"Music Is My Life" [11/20]
Title: Music Is My Life [11/20]
Pairing: Yoochun/Junsu, Jaejoong/Yunho
Genre: AU, drama/romance
Warnings: None
Summary: It's the summer of 2007 and Park Yoochun is determined to be successful. After a string of failures during the early part of the year, he's ready to piece his life back together and start anew - especially in his career as a singer/composer. However, things don't turn out so well when the bar he performs at is taken over by a new singer, Kim Junsu.
He really hadn't been lying when he had told Jaejoong as his model he wanted him purely because of his looks. Yunho was used to good looking people, and if he wanted the - non-professional - runway type (as Jaejoong probably assumed) he would've gone to Changmin. The younger man, with his youthful yet mature facade and long legs, was model material (he was even taller than Yunho after all, and Yunho had taken a few seconds to reconcile with that idea after their first meeting). This was an advertisement where the main focus was purely the face, and Jaejoong had a captivating one.
So when he rang the doorbell to the apartment, he was fully prepared to win Jaejoong's willingness to model for his company, no matter how infuriating the man's accusations could be. However, nothing quite prepared him for the view that greeted him at the door.
"You're early," Jaejoong said sulkily, stepping aside so Yunho entered. He blinked as Yunho handed him a tall package wordlessly, the younger man blinking repeatedly back at him. "Are you trying to get me drunk?" When he still didn't get a response, his expression softened and he grinned. "Not quite used to me like this, are you?" He was wearing a Kiss the Cook apron, long black hair tied back into a ponytail with the front clipped to the side. He was dressed in a plain white shirt and black shorts that ended at his knees with slippered feet sliding across the clear tiles of the floor. Yunho vividly recalled the impeccably fashionable Jaejoong (the designer jeans, tailored blazors, scarves, perfectly styled hair) last night and shook his head.
"It's polite to bring a gift to your host, isn't it?" he said, answering the first question. If anything, he felt overdressed. This time, he'd shown up in a simple black buttoned down shirt and grey slacks as opposed to the suit he always wore at work and to Jaejoong's house last night after going straight from the office. And he needed to play it safe - if he mentioned that Jaejoong could pull off looking like one of those cute female leads in the recent Korean dramas he'd probably earn himself a punch to the face and a kick out the door.
"Well as long as you don't have another ridiculous ulterior motive," Jaejoong muttered as he eyed the package almost hungrily, a sight so comical that Yunho smiled, "just put your coat on the couch and come into the kitchen, I'm almost done." He turned the corner into the kitchen area and Yunho did as he was told, glancing around at his surroundings as he propped his light jacket on the armrest.
"What are we eating tonight?" Yunho said as he walked to the edge of a small table that stood behind the counter that separated the living area and the kitchen. Jaejoong's apartment layout was similar to Stephanie's, but smaller.
He whirled around, swinging a ladle. "You just sit down and eat whatever I put in front of you. Your face is so small I have to squint to see it - do you eat properly?"
"My what?" Yunho's eyes widened in indignation.
"Sit!" Jaejoong pulled out a chair and looked at him expectantly. Yunho walked around the table and sat down gingerly, the man behind him tucking the chair back in under him. "You look like you're about to keel over. You know, the kind where you're not even aware of it until you're half-conscious on the floor."
"What does that even mean?" Yunho snapped, surprising himself. He wished Jaejoong didn't try to figure him out everytime he saw him. That was usually Yunho's job.
"It means you're overworked. Have you even looked in a mirror lately?"
"I am not - "
"Uh oh, classic workaholic symptom. Denial." He trudged back to the stove and turned a knob.
"When did you learn how to cook?" Yunho changed the subject. He didn't really want to argue his way through the week, although Jaejoong seemed to be making it inevitable.
"A skill I acquired while living with eight sisters who were completely inept in the kitchen and a set of parents who worked during the day. I can make a lunch box with my eyes closed," he responded with a grin, stirring a concoction that Yunho couldn't see but could smell. Kimchi. And lots of it.
"What made you choose photography as a career then?" Yunho really was just trying to make conversation and he was well aware of how inane his questions were. Maybe because he was unused to conversing with Jaejoong in such a domestic setting. Yeah, that was it.
"Hm? I suppose you could say I was kind of pushed into carrying around a camera." He set the bowls on the other side of the pot on the stove and looked around the counter, a thoughtful biting of his bottom lip drawing Yunho's attention. He suddenly turned to the other man and pointed at the rice cooker at the edge of the counter. "Want to get the rice?"
With a chuckle, Yunho rose from his seat and accepted the two metal bowls that Jaejoong handed him. "Gladly. I thought we'd just be having jigae tonight."
"But it smells damn good, doesn't it?" He looked proud of himself. "It's my own secret recipe."
"Secret?" Yunho eyed the pot dubiously, setting the two bowls of rice down onto the small dining table.
"Oh hush, you," Jaejoong swatted at him with his laddle and Yunho jumped out of the way, letting out a laugh that surprised the both of them. Yunho froze and Jaejoong responded with a wide grin of his own, setting down his weapon of choice and setting the two larger bowls onto two trays. "So you do have a sense of humour, Mr. Jung," he said lightly as he carried one, and then the other, over to the table.
"I wasn't aware I was acting otherwise."
"Oh believe me, you were." Jaejoong then took out several small side dishes from the fridge and arranged it in a half circle by the side of the table. Finally, he placed chopsticks and spoons at the their two respective places and clapped his hands together. "All done! Let's eat."
Yunho took his spot again across from Jaejoong and had to admit the jigae smelled good. The aroma was rich and since he hadn't had time to eat lunch since having breakfast with Yoochun and Junsu this morning - he was too used to skipping breakfast and by the time he'd gone to work he'd been too busy for a lunch break - his stomach was telling him to eat, even though his senses were telling him to be a bit more wary towards the other man.
Then again it wouldn't make sense to poison him in his home, right? That would be an easy way to label himself as the culprit...
Seeing Yunho's reluctant look, Jaejoong sighed and slurped noisily at his own jigae. "There, I didn't do anything weird to it. It all came from the same pot, you saw it yourself." Looking mildly offended, Jaejoong frowned.
With a silent curse to himself, Yunho picked up his spoon. Just because Jaejoong was wildly unpredictable and had personality changes in split seconds, it didn't excuse Yunho's rudeness either. "You're right, I apologize," he raised the spoon to his lips.
"Oh wait, maybe you'd like some water - "
"Shit - " Yunho choked, coughing loudly as his spoon fell with a small splash back into the bowl. This was what he got when he tried to play nice with this man. He slapped a hand over his mouth, wheezing slightly and Jaejoong shot out of his seat, practically running to grab a glass a water for him. By the time he held a clear glass to his lips, Yunho's face was red and his eyes were shining. He gulped down the water and Jaejoong cringed, eyes darting from the incapacitated Yunho to the front door.
He opted for some light teasing. "What kind of Korean are you, Jung Yunho? I thought you'd be able to take it."
"You - " he coughed again, taking another sip of water before he could find his voice. "That's not fit for human consumption," he managed to croak out and coughed again.
Jaejoong blinked and clapped him on his back a few times. "Hey I eat this all the time and I'm still alive. And human, last time I checked. It's okay, just admit it was too hot for you." He sighed dramatically, looking mournfully at Yunho's bowl. "What a waste though, I spent so long on it too..."
"I - " he coughed, " - never said I can't finish it. It just...took me by surprise." That said, he still couldn't help throwing a scared look at the threatening bowl of steaming jigae. Was courtesy really worth giving up his life for?
"Oh really?" A genuine grin split across Jaejoong's face and he laughed, a hand almost instinctively coming up to cover the smile. "Don't push yourself. I probably have some noodles I can whip up for you and I can save that for my lunch tomorrow." Yunho didn't respond, but the blindingly obvious relief on his face sent Jaejoong into another fit of chuckles. "Alright," he stood up and bent down to search amongst the drawers. "I don't usually buy the non-spicy kind but Junsu and Changmin don't like it too spicy either, so you can have that. You can eat some spicyness, right?"
"Of course," Yunho said, picking up his chopsticks to pick at the side dishes. He couldn't help but look slightly insulted. "Like I said, that - " he pointed to the boil with a chopstick, " - is on a whole other level."
"Thank you," Jaejoong pretended to preen and was rather gratified to see the small smile on Yunho's face. Granted he'd had his doubts in the beginning as to whether Yunho could stomach his version of korean cuisine, but the opportunity had been too good to resist.
"You did that on purpose," Yunho said matter-of-factly, abating his hunger with the small side dishes while he waited for Jaejoong to cook the noodles. He didn't feel guilty about making him do more work - Jaejoong had nearly burned his tongue off after all. There went the whole courtesy idea out the window. Yunho pretty much assumed that gave him free rein as a guest in this home.
"Why, Yunho - why would you think that?" He turned to him with the sweetest smile he could muster and the younger man didn't even blink.
He shook his head, knowing he'd never get a straight answer from Jaejoong. Maybe constantly changing the subject was the right way of dealing with this man. "Why did you make this deal with me? I thought I offended you beyond all redemption."
He turned back to the noodles that were simmering in the hot water. "I don't hold grudges?" To be honest, Jaejoong didn't know either.
"So what did you want to get out of this?"
His head shot to the side to stare accusingly at him. "What?"
Yunho blinked and closed his mouth. Then he blinked again. And said slowly, "I want to know what you intend from this decision."
"Funny, because last time I checked, you were the one who needed something out of this. I just want the company."
"I didn't think I'd be on your list of choices for 'good company.'"
"Hey, I said company. I don't know if it's any good yet - though right now, it's proving to be kind of annoying."
Almost on reflex Yunho rolled his eyes, and realizing what he was doing, dropped his head so he stared at the small dishes he had cleaned out in the last few minutes. He was hungrier than he'd thought. "Can I get a refill?"
"...And demanding," Jaejoong muttered before walking to the fridge. "So what'd you do today?"
"What?" The question caught him by surprise and he almost dropped his chopsticks. He expected a lot of things from Jaejoong but a normal conversation starter was not one of them. It escaped him that he'd used the same tactic earlier.
"How. Was. Your. Day?" Jaejoong raised his eyebrows at him as he refilled the small dishes. "I figured if we can avoid arguing at least for the first night, we can set a precedence for the rest of the week. But knowing you, that'd be difficult." Then he sighed dramatically and replaced the plastic cases into the fridge.
"That's the problem," Yunho said thoughtfully, tapping his chopsticks against a dish after having resumed eating. "There was no attempt to get to know each other. And now we're having dinner together."
"Well, there wasn't any need to," Jaejoong said suddenly, reaching beside to pull a drawer open for a bowl. "I'm just going by what I know. Which isn't much. Why is why I asked how your day was."
"I went to work." It was an odd topic, coming from Jaejoong.
"On Sunday?"
"There were a few things I had to finish in the office. So I went to do them."
"See? Workaholic syndrome! What are you, twenty-two? Barely out of university and already working yourself to death. Shame on you," Jaejoong walked over and set the steaming bowl of noodles in front of him before taking his seat.
Yunho shrugged. "It's necessary."
"Really." Jaejoong eyed him dubiously while taking sips from his own bowl. He watched as Yunho practically devoured the noodles, seeing that the side dishes were once again almost depleted. He didn't bother to refill them. "Don't tell me - you're going to take over your company and your father's falling ill right now, your family's slowly falling apart but as long as you're working and the business runs smoothly, you still have control over something despite your rapidly deteriorating - "
"Clearly you've watched too many dramas," Yunho interrupted. "My father's in perfect health and my family get along famously. I just find it pointless if I have nothing to do."
He wrinkled his nose at him. "You probably have enough money to go on several trips around the world and you're complaining you have nothing to do. What happened to settling down with a good book and wasting away an afternoon?"
"There are often more important things than personal satisfaction."
Jaejoong stared at him until Yunho looked up to meet his eyes, a mildly irritated and questioning look on his face. Finally, Jaejoong sighed and gulped down a particularly large portion of his dinner in order to make himself feel better. This man's priorities were so skewed, he deduced, and he figured Yunho needed some major therapy in attaining a social life, or perhaps some invested interest in his personal life. It never quite occured to him that Jung Yunho did not make his decisions lightly. "I don't understand you. I mean, I'm not saying you shouldn't work at all. But there's a difference between working regular hours and spending day and night in your office."
"Does it seem like a pointless existence to you?" Yunho chuckled.
"You tell me."
"It really isn't about the time I spend on the job at all."
"So...you're telling me work hasn't corrupted you to the point where you think condescending to someone at your second meeting is okay?"
It was with some difficulty that Yunho didn't respond with a 'at least I wasn't the one who flung unfounded accusations at someone at my second meeting.' "You were expecting a business proposition and I gave one to you. That's what a businessman does. I wasn't condescending to you."
"Look. I think you were well aware I'm a photographer. My role is to stay behind the lense."
"Regardless, you felt offended because you believed I belittled your career choice. But I still wasn't condescending to you and I never meant to. To be honest, you're the first person to accuse me of that. People often tell me I'm not persuasive enough," he smiled wryly at the thought.
"So why choose to do what you do?"
"It's an office job, not an illegal underground operation." This time he laughed, shaking his head. "It's a family business and I was raised to inherit it. I have no qualms with that and I'm happy doing what I do. Why would you choose photography if you have such a passion for cooking?"
"I only like cooking for - Well, people I know. And like I told you, I just grew to like holding a camera."
"It's the same philosophy for the both of us then."
"Somehow I doubt it," he tilted his head thoughtfully. "I guess."
They wallowed a bit in silence before Jaejoong stood up to take the dirty bowls to the sink. He gestured for Yunho to take a seat on the couch before grabbing two champagne glasses and the tall bottle of wine (another famous and expensive brand) and joining him without bothering to wash the dishes.
Taking a seat, both of them were struck with a sense of deja vu. It was a careful game of avoidance, both trying not to let words and intentionally worded barbs get to them. But this was still too new for them to grow comfortable.
After the glasses were poured and each held one in their hand, Yunho spoke up again. "I would like to know why you asked this of me, Jaejoong. You could've easily ignored my request if it disgusted you so much."
Jaejoong groaned, "you're still hung up on that? Look, I don't know. Seriously!" Seeing Yunho's doubtful look, he shook his head. "Haven't you ever done something on a whim before? This was it. It's not that I have a huge problem against my face plastered on some ad for your company - well, I do but - it was the way you approached it that pissed me off, okay? Maybe if you had asked nicely or hadn't led me to believe you wanted to hire me as a photographer I wouldn't have jumped down your throat."
"So it was in my approach?"
"Yes!"
"I...see." He crossed his legs and leaned back, gazing at the other man thoughtfully. "I apologize for that then."
He stared again.
"I believe in something called a different perspective," Yunho continued, swishing his glass around, "that obviously applies to us. I didn't mean for my offer to sound like a bribe but you took it as one. I didn't mean to sound as though I looked down on you and yet you assumed that of me. There isn't really anyone to blame, is there?"
"Well - "
"The way I see it, this week can go in two ways. We can argue and debate as to the merits or demerits of a career in business, or we can make the most of it and leave with a congenial acquaintanceship between us. And although it seems pointless to try to get to know each other, I wouldn't mind making a friend. Although you can be infuriating at times." And he actually did mean it, and was amused at how takenback the other man was at his words.
"I..." Jaejoong fell silent and mulled over what had just transpired. It wasn't like he hated the guy. And Yunho, as much as it grated on his nerves, was right. This was a matter of perspective and personal bias. Jaejoong could still recall the way Yunho had approached him at Dong Bang Shin Ki and he had sulked for days before making prank calls to him at his office, of which he was still rather ashamed of. "So are you," he grumbled finally, downing his drink.
Yunho smiled. "I admit, I can be too."
"You really know how to turn on the charm," he muttered, pouring himself another glass.
"I try," he responded easily, almost smirking.
With a shiver, Jaejoong decided that being around this guy required the utmost sense of self-preservation. Even with all his talk of acquaintanceships and congeniality. "I...guess we just got off on the wrong foot. But both times was totally your fault."
"If you want to believe that, that's fine with me."
"...Shut up."
~*~*~
Later that night, long after Yunho had left and Jaejoong had thrown a pillow at him right before the door closed ("I can see you took my advice about the eyeliner - " "I just didn't want to dress up for you") he lounged on the couch, feet propped up with an arm under his head, staring thoughtfully at the ceiling. He was thinking of how to surreptitiously serve Yunho another scaldingly spicy dish when his cell phone rang, Junsu's voice bursting in song disrupting the comfortable silence in his flat.
Groaning he reached over with his other arm to the small coffee table and flipped it open, not bothering to check the number. If it was Junsu's management company he mentally swore he was going to tear them apart the next he saw them. "Hello?"
"Jaejoong hyung?"
Instantly, he sat up, concern seizing him rather than the mild annoyance from before. The soft, timid voice was entirely unlike his dongsaeng and he frowned. "What's wrong? I thought you went clubbing with Junsu and his - "
"Yeah, I just. Came back on my own. I wasn't feeling very well."
Jaejoong sighed exasperatedly. Changmin and Yunho were obviously people of the same yolk. "I hope you don't drive yourself to exhaustion just because of an assignment due a week later," 'like a certain someone,' he added to himself with a eye roll.
"No...I think I just came down with something. I...Jaejoong hyung? Did we do the right thing for Junsu? I mean - "
Well this inquiry didn't really come as a surprise to Jaejoong. "Out of everyone, you know him best, Changmin. Even I didn't notice much of his - Well, I think you did what you believed to be the best. And Junsu's doing just fine right now, isn't he?"
"That's...the thing. I don't know. I feel like Junsu would've been better off not coming to Dong Bang Shin Ki. I could've found another way - "
"Changmin?"
"Yes?"
"If this ends badly, we're both to blame. I agreed to help as much as you set this in motion, so don't even think about blaming yourself. Also, Junsu needed our help because he...was nearing his limit. But he's still an adult and he can take care of himself. If he didn't like what we were doing, he would tell us. So don't worry so much okay? You know Junsu would come to you if he has any problems." Changmin was silent and Jaejoong's tone softened. "Just get some rest so you'll be well and not make Junsu worry."
"...Okay. You're...right."
"Of course I am. Go sleep. I'll drop by tomorrow to make sure you haven't worried yourself sick about this."
"Don't have work to do?" The considerably lighter and teasing tone made Jaejoong smile.
"You're worth more than a few pictures and a couple thousand won. But no, I don't have work."
"Thanks, hyung. As long as it's not inconvenient - "
"It would be more inconvenient if you woke up and forget to eat because you have no food in that apartment of yours. Like what happened last time - "
"Ah..right. I'll see you tomorrow then, hyung."
He could hear the barely concealed smile in the other's voice and he replied with the same sentiments, hanging up only after the other had done so. He fell backwards onto his back, cell phone clutched tightly in one hand. Changmin was one of the most emotionally controlled people he knew and if what he said about Junsu was true...He decided against calling Junsu; it was late and he might still be at the club. But Jaejoong decided that he definitely needed a little talk with his other dongsaeng.
~*~*~*~
He couldn't take the silence anymore. Junsu snuck a glance at Yoochun's face and was met with a thoughtful expression - an expression that had been driving him crazy for the past ten minutes since they'd arrived back at Dong Bang Shin Ki after dropping Stephanie off. It was two in the morning - he had felt a lot better after throwing caution to the wind and just concentrated on having fun with Stephanie, careful to ignore Yoochun and his ever changing dance partners - and he was exhausted. So he really wasn't in the mood for tension and discomfort between them right now and if only Yoochun would say something. Anything. Preferably something Junsu wanted him to say, like a more legitimate excuse for completely ditching their party to grind against women - a better excuse than 'that's just the way he is.'
Because Junsu was pretty sure he should've been satisfied with that response (he had no right to complain) but he wasn't and that meant he had to admit something to himself he really didn't want to admit.
So when he finally saw Yoochun open his mouth, he almost breathed a sigh of relief out loud before he caught himself.
"What's wrong?"
"Huh?" JUnsu stared at Yoochun in confusion, mouth hanging slightly open. Fingers that were unbuttoning his shirt froze.
Yoochun frowned back at him, his concern now visible. "You've been pretty quiet since we left SM."
"Well - " God help him now, because Yoochun had decided that unbuttoning his sticky shirt was too much trouble and had pulled it right over his head. Or maybe it was to God's blessing that Yoochun didn't wear anything underneath and anything Junsu was about to say flew right out of his head. He settled with a noncommittal "Hm..." and tried not to dive under the bed in embarrassment.
The other man raised an eyebrow at him and he smiled weakly back. "Tired. Just...tired. Tonight was fun but, um, tiring." He received a very nice grin for his efforts and that jumpstarted his brain, while a deliciously shirtless Yoochun crossed the room for a towel for his shower. He tried not to salivate and with some effort, averted his eyes. To be polite. Yeah.
"So...you and Stephanie together now?"
His eyes snapped back to him in shock. That definitely hadn't been the conclusion Junsu had expected Yoochun to reach. "What?"
Yoochun frowned again. "Are you guilty about it or something, is that why you've been so quiet?"
"I - No!"
"Because it's okay, you know. Steph and I...did you hear about us from someone? The kid? We're totally over, totally friends - "
"Yes - I mean, no, you've - "
"And I can see why you'd, you know. Because she's a total hottie."
Junsu shut his mouth, before he asked hesitantly, almost brokenly, "So, you - I mean, you think she's...attractive?"
"Of course." Granted, Yoochun completely missed the way Junsu deflated at that comment, but he was bent over digging around to find his sleeping clothes and Junsu wasn't about to complain at the nice view he had while half sprawled on the bed, where he'd collapsed after the shock of - Yoochun thinking - "we dated after all. But I've learned my lesson." He punctuated this with a laugh that sounded forced even to Junsu's ears. "She's my best friend, like a hot little sister that I've got to protect from the big bad wolves out there. But I trust you, Junsu. You'd be good for her - well, good for each other. She's a great girl. And you're a good person." He finally turned around with an old T-shirt and sweatpants balled into his right hand and the towel slung over his shoulder, and stared right back.
Junsu blinked as Yoochun fell silent, a stare trained right at his face. Almost like they were engaged in a war of looks, but he was unsure as to what the prize was. Yoochun acted and sounded like he was trying to convince himself what he said was true, but Stephanie didn't sound like she had misinterpreted the way their relationship, as she had described it, had crashed and burned. She clearly believed that conclusion was mutual between both parties. So why would Yoochun...Finally, he let out a tired chuckle and the other man jumped. He grinned. "We're just frends, Yoochun."
"Then..." He felt confusion weaken his resolve, he felt thousands of questions rising up inside him, but he could only croak, "at the club...?"
"Well," Junsu tilted his head to the side, almost to stare up at him challengingly.
'Challenging what?' Yoochun thought.
"It's like the way you seem to enjoy your female partners so much."
Such a lighthearted tone but almost like a stinging barb. Yoochun tried not to wince.
"I was feeling...upset about Changmin leaving. He wasn't feeling well and he didn't tell me. Stephanie was there at the right time, she was just listening to me complain. Nothing more. Does that reassure you?" Junsu smiled slowly, feeling a guilty pleasure at Yoochun shifting uncomfortably on his feet. Suddenly, he didn't really care whether Yoochun still liked Stephanie or if it was was brotherly concern as he had claimed, or if he was simply being nosy. Junsu was too tired for this. He needed a good night's rest before he started to train himself to stop keeping his hopes up, to stop jumping in Yoochun's presence, to stop...
"Well...then...you can tell me too," came the impossibly soft, almost vulnerable response, and Junsu felt his resolve crashing.
'Stop! Please just stop - '
"It wasn't anything really important and I'm over it now. Thanks though," Junsu replied quickly and rolled over on the comforter, smashing his head face first into the bed. "Why don't you take a shower first?" came the muffled response. There was a silence, before he heard a small laugh and an almost inaudible agreement, before feet trudged slowly out of the room and he let himself relax.
Quickly he sat up again, closing his eyes before taking a few deep breaths. He was going to break soon. And he definitely didn't want Yoochun around when that happened.
Pairing: Yoochun/Junsu, Jaejoong/Yunho
Genre: AU, drama/romance
Warnings: None
Summary: It's the summer of 2007 and Park Yoochun is determined to be successful. After a string of failures during the early part of the year, he's ready to piece his life back together and start anew - especially in his career as a singer/composer. However, things don't turn out so well when the bar he performs at is taken over by a new singer, Kim Junsu.
He really hadn't been lying when he had told Jaejoong as his model he wanted him purely because of his looks. Yunho was used to good looking people, and if he wanted the - non-professional - runway type (as Jaejoong probably assumed) he would've gone to Changmin. The younger man, with his youthful yet mature facade and long legs, was model material (he was even taller than Yunho after all, and Yunho had taken a few seconds to reconcile with that idea after their first meeting). This was an advertisement where the main focus was purely the face, and Jaejoong had a captivating one.
So when he rang the doorbell to the apartment, he was fully prepared to win Jaejoong's willingness to model for his company, no matter how infuriating the man's accusations could be. However, nothing quite prepared him for the view that greeted him at the door.
"You're early," Jaejoong said sulkily, stepping aside so Yunho entered. He blinked as Yunho handed him a tall package wordlessly, the younger man blinking repeatedly back at him. "Are you trying to get me drunk?" When he still didn't get a response, his expression softened and he grinned. "Not quite used to me like this, are you?" He was wearing a Kiss the Cook apron, long black hair tied back into a ponytail with the front clipped to the side. He was dressed in a plain white shirt and black shorts that ended at his knees with slippered feet sliding across the clear tiles of the floor. Yunho vividly recalled the impeccably fashionable Jaejoong (the designer jeans, tailored blazors, scarves, perfectly styled hair) last night and shook his head.
"It's polite to bring a gift to your host, isn't it?" he said, answering the first question. If anything, he felt overdressed. This time, he'd shown up in a simple black buttoned down shirt and grey slacks as opposed to the suit he always wore at work and to Jaejoong's house last night after going straight from the office. And he needed to play it safe - if he mentioned that Jaejoong could pull off looking like one of those cute female leads in the recent Korean dramas he'd probably earn himself a punch to the face and a kick out the door.
"Well as long as you don't have another ridiculous ulterior motive," Jaejoong muttered as he eyed the package almost hungrily, a sight so comical that Yunho smiled, "just put your coat on the couch and come into the kitchen, I'm almost done." He turned the corner into the kitchen area and Yunho did as he was told, glancing around at his surroundings as he propped his light jacket on the armrest.
"What are we eating tonight?" Yunho said as he walked to the edge of a small table that stood behind the counter that separated the living area and the kitchen. Jaejoong's apartment layout was similar to Stephanie's, but smaller.
He whirled around, swinging a ladle. "You just sit down and eat whatever I put in front of you. Your face is so small I have to squint to see it - do you eat properly?"
"My what?" Yunho's eyes widened in indignation.
"Sit!" Jaejoong pulled out a chair and looked at him expectantly. Yunho walked around the table and sat down gingerly, the man behind him tucking the chair back in under him. "You look like you're about to keel over. You know, the kind where you're not even aware of it until you're half-conscious on the floor."
"What does that even mean?" Yunho snapped, surprising himself. He wished Jaejoong didn't try to figure him out everytime he saw him. That was usually Yunho's job.
"It means you're overworked. Have you even looked in a mirror lately?"
"I am not - "
"Uh oh, classic workaholic symptom. Denial." He trudged back to the stove and turned a knob.
"When did you learn how to cook?" Yunho changed the subject. He didn't really want to argue his way through the week, although Jaejoong seemed to be making it inevitable.
"A skill I acquired while living with eight sisters who were completely inept in the kitchen and a set of parents who worked during the day. I can make a lunch box with my eyes closed," he responded with a grin, stirring a concoction that Yunho couldn't see but could smell. Kimchi. And lots of it.
"What made you choose photography as a career then?" Yunho really was just trying to make conversation and he was well aware of how inane his questions were. Maybe because he was unused to conversing with Jaejoong in such a domestic setting. Yeah, that was it.
"Hm? I suppose you could say I was kind of pushed into carrying around a camera." He set the bowls on the other side of the pot on the stove and looked around the counter, a thoughtful biting of his bottom lip drawing Yunho's attention. He suddenly turned to the other man and pointed at the rice cooker at the edge of the counter. "Want to get the rice?"
With a chuckle, Yunho rose from his seat and accepted the two metal bowls that Jaejoong handed him. "Gladly. I thought we'd just be having jigae tonight."
"But it smells damn good, doesn't it?" He looked proud of himself. "It's my own secret recipe."
"Secret?" Yunho eyed the pot dubiously, setting the two bowls of rice down onto the small dining table.
"Oh hush, you," Jaejoong swatted at him with his laddle and Yunho jumped out of the way, letting out a laugh that surprised the both of them. Yunho froze and Jaejoong responded with a wide grin of his own, setting down his weapon of choice and setting the two larger bowls onto two trays. "So you do have a sense of humour, Mr. Jung," he said lightly as he carried one, and then the other, over to the table.
"I wasn't aware I was acting otherwise."
"Oh believe me, you were." Jaejoong then took out several small side dishes from the fridge and arranged it in a half circle by the side of the table. Finally, he placed chopsticks and spoons at the their two respective places and clapped his hands together. "All done! Let's eat."
Yunho took his spot again across from Jaejoong and had to admit the jigae smelled good. The aroma was rich and since he hadn't had time to eat lunch since having breakfast with Yoochun and Junsu this morning - he was too used to skipping breakfast and by the time he'd gone to work he'd been too busy for a lunch break - his stomach was telling him to eat, even though his senses were telling him to be a bit more wary towards the other man.
Then again it wouldn't make sense to poison him in his home, right? That would be an easy way to label himself as the culprit...
Seeing Yunho's reluctant look, Jaejoong sighed and slurped noisily at his own jigae. "There, I didn't do anything weird to it. It all came from the same pot, you saw it yourself." Looking mildly offended, Jaejoong frowned.
With a silent curse to himself, Yunho picked up his spoon. Just because Jaejoong was wildly unpredictable and had personality changes in split seconds, it didn't excuse Yunho's rudeness either. "You're right, I apologize," he raised the spoon to his lips.
"Oh wait, maybe you'd like some water - "
"Shit - " Yunho choked, coughing loudly as his spoon fell with a small splash back into the bowl. This was what he got when he tried to play nice with this man. He slapped a hand over his mouth, wheezing slightly and Jaejoong shot out of his seat, practically running to grab a glass a water for him. By the time he held a clear glass to his lips, Yunho's face was red and his eyes were shining. He gulped down the water and Jaejoong cringed, eyes darting from the incapacitated Yunho to the front door.
He opted for some light teasing. "What kind of Korean are you, Jung Yunho? I thought you'd be able to take it."
"You - " he coughed again, taking another sip of water before he could find his voice. "That's not fit for human consumption," he managed to croak out and coughed again.
Jaejoong blinked and clapped him on his back a few times. "Hey I eat this all the time and I'm still alive. And human, last time I checked. It's okay, just admit it was too hot for you." He sighed dramatically, looking mournfully at Yunho's bowl. "What a waste though, I spent so long on it too..."
"I - " he coughed, " - never said I can't finish it. It just...took me by surprise." That said, he still couldn't help throwing a scared look at the threatening bowl of steaming jigae. Was courtesy really worth giving up his life for?
"Oh really?" A genuine grin split across Jaejoong's face and he laughed, a hand almost instinctively coming up to cover the smile. "Don't push yourself. I probably have some noodles I can whip up for you and I can save that for my lunch tomorrow." Yunho didn't respond, but the blindingly obvious relief on his face sent Jaejoong into another fit of chuckles. "Alright," he stood up and bent down to search amongst the drawers. "I don't usually buy the non-spicy kind but Junsu and Changmin don't like it too spicy either, so you can have that. You can eat some spicyness, right?"
"Of course," Yunho said, picking up his chopsticks to pick at the side dishes. He couldn't help but look slightly insulted. "Like I said, that - " he pointed to the boil with a chopstick, " - is on a whole other level."
"Thank you," Jaejoong pretended to preen and was rather gratified to see the small smile on Yunho's face. Granted he'd had his doubts in the beginning as to whether Yunho could stomach his version of korean cuisine, but the opportunity had been too good to resist.
"You did that on purpose," Yunho said matter-of-factly, abating his hunger with the small side dishes while he waited for Jaejoong to cook the noodles. He didn't feel guilty about making him do more work - Jaejoong had nearly burned his tongue off after all. There went the whole courtesy idea out the window. Yunho pretty much assumed that gave him free rein as a guest in this home.
"Why, Yunho - why would you think that?" He turned to him with the sweetest smile he could muster and the younger man didn't even blink.
He shook his head, knowing he'd never get a straight answer from Jaejoong. Maybe constantly changing the subject was the right way of dealing with this man. "Why did you make this deal with me? I thought I offended you beyond all redemption."
He turned back to the noodles that were simmering in the hot water. "I don't hold grudges?" To be honest, Jaejoong didn't know either.
"So what did you want to get out of this?"
His head shot to the side to stare accusingly at him. "What?"
Yunho blinked and closed his mouth. Then he blinked again. And said slowly, "I want to know what you intend from this decision."
"Funny, because last time I checked, you were the one who needed something out of this. I just want the company."
"I didn't think I'd be on your list of choices for 'good company.'"
"Hey, I said company. I don't know if it's any good yet - though right now, it's proving to be kind of annoying."
Almost on reflex Yunho rolled his eyes, and realizing what he was doing, dropped his head so he stared at the small dishes he had cleaned out in the last few minutes. He was hungrier than he'd thought. "Can I get a refill?"
"...And demanding," Jaejoong muttered before walking to the fridge. "So what'd you do today?"
"What?" The question caught him by surprise and he almost dropped his chopsticks. He expected a lot of things from Jaejoong but a normal conversation starter was not one of them. It escaped him that he'd used the same tactic earlier.
"How. Was. Your. Day?" Jaejoong raised his eyebrows at him as he refilled the small dishes. "I figured if we can avoid arguing at least for the first night, we can set a precedence for the rest of the week. But knowing you, that'd be difficult." Then he sighed dramatically and replaced the plastic cases into the fridge.
"That's the problem," Yunho said thoughtfully, tapping his chopsticks against a dish after having resumed eating. "There was no attempt to get to know each other. And now we're having dinner together."
"Well, there wasn't any need to," Jaejoong said suddenly, reaching beside to pull a drawer open for a bowl. "I'm just going by what I know. Which isn't much. Why is why I asked how your day was."
"I went to work." It was an odd topic, coming from Jaejoong.
"On Sunday?"
"There were a few things I had to finish in the office. So I went to do them."
"See? Workaholic syndrome! What are you, twenty-two? Barely out of university and already working yourself to death. Shame on you," Jaejoong walked over and set the steaming bowl of noodles in front of him before taking his seat.
Yunho shrugged. "It's necessary."
"Really." Jaejoong eyed him dubiously while taking sips from his own bowl. He watched as Yunho practically devoured the noodles, seeing that the side dishes were once again almost depleted. He didn't bother to refill them. "Don't tell me - you're going to take over your company and your father's falling ill right now, your family's slowly falling apart but as long as you're working and the business runs smoothly, you still have control over something despite your rapidly deteriorating - "
"Clearly you've watched too many dramas," Yunho interrupted. "My father's in perfect health and my family get along famously. I just find it pointless if I have nothing to do."
He wrinkled his nose at him. "You probably have enough money to go on several trips around the world and you're complaining you have nothing to do. What happened to settling down with a good book and wasting away an afternoon?"
"There are often more important things than personal satisfaction."
Jaejoong stared at him until Yunho looked up to meet his eyes, a mildly irritated and questioning look on his face. Finally, Jaejoong sighed and gulped down a particularly large portion of his dinner in order to make himself feel better. This man's priorities were so skewed, he deduced, and he figured Yunho needed some major therapy in attaining a social life, or perhaps some invested interest in his personal life. It never quite occured to him that Jung Yunho did not make his decisions lightly. "I don't understand you. I mean, I'm not saying you shouldn't work at all. But there's a difference between working regular hours and spending day and night in your office."
"Does it seem like a pointless existence to you?" Yunho chuckled.
"You tell me."
"It really isn't about the time I spend on the job at all."
"So...you're telling me work hasn't corrupted you to the point where you think condescending to someone at your second meeting is okay?"
It was with some difficulty that Yunho didn't respond with a 'at least I wasn't the one who flung unfounded accusations at someone at my second meeting.' "You were expecting a business proposition and I gave one to you. That's what a businessman does. I wasn't condescending to you."
"Look. I think you were well aware I'm a photographer. My role is to stay behind the lense."
"Regardless, you felt offended because you believed I belittled your career choice. But I still wasn't condescending to you and I never meant to. To be honest, you're the first person to accuse me of that. People often tell me I'm not persuasive enough," he smiled wryly at the thought.
"So why choose to do what you do?"
"It's an office job, not an illegal underground operation." This time he laughed, shaking his head. "It's a family business and I was raised to inherit it. I have no qualms with that and I'm happy doing what I do. Why would you choose photography if you have such a passion for cooking?"
"I only like cooking for - Well, people I know. And like I told you, I just grew to like holding a camera."
"It's the same philosophy for the both of us then."
"Somehow I doubt it," he tilted his head thoughtfully. "I guess."
They wallowed a bit in silence before Jaejoong stood up to take the dirty bowls to the sink. He gestured for Yunho to take a seat on the couch before grabbing two champagne glasses and the tall bottle of wine (another famous and expensive brand) and joining him without bothering to wash the dishes.
Taking a seat, both of them were struck with a sense of deja vu. It was a careful game of avoidance, both trying not to let words and intentionally worded barbs get to them. But this was still too new for them to grow comfortable.
After the glasses were poured and each held one in their hand, Yunho spoke up again. "I would like to know why you asked this of me, Jaejoong. You could've easily ignored my request if it disgusted you so much."
Jaejoong groaned, "you're still hung up on that? Look, I don't know. Seriously!" Seeing Yunho's doubtful look, he shook his head. "Haven't you ever done something on a whim before? This was it. It's not that I have a huge problem against my face plastered on some ad for your company - well, I do but - it was the way you approached it that pissed me off, okay? Maybe if you had asked nicely or hadn't led me to believe you wanted to hire me as a photographer I wouldn't have jumped down your throat."
"So it was in my approach?"
"Yes!"
"I...see." He crossed his legs and leaned back, gazing at the other man thoughtfully. "I apologize for that then."
He stared again.
"I believe in something called a different perspective," Yunho continued, swishing his glass around, "that obviously applies to us. I didn't mean for my offer to sound like a bribe but you took it as one. I didn't mean to sound as though I looked down on you and yet you assumed that of me. There isn't really anyone to blame, is there?"
"Well - "
"The way I see it, this week can go in two ways. We can argue and debate as to the merits or demerits of a career in business, or we can make the most of it and leave with a congenial acquaintanceship between us. And although it seems pointless to try to get to know each other, I wouldn't mind making a friend. Although you can be infuriating at times." And he actually did mean it, and was amused at how takenback the other man was at his words.
"I..." Jaejoong fell silent and mulled over what had just transpired. It wasn't like he hated the guy. And Yunho, as much as it grated on his nerves, was right. This was a matter of perspective and personal bias. Jaejoong could still recall the way Yunho had approached him at Dong Bang Shin Ki and he had sulked for days before making prank calls to him at his office, of which he was still rather ashamed of. "So are you," he grumbled finally, downing his drink.
Yunho smiled. "I admit, I can be too."
"You really know how to turn on the charm," he muttered, pouring himself another glass.
"I try," he responded easily, almost smirking.
With a shiver, Jaejoong decided that being around this guy required the utmost sense of self-preservation. Even with all his talk of acquaintanceships and congeniality. "I...guess we just got off on the wrong foot. But both times was totally your fault."
"If you want to believe that, that's fine with me."
"...Shut up."
~*~*~
Later that night, long after Yunho had left and Jaejoong had thrown a pillow at him right before the door closed ("I can see you took my advice about the eyeliner - " "I just didn't want to dress up for you") he lounged on the couch, feet propped up with an arm under his head, staring thoughtfully at the ceiling. He was thinking of how to surreptitiously serve Yunho another scaldingly spicy dish when his cell phone rang, Junsu's voice bursting in song disrupting the comfortable silence in his flat.
Groaning he reached over with his other arm to the small coffee table and flipped it open, not bothering to check the number. If it was Junsu's management company he mentally swore he was going to tear them apart the next he saw them. "Hello?"
"Jaejoong hyung?"
Instantly, he sat up, concern seizing him rather than the mild annoyance from before. The soft, timid voice was entirely unlike his dongsaeng and he frowned. "What's wrong? I thought you went clubbing with Junsu and his - "
"Yeah, I just. Came back on my own. I wasn't feeling very well."
Jaejoong sighed exasperatedly. Changmin and Yunho were obviously people of the same yolk. "I hope you don't drive yourself to exhaustion just because of an assignment due a week later," 'like a certain someone,' he added to himself with a eye roll.
"No...I think I just came down with something. I...Jaejoong hyung? Did we do the right thing for Junsu? I mean - "
Well this inquiry didn't really come as a surprise to Jaejoong. "Out of everyone, you know him best, Changmin. Even I didn't notice much of his - Well, I think you did what you believed to be the best. And Junsu's doing just fine right now, isn't he?"
"That's...the thing. I don't know. I feel like Junsu would've been better off not coming to Dong Bang Shin Ki. I could've found another way - "
"Changmin?"
"Yes?"
"If this ends badly, we're both to blame. I agreed to help as much as you set this in motion, so don't even think about blaming yourself. Also, Junsu needed our help because he...was nearing his limit. But he's still an adult and he can take care of himself. If he didn't like what we were doing, he would tell us. So don't worry so much okay? You know Junsu would come to you if he has any problems." Changmin was silent and Jaejoong's tone softened. "Just get some rest so you'll be well and not make Junsu worry."
"...Okay. You're...right."
"Of course I am. Go sleep. I'll drop by tomorrow to make sure you haven't worried yourself sick about this."
"Don't have work to do?" The considerably lighter and teasing tone made Jaejoong smile.
"You're worth more than a few pictures and a couple thousand won. But no, I don't have work."
"Thanks, hyung. As long as it's not inconvenient - "
"It would be more inconvenient if you woke up and forget to eat because you have no food in that apartment of yours. Like what happened last time - "
"Ah..right. I'll see you tomorrow then, hyung."
He could hear the barely concealed smile in the other's voice and he replied with the same sentiments, hanging up only after the other had done so. He fell backwards onto his back, cell phone clutched tightly in one hand. Changmin was one of the most emotionally controlled people he knew and if what he said about Junsu was true...He decided against calling Junsu; it was late and he might still be at the club. But Jaejoong decided that he definitely needed a little talk with his other dongsaeng.
~*~*~*~
He couldn't take the silence anymore. Junsu snuck a glance at Yoochun's face and was met with a thoughtful expression - an expression that had been driving him crazy for the past ten minutes since they'd arrived back at Dong Bang Shin Ki after dropping Stephanie off. It was two in the morning - he had felt a lot better after throwing caution to the wind and just concentrated on having fun with Stephanie, careful to ignore Yoochun and his ever changing dance partners - and he was exhausted. So he really wasn't in the mood for tension and discomfort between them right now and if only Yoochun would say something. Anything. Preferably something Junsu wanted him to say, like a more legitimate excuse for completely ditching their party to grind against women - a better excuse than 'that's just the way he is.'
Because Junsu was pretty sure he should've been satisfied with that response (he had no right to complain) but he wasn't and that meant he had to admit something to himself he really didn't want to admit.
So when he finally saw Yoochun open his mouth, he almost breathed a sigh of relief out loud before he caught himself.
"What's wrong?"
"Huh?" JUnsu stared at Yoochun in confusion, mouth hanging slightly open. Fingers that were unbuttoning his shirt froze.
Yoochun frowned back at him, his concern now visible. "You've been pretty quiet since we left SM."
"Well - " God help him now, because Yoochun had decided that unbuttoning his sticky shirt was too much trouble and had pulled it right over his head. Or maybe it was to God's blessing that Yoochun didn't wear anything underneath and anything Junsu was about to say flew right out of his head. He settled with a noncommittal "Hm..." and tried not to dive under the bed in embarrassment.
The other man raised an eyebrow at him and he smiled weakly back. "Tired. Just...tired. Tonight was fun but, um, tiring." He received a very nice grin for his efforts and that jumpstarted his brain, while a deliciously shirtless Yoochun crossed the room for a towel for his shower. He tried not to salivate and with some effort, averted his eyes. To be polite. Yeah.
"So...you and Stephanie together now?"
His eyes snapped back to him in shock. That definitely hadn't been the conclusion Junsu had expected Yoochun to reach. "What?"
Yoochun frowned again. "Are you guilty about it or something, is that why you've been so quiet?"
"I - No!"
"Because it's okay, you know. Steph and I...did you hear about us from someone? The kid? We're totally over, totally friends - "
"Yes - I mean, no, you've - "
"And I can see why you'd, you know. Because she's a total hottie."
Junsu shut his mouth, before he asked hesitantly, almost brokenly, "So, you - I mean, you think she's...attractive?"
"Of course." Granted, Yoochun completely missed the way Junsu deflated at that comment, but he was bent over digging around to find his sleeping clothes and Junsu wasn't about to complain at the nice view he had while half sprawled on the bed, where he'd collapsed after the shock of - Yoochun thinking - "we dated after all. But I've learned my lesson." He punctuated this with a laugh that sounded forced even to Junsu's ears. "She's my best friend, like a hot little sister that I've got to protect from the big bad wolves out there. But I trust you, Junsu. You'd be good for her - well, good for each other. She's a great girl. And you're a good person." He finally turned around with an old T-shirt and sweatpants balled into his right hand and the towel slung over his shoulder, and stared right back.
Junsu blinked as Yoochun fell silent, a stare trained right at his face. Almost like they were engaged in a war of looks, but he was unsure as to what the prize was. Yoochun acted and sounded like he was trying to convince himself what he said was true, but Stephanie didn't sound like she had misinterpreted the way their relationship, as she had described it, had crashed and burned. She clearly believed that conclusion was mutual between both parties. So why would Yoochun...Finally, he let out a tired chuckle and the other man jumped. He grinned. "We're just frends, Yoochun."
"Then..." He felt confusion weaken his resolve, he felt thousands of questions rising up inside him, but he could only croak, "at the club...?"
"Well," Junsu tilted his head to the side, almost to stare up at him challengingly.
'Challenging what?' Yoochun thought.
"It's like the way you seem to enjoy your female partners so much."
Such a lighthearted tone but almost like a stinging barb. Yoochun tried not to wince.
"I was feeling...upset about Changmin leaving. He wasn't feeling well and he didn't tell me. Stephanie was there at the right time, she was just listening to me complain. Nothing more. Does that reassure you?" Junsu smiled slowly, feeling a guilty pleasure at Yoochun shifting uncomfortably on his feet. Suddenly, he didn't really care whether Yoochun still liked Stephanie or if it was was brotherly concern as he had claimed, or if he was simply being nosy. Junsu was too tired for this. He needed a good night's rest before he started to train himself to stop keeping his hopes up, to stop jumping in Yoochun's presence, to stop...
"Well...then...you can tell me too," came the impossibly soft, almost vulnerable response, and Junsu felt his resolve crashing.
'Stop! Please just stop - '
"It wasn't anything really important and I'm over it now. Thanks though," Junsu replied quickly and rolled over on the comforter, smashing his head face first into the bed. "Why don't you take a shower first?" came the muffled response. There was a silence, before he heard a small laugh and an almost inaudible agreement, before feet trudged slowly out of the room and he let himself relax.
Quickly he sat up again, closing his eyes before taking a few deep breaths. He was going to break soon. And he definitely didn't want Yoochun around when that happened.