Beauty and the Beast | Chapter 8/?
Beauty and the Beast
Author: love_cassiopeia
Summary: Jung Yunho - a gifted and successful actor. Kim Jaejoong - Yunho's biggest fan. After receiving the task to interview Yunho for his journalism assignment, Jaejoong realizes that his favourite actor just might transform him from a "fan" into something much more.
Rated: PG-13 ~ NC-17
Disclaimer: I don’t own the five members, I’m simply borrowing them.
Warning(s): NC-17 material, language
Genre: Romance/Comedy
Pairing(s): YunJae
Chapter 8: Cherry Caramel Chocolate Sundae
8.
Cherry Caramel Chocolate Sundae
Bora Bora Lagoon Resort and Spa. 5:25 PM Bora Bora
I held my breath, hoping for the best as the tall Korean man approached us. I crossed my fingers, wishing that he was indeed not a reporter who had followed us all the way here. The strange man held out a pen and a memo pad, carefully approaching Yunho and me.
“Jung Yunho-sshi, it is such a pleasure to meet you!” The man spoke nervously as he advanced toward the actor. “May I have your autograph, please?”
Yunho and I exchanged looks, completely aware of man’s motives. I exhaled deeply as I realized the man was only a mere fan, not a reporter.
Yunho received the pen and memo pad the man offered him, carefully proceeding to his signing.
“To…?” Yunho asked, designating the man to give out his name.
“Park Yoochun.” The stranger indicated, a goofy grin on his lips.
“To Park Yoochun…” Yunho spoke as he wrote, inscribing his signature below the man’s name. He handed the autograph to the man with a slight grin, causing the man to jump up and down in enthusiasm.
“Oh my god, thank you so much Jung Yunho-sshi!” Yoochun yelled, almost hurting my fragile eardrums. After his moment of exhilaration passed, the tall man scanned across Yunho to me, a curiously look in his eyes.
“And who must you be?” He asked, indicating to me.
“I’m Kim Jaejoong.” I clarified. “I’m Yunho’s… uh…”
“Assistant.” Yunho finished for me, knowing I didn’t have a slight idea in mind. I thanked him silently in my heart, knowing that he had backed me up, once again.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jaejoong-sshi.” He held out his hand for a handshake which I replied, trying to be as professional as possible with the fake title of ‘Jung Yunho’s assistant.’
“I’m Park Yoochun, the owner of this hotel and a tour guide of Bora Bora.” He explained, astonishing Yunho and me entirely. “My hometown is Seoul, but I’ve managed to move here to continue my career as a tour guide.” He explained further in depth. “I know how to speak English, Korean, French, Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Spanish… oh the list goes on and on! That’s why I’m the tour guide of this island! Great, isn’t it?”
I observed the man from head to toe as he continued rambling-probably about something negligible. He wore a colourful Hawaiian-style shirt and a pair of khaki shorts, putting him into the ‘island groove.’ The hair which reached his shoulders was dark, messy, and wavy, making me wonder if he was really Korean after all. After scanning the man through, I felt a strong urge to laugh at his absurd appearance. I covered my mouth to forestall any laughter which was dying to escape.
Yunho, wanting to stop the talkative man from going any further with his monologue, held a bothered expression. “Excuse me, Mr. Park. If you’re really the owner of this hotel, why don’t you check the two of us into rooms?” He asked generously, trying his best to hold back the uprising of anger.
“Why of course!” Yoochun replied optimistically. “This hotel is such a peaceful resort, if you know what I mean. It even has its own swimming pool and spa! Oh, and there’s a gym as well, in case you need one, you know…” He continued talking as he took the two of us to the front desk, preparing to provide us with shelter during our stay.
“Well, that’s always nice, isn’t it?” I answered Yoochun when Yunho wouldn’t. The actor was too occupied digging through his luggage in search for his wallet.
“Will the two of you be staying in two separate rooms?” The hotel owner inquired, the question unanswerable.
“That wouldn’t be necessary.” Yunho spoke before I could, astonishing me. “We’ll just need two beds in one room, that’s all.”
Yoochun understood the actor to the last statement. He typed a few words into his computer, putting the two of us into his database. “Since you’re one of my favourite actors, I won’t charge you any money for your stay.” He elucidated, a large grin on his lips. “I’ll be honored to have you staying here, so don’t worry about paying me.”
Yunho’s enticing smile enlarged as he put away his wallet. I bowed respectfully to the hotel owner, showing him my gratefulness for his humane actions.
“Thank you so much, Yoochun-sshi.” Yunho bowed to the loquacious man, showing appreciation him for his hospitality.
The hotel owner pulled out two card keys from his drawer, and gave one to each of us. The two of us accepted it favorably, thanking the Korean man whole-heartedly.
“There’s just one thing…” The actor indicated before we were sent upstairs. “Could you make sure that I’m shielded from the paparazzi, if there are any?”
I knew where Yunho was going with this, so I offered to propose a justification. “He’s on vacation here, so he doesn’t want any interruptions.” I hoped my words would help clear up the fog which appeared thickly before Yoochun. I didn’t want the outside world to intrude on our vacation; in the end, I wanted Yunho all to myself.
“Consider it done!” Yoochun appeared overjoyed despite the added task. “I’ll set up a hotel surveillance system right away! Our hotel’s technology is quite amazing. We even borrowed devices used by the CIA themselves so we can monitor who goes in and out of the hotel. This way, we can guarantee our tourists a wonderful stay.”
I chuckled, realizing that Yoochun was nearly a walking commercial. The way he advertised his hotel would certainly guarantee him a position on screen.
It felt rude to cut into Yoochun’s long rants, so I left Yunho to do the dirty work for me.
“Thank you Yoochun-sshi for all your help.” Yunho cut in hastily while Yoochun was still amidst his long yet meaningless monologues. “But we really must get settled in our hotel room and put down our all of our luggage.”
The frenzied Yoochun nodded. “Of course!” He agreed. “Enjoy your stay, Yunho and Jaejoong-sshi!”
I was appreciative of the Korean man, first for offering us a free room, and then for providing a hotel surveillance system to keep out unwanted business. It was amazing how anyone would act so orderly in the presence of a celebrity. It completely dumbfounded me how much impact Yunho had on normal, everyday people.
The two of us were determined to head up to our rooms-or room, to be specific. I expected Yunho to be cold-hearted and ruthless, pushing me aside into a minor separate room and allowing himself to enjoy his privacy in the larger suite. I had no idea that he wanted my company during this vacation. The erratic actions from the merciless actor completely made me feel as if I was on another planet.
I rode the elevator with Yunho up to our high floor. We immediately found the location of our room, and slid our keys in to unlock the wooden door. We were completely relieved when we entered the suite, finding two beds to reside our weary bodies upon.
Yunho sank into his bed immediately as the two of us entered. The room dumbfounded me, its luxury matching up to the one in Paris. I lifted the curtains and glanced out to witness the spectacular view below us. This time, the sight wasn’t of a city covered in gold, but of the vast, blue, ocean.
Desiring Yunho to observe the extravagant sight, I urged him to follow in my footsteps. To my misfortune, he wouldn’t budge, still nailed to the bed like a lazy animal that hadn’t slept in weeks.
I shook my head at the fickle entertainer, wanting to label the man ‘cute.’ However, a part of me reminded myself that the brutal man wouldn’t treasure that title one bit, leaving me with no other choice but to refer to him as ‘beast.’
I chuckled a bit as such unnecessary thoughts sailed through my mind. Mimicking Yunho, I laid myself on the other mattress, planning to catch some rest before the two of us left to explore the island.
I glared over at Yunho, who was now fast asleep. “Yah, Actor Jung Yunho-sshi.” I spoke politely, yet mischievously at the same time. “Don’t sleep too long! We’ve still got an adventure on this island ahead of us!”
The sleeping figure was irresponsive, making my eyes roll. I prepared myself for a short nap as I took off my jacket, sinking into the mattress heavily as the gentle material caught me. I was looking forward to waking up, still marveled that I would be spending time on this island-on this fantasy trip-with no other than him.
Before I fell asleep completely, I heard Yunho murmur a short statement in his sleep, almost like he was sleep talking.
“Don’t’ call me Actor Jung Yunho-sshi…” He droned on soullessly. “My name is Yunho…”
6:50 PM Bora Bora
It was nearly dusk by the time the two of us had awoken. Our bodies desired for us to stay in bed, but our minds were eager to taste the spirit of this beautiful island. Our stomachs were growling, a sign to us that we haven’t eaten properly since the pretzels and peanuts on the airplane. However, the two of us were challenged with a new dilemma when we both sought different ideas for our evening dining. I was terribly hungry, and yearned for the proper food to nourish my desperate stomach.
“I said, we can eat barbeque back at home in Korea, there’s no need to eat it here!” Yunho offered me propaganda, forcing me to agree on his behalf.
“It’s island barbeque that I’m talking about, not Korean!” I shouted as we reached the hotel lobby, pointing out my correct ideals. “And besides… you don’t even know what the seafood here tastes like! You might not even like it.”
The actor sighed, sick of my arguments. “That’s just it! I want to try something different! Is that too much to ask for?” He glanced away, unwilling to hear my opinions. “Barbeque reminds me of Seoul. I’m on a vacation to escape that city. I really don’t need anything to get me sidetracked.”
I stared at him with a piercing glare. “What about me, huh? What about my opinions? I miss Seoul, and not to mention, I’m fucking hungry!” I yelled stubbornly, bringing out the height of my hunger through my livid words.
“Well, ‘Reporter Kim Jaejoong-sshi,’” He impersonated, making my nerves pop. “I’m fucking hungry too, and I want to eat seafood!”
“Barbeque!” I contradicted.
“Seafood!” He repeated.
“Barbeque!”
“Seafood!”
“Baaaarrrbeeeeqquuuee!”
“Seeeaaafoood!”
“Bar-”
The hotel owner, Park Yoochun, noticed the two of us arguing and immediately came to our aid. I was completely sure he was worried that our little ‘chatter’ would frighten the other guests away, and came to stop us before our conversation got out of hand.
“Now, now, there’s no need to fight.” Yoochun consoled as if we were five year old toddlers. “Mr. Park has a solution for everyone!” He spoke his words farcically, making me gag. “There’s an eatery that serves both gourmet island barbeque and seafood downtown. I can take the two of you there, if you wish.”
I exchanged looks with Yunho, completely relieved that Yoochun had come to our rescue before our argument had gotten completely out of control.
“Really, would you do that?” I asked, the luster in my eyes filled with hope.
“Of course!” The hotel manager remarked, utter enthusiasm in his voice. “Anything for my favourite actor and his assistant!”
Yunho and I smirked, thankful for the talkative man’s help. I was sure Yoochun had resided on this island for quite a while, so it was only natural he knew how to solve the tourists’ difficult deadlocks.
Having our agreement, Yoochun led us outside to his car-a luxurious bright red convertible. My eyes widened in shock as I laid my eyes on the spectacular vehicle. The time spent with Yunho was really starting to bring me into a life of extravagance. The thought of it brought an impish grin to my lips.
Yoochun drove the two of us out of hotel grounds and into the peaceful town of Bora Bora. The gentle ocean breeze blew past us, making us shiver in tranquil comfort. Beside our road lay the stunning Pacific Ocean, now reflecting the nightfall from the sky into its waters.
It felt so right, being here with Yunho; so relaxed, so carefree. If only I was brave enough to lean an inch closer to him, then my selfish desires would be completely fulfilled.
Our car went downhill and entered the town square. There were no tall buildings, no pollution, and certainly no tall apartment housing areas. The ocean air engulfed small shops and boutiques, each one looking like they had been built hundreds of years ago.
Yoochun maneuvered through the many shops and cafés until he found our destination. The actor and I departed the vehicle, waving a goodbye and expressing our gratitude as the kind-hearted man left us. The two of us proceeded into the small restaurant, our stomachs suffering even more as the delicious scent of food penetrated our noses.
A waitress of the eatery kindly led us to a small two-person table. The table was ornamented with a candle and a rose as the centerpiece. All of the other lights of the restaurant were shut, leaving only the candles to light up the dark atmosphere.
Yunho received a menu from the waitress and began to look through the large booklet. I was awed, judging by how marvelous he appeared in the dim candlelight. The dim glow brought his brunette hair to a dark shade of chocolate, enticing the life out of me. His tan skin appeared caramel in my eyes, dipped with a hint of cherry from his desirable lips.
Cherries, chocolate, and caramel… yum.
There Yunho was, an entirely scrumptious ice-cream sundae placed right in front of me. He looked so enticing that I almost wanted devour every last piece of him.
Fuck barbeque and seafood, I had a whole gourmet meal in front of me to enjoy.
Exotic smells blended sinfully together with his cologne, making my body paralyzed and my senses numbed. Just being with him was enough to lift me to the gates of heaven, my skin tingling just to receive contact with his touch and my lips beseeching for his.
The dim restaurant brought Yunho’s seduction to a higher level, leaving me breathless. Completely worn out from our plane ride to the island, the two of us ordered what we desired from the multi-variety menu. The actor ordered a seafood platter while I was drawn by the island barbequed beef. Within moments, our plates arrived at our small table, the food glistening and our stomachs growling.
An island cocktail had come along with our meal, one that contained a small amount of alcohol. With my inner pervert claiming the best of me, I had wondered inquisitively how the two of us would react if we both ended up drunk.
I ignored the thought as I dug into my plate. The barbeque beef was enticing me (although, not as much as Yunho did) with its savory smells and tender texture. With a fork in one hand and a knife in another, I consumed a large portion of the beef instantly, pleasing my aching stomach.
Shoving the piece of beef down my throat, I realized that I had no clue how to use a fork and a knife. With the majority of my life spent in Korea, I was only acquainted to using chopsticks and spoons. The actor before me however, seemed very familiar with a fork and a knife. Of course-he’s lived in luxury for his entire life, why not use a fork and a knife to show off your high status?
I let the flavour of the beef sink into my tongue, hoping to taste a wonderful blend of spices and herbs. I was overwhelmed however, when the taste of the beef didn’t meet my standards, not giving my taste buds what they desired.
I glanced hungrily onto Yunho’s plate, wondering if the seafood before him would please my appetite. I wanted to taste it horribly. After all, we were on an island; why not enjoy some of its fresh local delicacies?
“Mind if I have a piece?’ I spoke with an unhesitant voice, letting my fork lead my way over to the seafood dish. He agreed, allowing me full access to his plate.
I picked up a piece of scallop and devoured it, its flavour surprisingly richer than the barbeque beef I ordered. I shoved another one inside my mouth, wishing I would’ve ordered Yunho’s dish instead of mine.
He looked hungrily at my plate, a bit hesitantly, I could tell. “May I have a taste of yours as well?” He asked, mimicking my previously-said words. I agreed, letting Yunho the freedom of taking whatever he desired.
The two of us sat in silence for a few moments. I had no desire to eat my barbeque beef-it was rare and over-seasoned for my taste, and I wished that I could somehow exchange my plate for Yunho’s.
“Do you want to exchange plates?” The two of us spoke concurrently, making our tentative points clear. I sighed, relieved that the actor felt the same as I did.
“My seafood tastes a bit strange, I prefer your barbeque beef a lot more.” He confessed nervously.
I nodded, showing my side of the story. “My beef… it’s too rare. I would rather have your seafood as well.”
The two of us exchanged our plates fervently, a blush on our cheeks and our voice refusing to choke out any words. It felt a bit awkward, being so casual with such a brilliant actor. Did this mean I was actually his friend? Was I perhaps a bit more than just a mere fan?
I dug into the seafood, telling myself that my assumptions were incorrect. I had a tendency to be excessively friendly with everyone I met, putting Yunho as an obvious victim. However, I was discontented, even if I was gladly given the term ‘friend’ as a title. I desired more, much more. With the cherry caramel chocolate sundae placed right before me, I lusted nothing more but to be awarded the title of a ‘lover.’
I considered it impossible though. Not only was Yunho completely heterosexual, but he had also ignored all sights of love to begin with. He had no idea what love could possibly mean, putting me up as an obvious target for rejection. The closest I’ll ever get to him is being his friend-nothing more, nothing less. The thought was ready to bring frustration to my countenance, torturing my emotions while it poked at my nerves.
“Have you ever had girlfriend before?” My mouth released the seven words so swiftly that my mind couldn’t even recall coming up with them. “You might as well be honest with me, since I’m your reporter after all.”
Taking a sip of his cocktail, he furrowed his brows. “I told you not to ask me about such things, remember?”
“But Yunho, this is not for my article, it’s for me.” I confessed genuinely. I couldn’t help but be a little curious. After all, I was a fanatic fan-girl-oops, boy.
He exhaled, a sign that he was ready to open up to me. “I-I…” He wavered, still in predicament whether he should actually tell me the truth. “I’ve never really felt attracted to anyone.” He acknowledged. “So no, I’ve never been in a relationship.”
I smiled, my predictions completely correct. I was getting sharper everyday.
“But you must’ve had some sort of affection for someone, right?” I asked, engrossed in our conversation. “I mean… even when you were a child?”
He scoffed, making me feel as if I had spoken the wrong words.
“There was no time for ‘affection’ during my childhood.” He remarked impassively. “I was discovered by the agency when I was ten years old, taking my childhood away from me completely. I watched in jealousy at the other children riding their bicycles while I was forced into commercials and small television castings. My family along with the agency believed that it would ensure my future as an actor if I started out at a young age. What they didn’t know was that the job was stripping every emotion I had away from me, and putting me into such a dark atmosphere.”
I mentally punched myself in the head. If I had known this earlier, I would’ve understood his obscure deeds of ignoring me and shutting me off from his world instead of going berserk over it. My heart truly sympathized for him-an emotion which I expected I would never have. The spectacular actor whom everyone in Korea was after wasn’t so spectacular after all.
I stopped eating, putting my full attention towards him. “I’m sorry, Yunho.” I apologized, not for his forgiveness, but to show compassion for the man. “I’m sure the agency wanted you start your career early only because you were the best looking kid on the block!” I flattered him, letting my mouth spill my every thought. “The agency did not do this to harm you, I promise. They did it to bring you here, to where you are today: the most talented actor in Korea!”
He shook his head, slamming his fork onto the table. “Y-You don’t understand, Jaejoong. You’re always so deceived by the outside world that you don’t give a damn about my inner desires.” His words stung, making me feel like a relentless sadist.
“The agency ruined me! They took away all my chances to love, much less to live! Those emotions captured on the screen, they were absolutely fake! I can’t find myself to act romantic or passionate in front anyone anymore. I couldn’t receive any sort of communication while I was training, and that kept me closed off from everyone, even my family.”
I wanted to meet my hands with his shoulder so I could offer him a bit of comfort. However, the least I could do was to let him speak, hoping he would vent as much rage as he could without blowing head off and going completely insane.
“…That’s why I chose to go on this vacation.” He clarified. “I needed time for myself, to realize who ‘Jung Yunho’ really is.” He smiled, a trace of hope on his visage. “I plan to quit acting as soon as I’m finished with this vacation. I just can’t take it anymore.”
I gasped, hoping the words he spoke were complete lies. “No way!” I almost choked on a piece of crab. “That’s a lie!”
“I’m being completely honest. I can’t lie when I’m sitting down.” He smarted off, making me eye him furiously.
“Ha ha, very funny.” I spoke sardonically. Yunho should be a comedian after he ends his career as an actor. Junsu would take a liking to him since he was always interested in those old-man jokes.
“Never less, ending your career as an actor is insane!” I argued, hoping he would understand. “I’ll tell you who the real ‘Jung Yunho’ is! He’s an amazing actor whom so many look up to. He’s the source of hope for some, and even a hero in the entertainment industry. I, for one, am going to do all that I can to stop this Jung Yunho from quitting his job.”
He refused to look at me, irritated at my words. “Well, I can’t have the cake and eat it too, can I?” He asked. “It’s either isolation from life or isolation from acting. And I choose the latter.”
I wanted lecture him for bringing up such unnecessary topics during our serene dinner. “Let’s not talk about this anymore.” I commanded, sick of his incoherent words. “You’re on a vacation to escape all that, remember? So why bring it up all of a sudden?”
He shrugged, nonchalant of his obvious mistake.
“Let’s talk about this when we get home, okay?” I suggested. “Right now, we need to enjoy as much of this vacation as we can.” I stated the truth, hoping he would agree with me. “Everything will be figured out, I promise. I guarantee that your life will be a lot brighter after this vacation, whether it includes acting or not.”
He linked his eyes with mine, showing me his overwhelming amount of concern. And for the first time, I could finally see a full smile light up on his attractive complexion.
I hope this chapter satisfied the readers who were demanding for more YunJae. Yunho has opened up greatly to Jaejoong, and that's a start towards building up their relationship, no?
And Yoochun... XD Perhaps I made him more unattractive than he really is...
Hope you enjoyed it! Please comment if you have the time. Constructive criticism is always welcome.
P.S. Does anyone know how to make a trailer for a fic? I've seen it done a lot on LJ these days. I would appreciate it if someone taught me or made one for me. =D
~Cindy
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8