Falling For You Chapter 2
new poster by Walin, beautiful isn't it. Thank you hun you do such wonderful work (=
beta-ed by moon1084, thank you hun, i know it's work beta-ing these chapters and I can't tell how thankful I am
for your hard work. -.-
Yunho bounded the steps the next morning. The sun was shining through the window at the bottom of the staircase. He ran his fingers through his still damp hair, then down to his cheek, rubbing the fresh shaven areas.
His grin was big. The meeting from yesterday still fresh in his mind.
The young man had walked into his home and sat on his sofa and then continued to turn his everyday dull, monotonous life upside down and inside out. And he loved it.
Though he didn't like that his father's old friend would soon pass, he couldn't help but think that heaven was raining down its blessings onto him.
Ever since he found out that he would be marrying the boy, he hadn't really thought of the wealth that he would be gaining along with the marriage. All he could think of was the shy, well mannered boy. How his eyes seemed to shine, how his lips tipped up at the corners of his wide mouth, how his short black hair brushed the sides of his neck, and that gloriously pale, alabaster skin that was so smooth looking. He could tell it would be heaven to touch just by looking at it.
He smiled to himself as he walked into the dining room. Yes, he was indeed a lucky man he thought.
Walking over to the table he sat as one of the kitchen maids placed a plate of ham and cheese omelet and sliced melon along with coffee and orange juice, in front of him. Yunho dug in with gusto, trying to fill his raging appetite.
He had just laid down his fork and picked up his half empty cup of coffee when Yoochun and Changmin walked in to join him, also getting the same for breakfast.
Yunho leaned back and watched his cousins as they ate. He decided he would tell them now instead of waiting until it was too late.
"Well guys, it seems I'm to be married soon."
At Yunho's unexpected announcement, the room went quiet. Changmin was looking at Yunho over a fork full of egg, and Yoochun had just picked up his orange juice when he jerked at the news, spilling a bit on his wrist.
Yoochun's brow furrowed, as he carefully set the glass back down and picked up a napkin to wipe off the sweet juice, "Married? To whom? I haven't noticed you dating?"
Yunho smiled at his cousin's confused face, "Well, remember the boy that came with Seung Chu yesterday?"
Yoochun's eyes widened, and then narrowed, a smile lurked at the edge of his mouth, "You're going to marry him? How did you get so lucky, Yunho?" Yoochun brought the cup to his mouth and drank as he watched his cousin. He looked especially happy today. Of course, if he had been told he would be marrying that beauty, he would be happy too.
Changmin, the more serious one, filled his mouth with egg as he listened to the two older ones talk. Reaching over, he took a sip of coffee as he pushed his glasses up with a long finger, clearing his throat at the same time, "So why are you getting married? You never gave any indication that you wanted to settle down anytime soon."
"It's for a family friend. He's passing soon and wants his wife to be safe. So he asked me to marry Jae when he's gone." Yunho sighed, he still felt bad for Seung Chu, but, he didn't want to dwell on the fact that the only way he was marrying this outstanding creature was because Seung Chu was dying.
While thoughts twirled in his head the doorbell rang.
Yunho picked up his napkin, wiping his mouth as he rose and walked to the door.
Opening, he saw Seung Chu on the other side.
"Seung Chu. What brings you here this morning?" Yunho opened the door wider to invite the elder man inside, while bowing to him.
Seung Chu entered, smiling. Today, so far, has been a good day. He hasn't hurt as much as he usually does. He chuckled, "And a fine day it is!" He laughed as he shook Yunho's hand.
Yunho led his guest into the living room. Motioning him over to the couch, "Have a seat, Seung Chu." as Yunho took the chair across from the couch, facing his guest.
Yunho leaned back, "So what can I do for you today?"
Seung Chu grinned at the young man. What he wouldn't give to be that young again. Shaking the though from his mind, he got on with what he came here for.
"I would like for you to move in with us, Yunho." Seung Chu laughed as Yunho's eyebrows shot up.
Yunho sat straight up, "Move in with you? You mean like now?"
Seung Chu nodded his white head, "Yes. Not today, because I'm going to talk to Jae today, but perhaps sometime this week. I want him to get used to you before he has to marry you. You can understand, right?" Seung Chu watched Yunho as he came to his feet.
Yunho walked over to the window and stared out at the hedge of flowers that bordered the yard.
Yunho turned his head, "I have my cousins here, and they move with me where ever I go. If it's ok to bring them along, I can move in three days time."
Seung Chu stood up and walked over to his young friend. He patted him on the back, "That's fine. I know this is sudden, but, I have a reason to believe that I need to get this settled as soon as possible. I think I have less time than the doctors think. I have already drawn up the will and everything is set. Yunho, you have no idea how much this means to me. To know that that boy will be safe, he will have someone to lean on after I'm gone."
Yunho bowed his head, a frown showing as he thought of the nice man not being here any longer.
It's true, he hadn't seen Seung Chu since his father's funeral four years ago, but, he was still family to him. And for a moment, someone other than the raven haired beauty occupied his thoughts.
Yunho turned to the older man, "I'm sorry Seung Chu. I really wish there was something more that I can do for you."
Seung Chu squeezed Yunho's shoulder, "You are doing everything that I need you to do, Yunho. Just take care of Jaejoong. You two are still young enough, maybe you can fall in love with each other over time. Everyone needs to be loved and what's the use of marriage at your age if love is not in it?" Seung Chu waved his hand at the question he could see forming in Yunho's eyes, "I know, I know, but our marriage was different. I saved those boys lives, other wise they would have starved to death. Jaejoong, when he came home with me, suffered from severe malnutrition. The boy barely weighed eighty pounds soaking wet. I was sickened at the state of Jaejoong and his little brothers. Not only starving, but they hadn't bathed in weeks. All three had lice and their bodies where just filthy. Their clothing ragged, torn, and barely covering their thin bodies. How could I not agree to buy them? How could I not take them with me? Not feed them, cloth them? Those boys bloomed under my care. They were country bumpkins. Not educated. My staff and I worked hard to get them educated to high school level. They are smart. Smarter than they thought they were for sure. Jae has a flare for the culinary arts. He can whip up the most complicated dishes with no trouble at all. Junsu and Kibum are the same. They followed in their brothers footsteps and enrolled at the institute with him. They've only been there for a few months, but, are doing quite nicely."
Seung Chu's eyes beamed with pride, like a father who watched his son graduate from school. Yunho could tell he really cared for these boys.
"Seung Chu, where is Jaejoong now?" Yunho asked as he walked Mr. Lee to the front door.
The older man turned and smiled, "He's at school. He'll be home around three. I'll talk to him around five this evening." Seung Chu sighed as he looked up at the blue sky, then back at Yunho as they walked to his car, "I'll see you in three days time and bring your cousins because we have plenty of room."
Yunho watched as Seung Chu climbed into his car and drove off. He turned and walked back into the house. A lot will change in the next few days, he mused. Yunho turned to tell his cousins the news.
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Jaejoong
Jaejoong stood over the grill in the school, as he grilled up his favorite peppercorn encrusted tenderloin steaks.
He was secretly happy that today was a free cooking day.
He tended to the steaks while his brothers, Junsu was busy whipping up the meringue for the key lime pie and Kibum who was putting the salad together by making the medley of roasted veggies for their lunch.
He signed as he heard the low whispering coming form the other students again. It always happened; he should be used to it.
Junsu, still whipping the stiffened egg whites and sugar, walked over to him, Kibum already on the other side of him, checking the vegetables.
Junsu frowned, his brown eyes filled with anger, "Jaejoong, doesn't it ever get on your nerves?" He asked as he looked behind him to the other people in the room.
Kibum looked up from the oven, "Yeah, they talk about you every day. Don't you want to tell them to mind their own business, just once?"
Jaejoong glanced over his shoulders at the whispering group, and then turned back to his brothers, "I know the truth. We know the truth so what difference does it make what they say?"
Kibum stood and walked over to stand closer to Jae, "But, you know what they are saying? How you are a gold-digger and how you just married Seung Chu because he has one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. That you are just waiting for him to kick the bucket so you can inherit all his wealth."
Jaejoong's cheeks flushed with hidden anger as he tried to control his feelings about Seung Chu and himself. He has never been embarrassed about marrying Seung Chu. He firmly believed the man saved their lives.
"We know the truth, so ignore them and let's eat. And for the record, you know as well as I do that Seung Chu is as healthy as a well breed horse. He has years left in him."
Jaejoong nodded his belief as he removed the steaks from the grill, "Yes, he has many years to live and be happy. We don't have to worry about that just yet."
Junsu shook his head as he topped his pie with the meringue and slid it into the oven, "Jae, you know he's an elder man. Older people have health problems all the time. You can never tell when something will strike."
The black haired boy thumped the plate of steaks on the table, and then turned to Junsu and Kibum, "Seung Chu is not going to die anytime soon, ok. Now please, can we just drop the subject and eat." He said more stating then questioning.
Jaejoong had always kept his thoughts harbored deep in his soul. He always put the thought of death on the back burner. He just knew that Seung Chu was alright, even when he knew that all has not been alright for a few weeks now. Jae has been too afraid to voice his concerns out loud, to afraid of what Seung Chu would tell him.
Jaejoong couldn't think of what his life would be like without the kind older man in his life. He didn't WANT to think of it. He was aware of the fact that his husband was an older man. A man he loved like a father, and couldn't bear the thought of losing. Jae could never be thankful enough to Seung Chu for saving his brothers and himself from a life of poverty.
Jaejoong, Kibum and Junsu sat and ate their prepared lunch while talking of anything that didn't involve death and Seung Chu in the same sentence.
He grew agitated at the increasing whispers behind him, his name being mentioned again and again. His fingers shaking as he cut into the tender meat on his plate.
Jaejoong let his shoulders slump in defeat, it would never change. They will always see him as some kind of money grubbing slut.
Then he straightened his back. No, he thought, he will not think that way. He said it right the first time. He and his brothers knew the truth, and that was all that mattered.
Yes, he said mentally, that's all that mattered. He would not be ashamed of his marriage to the nicest guy he had ever met. A father he never really had.
As his mind wondered the door to his classroom opened admitting a very attractive woman.
Jaejoong smiled as his good friend BoA made her way to his table. He and BoA had been friends since he started coming to the cooking school. They had hit it off right from the start. Jaejoong never lied to her or led her on. He told of his marriage and his liking for guys over girls.
BoA had been fine with it, admitting her liking for the fairer sex anyways. From that moment on, BoA was someone he could count on.
He laughed the day she came and told him of her crush on a certain little lady named Bae Suel Gi. BoA had finally gotten the nerve up to tell her the feelings she had hidden from her for awhile only to have the same feelings returned by Seul Gi. From that moment onwards, they were inseparable, joined at the hip and very quick to get jealous of any one looking at their partner in a way they disapprove of. The only exception was Jaejoong. Seul Gi never got jealous of Jaejoong's attention on BoA, or the time they spent with each other.
BoA stood beside the table, looking at the other classmates that were still whispering. Signing, "Don't you people have something better to do than to gossip about stuff you have no knowledge of?" BoA placed her hands on her hips, staring straight through the people behind her friend.
When one of the gossipers dared to call her a bitch, BoA just smiled, "At least I don't deny it, and you all now know it. Mind your own damn business!" She snapped before taking a seat next to Jaejoong.
She turned to the lovely man and graced him with one of her innocent smiles, "Hi darling. How are you doing?"
Jaejoong giggled, his face red from her sticking up for him, "Fine, now that your here."
BoA was looking at his plate with interest, and Jae pushed over in front of her, "Here eat." Jae knew how much BoA and Seul Gi loved his cooking and invited them over often to dine at his home.
BoA smiled her thanks, picking up a piece of meat, popping it into her mouth, she chewed. After she swallowed she tilted her head, "So, how is Seung Chu? Is everything ok?"
Jaejoong smiled, BoA was always asking after his husband's health and to see if the older man was still as spritely as ever. "He's the same Seung Chu. Always on the go and hardly ever slows down for anyone."
The four of them sat and ate while talking of nothing and everything all at once until the bell signaled the end of the school day.
Secretly Jaejoong was glad he didn't have to do the clean up today, the groups take turns and the group that was gossiping was cleaning up today, and Jae thought that it was a fitting punishment for talking about him and his family.
While walking out the door, BoA stopped him by the arm, "So see you tomorrow as usual?"
Jaejoong nodded his approval, making plans with the girl, then following his brothers as they walked to the waiting limo and climbed in.
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Seung Chu took a deep breath and entered the house. He had to tell Jae and his brothers about the cancer. He had decided to tell them about the cancer together and then talk to Jae privately about the arranged marriage. He knew how the boys would take his news.
Junsu would cry silently against Kibum's shoulder, while Kibum rubbed his brothers back while crying himself.
Jaejoong will be silent for a moment and then deny the whole thing. Then when he realized that it was true, he would burst out in a fit, letting out his pain and grief that way.
He walked into the parlor where the three brothers sat chatting.
Jaejoong looked up and smiled; rising to his feet he came and kissed him on the cheek, followed by Kibum and Junsu. The boys where always so affectionate towards him and it warmed his heart that all three loved him as much as he loved them.
And that made what he had to say all that much harder.
Seung Chu walked over to a wingback chair and sat, gesturing for the others to sit also.
"Boys I have something to tell you, and it's important. Jaejoong this will affect you the most, so be strong, alright."
It wasn't a question and Jae felt a shiver crawl over his skin, all of a sudden growing cold, he shivered, but he nodded anyways.
Junsu and Kibum sat next to each other both frowning, like they knew what he was about to say. And maybe in a way they did, they were smart boys, hardly anything could escape them.
Seung Chu clasped his hands in front of him, leaning forward slightly. He didn't really know how to tell them; he had been thinking of some ways for a while now, and all he could think of was to tell them straight. He looked at each boy, each so different from each other, but so much alike. They would each deal with this in their own way, in their own time, he knew that for sure.
Clearing his throat he stood, "I have cancer. It's irreversible. There's nothing the doctors can do about it. I have had it for a while; I just didn't want to burden you with this sickness until I knew for sure that there was nothing the doctors or I could do about it." Seung Chu's eyes' were on his lovely young wife. He already had tears running down his pale cheeks, dripping off his chin.
When he looked up, Seung Chu's breath caught and he knew for certain that he had done the right thing in arranging the marriage. The lost and confused look lurked in his dark depths. His eyes wide with uncertainty of what he was hearing, and Seung Chu could see his mind working around what he had just said, trying to find a loop hole, trying to find the joke in the sentence, to let him know that it wasn't real.
Seung Chu's heart broke when he caught the younger man's eyes and held them, telling him that it was true.
Jaejoong shook his head slowly, his heart also breaking from the pain assaulting him at the moment. He stood walking up to Seung Chu, "How long?"
Seung Chu didn't need to know what he meant; he knew exactly what the boy was asking.
Seung Chu wrapped his arm around his thin shoulders drawing him into a fatherly hug, "I'm sorry son. I'm sorry. I only have a few more weeks left." He whispered into the boys hair. Seung Chu closed his eyes as he felt Jae's body shaking in his arms, his tears wetting the dress coat he was wearing.
Seung Chu held his wife for a few minutes longer and then set him back from him, by holding his shoulders. Looking down at him, he smiled, "Be strong Jaejoong. This one thing I ask of you. Be strong." Seung Chu glanced over to the other two and just like he thought Kibum was comforting the crying Junsu, "You two also, be strong. I have lived a good life. I have gained three of the most loving sons a father could ever ask for. I am proud of all of you. Please I just ask this, be strong. Be strong for me."
Seung Chu looked back down at his wife. Reaching out he cupped the smooth cheeks, "Live normally, Jaejoong. Don't stop living when I'm gone, you hear me?" The younger man nodded again.
Seung Chu let go of Jaejoong and watched as he slowly walked out of the room and up the staircase, most likely heading to his room. The older man frowned, his wife hadn't acted the way he thought he would, but he knew the dam would break soon, when he told him of the marriage contract.
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Jaejoong sat cross-legged in the middle of his bed holding his pink teddy bear to his chest.
He wasn't sure if he could do it. Smile. He didn't feel like smiling. He was loosing someone important to him, and it hurt. He bit his lip to keep from screaming out his pain.
A knock was heard and at his bidding the door opened and his husband walked in.
Jaejoong set the bear aside him and scooted over making room for Seung Chu on his bed.
Seung Chu smiled as he looked the bedroom over. Pink. It was done in soft pink. The curtains, covers, and the throw rug, everything was pink.
Seung Chu sank down on the bed, reaching out he took the thin hand in his and squeezed gently.
This was the part he really dreaded the most, "Jae, I have something I needed to talk to you about with out your brothers."
Seung Chu drew air into his lungs, he knew this wouldn't be easy, but, it had to be done.
When he was sure Jae was calmed down enough to hear him, to listen to him, he proceeded to tell him the news that would change the rest of his young life.
"Jaejoong as your husband, I have to look out for you. I have to plan, have to make sure you're safe and secure in life. So therefore I have arranged a contract between you and a family friend's son." Seung Chu paused here, gazing at Jaejoong trying to gauge his reaction.
So far nothing, no emotion crossed his face, he was blank. Then finally, "What do you mean by a contract?" Jae finally looked up as more confusion was added to what was already there.
Eye's darting around the room before settling back on the thin figure beside him, "I have arranged for you to get married after my passing."
Jaejoong sat there for a second before springing up from the bed, "WHAT?!? MARRIED?!? NO!"
Seung Chu smiled, "There's my drama queen." He muttered to the other softly.
Jaejoong was to busy storming around the room to hear the muttered sentence. His mind was whirling a mile a minute.
He turned to his husband, "How could you do this to me? How?" The last question managed to drain some of the emotion from him and he sank back down on his bed. He lifted his head and looked at Seung Chu. Married to a complete stranger, again. He lowered his head and played with his fingers.
Seung Chu signed, "I want you settle back down after my passing. Yunho is a good man. He will treat you good."
Jaejoong glanced back up at him, "Yunho?"
Seung Chu smiled, "Yes Yunho. Remember the man I had to meet with yesterday? Where you sat on the couch with the ear buds in your ears? Him. He's agreed to be your husband."
Jaejoong quickly glanced back down. Yunho, the handsome man that had kept staring at him? He felt a tingle flash over his arms and he hugged himself. He was to marry that man.
"I don't want to get married again." Jaejoong muttered even though he knew it was useless. Seung Chu was his husband and he would listen to him, to show respect for everything he had done for him and his brothers.
Seung Chu stood, "If you don't marry Yunho in the allotted time, you and your brothers get nothing, Jaejoong. You'll be out on the streets. Think of it that way. Your brothers, they will be without food and a roof over thier head.
Seung Chu didn't want to use his brothers against him, but if it was necessary he would, just to know that the one he was married to and had been so good to him was happy again. And he knew that Yunho would do that for him. He would make Jaejoong live a full life.
Jaejoong sat on the bed his shoulders hunched over, "Alright. I'll do it, but, only because it's what you want and I trust you. You've never leaded me into danger and have always taken care of me." Jaejoong looked up his eyes shimmering. Then while thinking of the new marriage a new thought crossed his mind, and his eyes widened.
"Seung Chu, will he be expecting-will he will wanting-" Jaejoong couldn't voice the question completely, the embarrassment to much for him.
But Seung Chu knew the question, "He's a red blooded young man. So yes, I think he'll expect you to share his bed at night Jaejoong. I rejected you on our wedding night because I think of you as a son or a grandson, but if he does want you on your wedding night, come to him like you came to me. Be a full wife to him and do not hold back."
Seung Chu watched Jaejoong's cheeks flush pink and smiled. His innocent little wife, he thought as he left him to his thoughts.