and smiled wanly. He took a few steps closer to the freezer and paused. He turned his head and looked at Chang Min, “What does he like…?”
“Anything in that freezer.” Chang Min shrugged, “Except seafood. He hates seafood.”
“Oh. Okay.” Jae Joong nodded and opened the freezer; he took out some beef and placed it on top of the counter.
“How can I help?”
“Um… wash the vegetables?”
Chang Min nodded and pursed his lips, he walked over to Jae Joong’s side and picked up the vegetables that lay idly on the counter. “You know, Jae Joong, you and Yun Ho are nothing alike.”
“I think we could be…” Jae Joong replied whilst cutting the beef into thin strips. “I think underneath that hostile exterior of his, he’s really warm.”
“He somewhat is.” Chang Min then placed the vegetables he had just finished washing in a bowl and walked over to the counter, standing opposite the other so that he could watch him more closely. “Is there anything else?”
Jae Joong smiled and shook his head, “No. But you can talk to me and keep me company. I feel like you’re really easy to talk to.”
“That I am!” Chang Min grinned, a smug expression on his face. “In fact, some people even call me easy-to-talk-to-Chang-Min.” It was an evident lie, but it made Jae Joong chortle nonetheless, and Chang Min smiled. “I hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re really beautiful.”
“Thank you, I guess.”
“You don’t like being called that, do you?”
“It’s a bit awkward…” Jae Joong admitted, trailing off. “But it’s okay if you say it, because you’re my friend.”
“I’m your friend?” Chang Min beamed excitedly, “That’s good, because you’re my friend too.”
“I just wish he could be my friend too…”
“You have me, you don’t need him!” Chang Min joked, and Jae Joong laughed. “But hey, if you need anyone to talk to, you should just call me. I’ll pick up any time. Give me your phone.”
“I don’t have a phone…”
“Oh…” Chang Min’s smile fell for a moment, but quickly it returned, “That’s all right.”
“If I get a cellphone, you’re going to be the first person I’ll-ah!” Jae Joong suddenly cringed, dropping the knife in his hand. He clasped his hands tight together and hugged them against his chest. Chang Min then, as if out of instinct, reached for Jae Joong’s hand.
“Are you all right?” he asked, worry evident in his tone, and on his face.
“I’m fine. I was just being careless.” Jae Joong tried laughing, but Chang Min didn’t buy any of it. Judging by the large amount of blood flowing from Jae Joong’s hand, Chang Min just knew it had to hurt.
“I’m not sure if I believe you.” Chang Min said before he brought Jae Joong’s wounded hand to his lips and started sucking on the blood.
Jae Joong hadn’t enough time to react to Chang Min’s gesture, for at that precise moment, Yun Ho chose to walk in; and when he saw the fuming expression on the other’s face, his eyes widened to the size of saucers.
chapter 2