On Board (Chapter 6)
Chapter 6
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It’s been exactly 10 days since the last time Jaejoong received a phone call from Yunho. Jaejoong had been trying hard to forget Yunho. Siwon and him had been closer than before. Jaejoong thought of Siwon as his best friend, he never had that special feeling for Siwon even though Maggie had told him that it was obvious that Siwon liked him and she had been squealing more every time Siwon came by their office.
Jaejoong walked out from his apartment. The warmer January air hit his face softly. 3 months had become 2 months. As usual, Jaejoong walked to the coffee shop. Siwon would stand there, waiting for him. Every single day. But today Jaejoong didn’t see Siwon. He looked around. No sign of Siwon.
Jaejoong noticed there was a red Ferrari car parked in front of the coffee shop. Everybody was wondering what was an expensive car doing here. But then Jaejoong widened his eyes when Siwon got out from that Ferrari.
“So, you do have a Ferrari.” Jaejoong said. Siwon chuckled.
“Listen, Jae. There is something that I need to tell you.”
“Talk about you lied to me about how near your work place is?” Siwon was surprised.
“How did you know?” Jaejoong chuckled.
“I asked my friend about the hospital you work at and she told me that it isn’t near from here at all.”
“When did you find out?”
“About a week ago.”
“And you’re not mad that I lied to you?”
“No. What do you think I was doing before today? I was punishing you! I didn’t tell you that I knew so you’d take a cab to the hospital.” Jaejoong stick out his tongue.
Siwon laughed out loud. “You’re so mean, Jae!”
“That’s what you get for messing with me.”
“Since you already know, let me drive you to work!” Siwon opened the car door for Jaejoong.
“Reduce carbon emission my ass.” Jaejoong laughed.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
“Good morning, Carla.”
“You look miserable these days, Sir! No offense.” Carla said.
“None taken. I do feel miserable.”
“You can always ask for my help.”
“Thanks.” Yunho smiled and entered his office.
Yunho looked at the desk calendar. ‘It’s been 10 days. I’ve been missing you like hell, Jae,’ Yunho sighed.
There were like fifty time Yunho tried to prevent himself from calling. He didn’t want to bother Jaejoong. Yunho closed his eyes and remembered his dinner with Jaejoong. The sharp pain in his heart was getting worse every time. Yunho couldn’t handle it anymore. He grabbed his phone and dialed Jaejoong’s number.
“Hello?”
“Jae, are you free tonight?”
“I-“
“I want to take you out for dinner again tonight.” Yunho cut in.
“Okay.”
“Great. Tonight at 7. Is that okay?”
“Yeah it’s fine. See you then.” Jaejoong hung up. Yunho smiled.
********
Maggie opened Jaejoong’s office door and she could hear Jaejoong was sighing. She sat on the chair in front of Jaejoong’s desk.
“What happened, Jaejoong?” She was worried.
“Nothing.” Jaejoong forced a smile.
“Don’t give me that nothing, boy. Tell me. I’m your friend, you know.” She smiled.
“It’s a long story.”
“I don’t have lots of works to do.”
Jaejoong sighed.
“Okay then. I met a guy, who sent me that bouquet, on my flight to here. He is an architect by the way.” Jaejoong signaled Maggie to not squeal when she heard the word ‘architect’.
“One day, I met him on the street, we ate dinner together then I met him again! When I was staring at Empire State Building.” Jaejoong signaled Maggie not to say, ‘that’s a weird habit you got there!’
“Then, he asked me out for a dinner and at the end of the date, I considered that as a date, he kissed me! After that, I dropped my key and when he bent down to pick it up I saw a necklace with a wedding ring! Then I met Siwon, you know Siwon, who is very nice to me but I don’t really feel the same. And just now, That guy asked me out for a dinner tonight.” Jaejoong sighed again. Maggie nodded.
“Oh my gosh, Jaejoong! It’s obvious that you love the other guy. Not Siwon!” Jaejoong didn’t say anything.
“So, you think he is married?” Maggie asked. Jaejoong nodded.
“Jae, if he’s married. Why doesn’t he wear the ring on the finger?”
“Maybe he’s trying to hide his marriage from me.”
“But there’s a possibility that he isn’t married now, right? You should give this relationship a shot. You should ask him tonight.”
“Bu-“
“No buts, mister! You have to give this a shot. Make yourself happy!” Maggie smiled. Jaejoong nodded.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Yunho was listening to Ji Yool about how that EunHae kid teased him today when he suddenly remembered Jaejoong.
“Yoolie-ah.” Ji Yool hummed in reply.
“Do you want an Umma?”
“Of course I want an Umma!” Yunho could hear Changmin’s choking sound on the other line.
“Appa likes this person. But this person seems to not like Appa back. What should Appa do, Yoolie?” Yunho knew he sounded crazy by asking such thing to his 5 year old daughter.
“Then Appa has to prove that Appa really likes this person!” Yunho gave Ji Yool’s word a thought and smiled.
“You’re right, dear! Appa. Now, Appa needs to work, okay?”
“Okay. Don’t forget the doll house, Appa!” Ji Yool hung up. Yunho laughed at his daughter’s cuteness.
*******
Jaejoong was sitting on the couch waiting for Yunho to pick him up. He was trying to find the right sentence to ask Yunho.
‘Yun, are you married? I’m sorry if this is too personal’
‘Yun, are you married? You can choose not to answer it.’
“Yun, are you ma-‘ Jaejoong’s thought was cut by the sound of the doorbell.
His heart beat faster as he walked to open the door. His feeling toward Yunho hadn’t change even a bit. He actually felt that he missed Yunho even more than before. Jaejoong smiled when he saw Yunho.
“You look great.” Said Yunho.
“Thanks. Let me lock my door first.”
“Sure.”
The ride to the restaurant was silent. Jaejoong felt so awkward. He silently thanked God when Yunho stopped the car and killed the engine. He stepped out from the car and widened his eyes. This was the sushi restaurant Siwon took him! He nervously followed Yunho to their seat. Yunho signaled the waiter to come as soon as he sat on the chair.
“Good night, sir. I’m Misako. Are you ready to order now?” She smiled sweetly. Clearly ignoring Jaejoong. ‘This damn waitress is clearly flirting with Yunho!’ Jaejoong screamed in his mind.
“I’d like 1 bowl of Spicy ramen and maybe Jaejoong wants a Salmon Sashimi?” Yunho asked. Jaejoong was so surprised that his mouth formed an ‘o’ shape.
‘Yunho knows what I ate the other day with Siwon!’ Thought Jaejoong.
“Yes, please.” Jaejoong weakly answered.
“And 2 cold Ocha, please.” Yunho handed the menu back to the waitress. Then, the waitress left their table. Both shared silence again.
“So, Yunho-“
“So, Jae-“
Both spoke for the first time.
“I’m sorry. You go first, Yun.”
“You can go first, Jae.”
Jaejoong took a deep breath and broke the silence between them.
“I’d like to ask you something, Yun. I’m sorry if this is too personal. You can choose not to answer it.” Jaejoong bit his lower lip. This was the habit he couldn’t get rid of since junior high.
“Calm down, Jae. Let me hear the question first.”
“Are you married?”
There was a brief silence between them. Jaejoong felt like crying. Now he was sure that Yunho wasn’t single. Yunho took a deep breath.
“I used to be married.”
“Err-so now you’re not?”
“My wife passed away because of leukemia. She has left me and my daughter Ji Yool for 5 years.” Yunho sighed.
Jaejoong covered his mouth in shock. Tears rolling down from his eyes to his cheeks. Yunho was surprised with the reaction Jaejoong gave. He was hoping Jaejoong would leave him as soon as he heard the word ‘daughter’, just like the girl he used to date before. Yunho wiped the tears with his thumb.
“Why are you crying?”
“I’m so sorry, Yun. I thought-I thought-“ Jaejoong said between his sobs.
“Calm down, Jae.”
“I saw your necklace and I thought that you were not single and you were a jerk for asking me out for a dinner when you were still married.”
“Now, everything’s clear right?” Yunho smiled. Jaejoong nodded.
“Now, it’s my turn!” Yunho spoke.
“Jae, I fell in love with you from the very first time I talked to you on our flight to here. I love how you laugh, how you sleep, how you smile, how you eat, how you pout. Everything about you. I know that you don’t feel the same way but I want you to know that I won’t stop loving you.” Jaejoong felt happy and confused at the same time.
“What makes you think that I don’t feel the same way?”
“I saw you, Jae. I saw you with another man. Eating here and you looked so happy.” Jaejoong widened his eyes.
“So that’s why you brought me here? And you even know what I ate? I didn’t see you!”
“I saw you but you didn’t see me. I was in the VIP room but I saw you when I walked in.” Yunho looked sad.
“Well, Yun. Let me make this whole thing clear. His name is Siwon. He is a friend of mine who I met because I spilled coffee all over his shirt. I don’t feel what I feel toward you when I’m with him.” Jaejoong smiled genuinely.
“So, you love me too?”
“Do you even have to ask?” Jaejoong smiled. Yunho smiled back. This was his happiest day!
“But, we haven’t known about each other better.” Jaejoong continued.
“Oh babe, we have all the time in the world to get to know each other.” Yunho smiled.
“One more thing, Yun. Don’t flirt with that waitress!” Yunho laughed out loud.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
It’s been exactly 10 days since the last time Jaejoong received a phone call from Yunho. Jaejoong had been trying hard to forget Yunho. Siwon and him had been closer than before. Jaejoong thought of Siwon as his best friend, he never had that special feeling for Siwon even though Maggie had told him that it was obvious that Siwon liked him and she had been squealing more every time Siwon came by their office.
Jaejoong walked out from his apartment. The warmer January air hit his face softly. 3 months had become 2 months. As usual, Jaejoong walked to the coffee shop. Siwon would stand there, waiting for him. Every single day. But today Jaejoong didn’t see Siwon. He looked around. No sign of Siwon.
Jaejoong noticed there was a red Ferrari car parked in front of the coffee shop. Everybody was wondering what was an expensive car doing here. But then Jaejoong widened his eyes when Siwon got out from that Ferrari.
“So, you do have a Ferrari.” Jaejoong said. Siwon chuckled.
“Listen, Jae. There is something that I need to tell you.”
“Talk about you lied to me about how near your work place is?” Siwon was surprised.
“How did you know?” Jaejoong chuckled.
“I asked my friend about the hospital you work at and she told me that it isn’t near from here at all.”
“When did you find out?”
“About a week ago.”
“And you’re not mad that I lied to you?”
“No. What do you think I was doing before today? I was punishing you! I didn’t tell you that I knew so you’d take a cab to the hospital.” Jaejoong stick out his tongue.
Siwon laughed out loud. “You’re so mean, Jae!”
“That’s what you get for messing with me.”
“Since you already know, let me drive you to work!” Siwon opened the car door for Jaejoong.
“Reduce carbon emission my ass.” Jaejoong laughed.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
“Good morning, Carla.”
“You look miserable these days, Sir! No offense.” Carla said.
“None taken. I do feel miserable.”
“You can always ask for my help.”
“Thanks.” Yunho smiled and entered his office.
Yunho looked at the desk calendar. ‘It’s been 10 days. I’ve been missing you like hell, Jae,’ Yunho sighed.
There were like fifty time Yunho tried to prevent himself from calling. He didn’t want to bother Jaejoong. Yunho closed his eyes and remembered his dinner with Jaejoong. The sharp pain in his heart was getting worse every time. Yunho couldn’t handle it anymore. He grabbed his phone and dialed Jaejoong’s number.
“Hello?”
“Jae, are you free tonight?”
“I-“
“I want to take you out for dinner again tonight.” Yunho cut in.
“Okay.”
“Great. Tonight at 7. Is that okay?”
“Yeah it’s fine. See you then.” Jaejoong hung up. Yunho smiled.
********
Maggie opened Jaejoong’s office door and she could hear Jaejoong was sighing. She sat on the chair in front of Jaejoong’s desk.
“What happened, Jaejoong?” She was worried.
“Nothing.” Jaejoong forced a smile.
“Don’t give me that nothing, boy. Tell me. I’m your friend, you know.” She smiled.
“It’s a long story.”
“I don’t have lots of works to do.”
Jaejoong sighed.
“Okay then. I met a guy, who sent me that bouquet, on my flight to here. He is an architect by the way.” Jaejoong signaled Maggie to not squeal when she heard the word ‘architect’.
“One day, I met him on the street, we ate dinner together then I met him again! When I was staring at Empire State Building.” Jaejoong signaled Maggie not to say, ‘that’s a weird habit you got there!’
“Then, he asked me out for a dinner and at the end of the date, I considered that as a date, he kissed me! After that, I dropped my key and when he bent down to pick it up I saw a necklace with a wedding ring! Then I met Siwon, you know Siwon, who is very nice to me but I don’t really feel the same. And just now, That guy asked me out for a dinner tonight.” Jaejoong sighed again. Maggie nodded.
“Oh my gosh, Jaejoong! It’s obvious that you love the other guy. Not Siwon!” Jaejoong didn’t say anything.
“So, you think he is married?” Maggie asked. Jaejoong nodded.
“Jae, if he’s married. Why doesn’t he wear the ring on the finger?”
“Maybe he’s trying to hide his marriage from me.”
“But there’s a possibility that he isn’t married now, right? You should give this relationship a shot. You should ask him tonight.”
“Bu-“
“No buts, mister! You have to give this a shot. Make yourself happy!” Maggie smiled. Jaejoong nodded.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Yunho was listening to Ji Yool about how that EunHae kid teased him today when he suddenly remembered Jaejoong.
“Yoolie-ah.” Ji Yool hummed in reply.
“Do you want an Umma?”
“Of course I want an Umma!” Yunho could hear Changmin’s choking sound on the other line.
“Appa likes this person. But this person seems to not like Appa back. What should Appa do, Yoolie?” Yunho knew he sounded crazy by asking such thing to his 5 year old daughter.
“Then Appa has to prove that Appa really likes this person!” Yunho gave Ji Yool’s word a thought and smiled.
“You’re right, dear! Appa. Now, Appa needs to work, okay?”
“Okay. Don’t forget the doll house, Appa!” Ji Yool hung up. Yunho laughed at his daughter’s cuteness.
*******
Jaejoong was sitting on the couch waiting for Yunho to pick him up. He was trying to find the right sentence to ask Yunho.
‘Yun, are you married? I’m sorry if this is too personal’
‘Yun, are you married? You can choose not to answer it.’
“Yun, are you ma-‘ Jaejoong’s thought was cut by the sound of the doorbell.
His heart beat faster as he walked to open the door. His feeling toward Yunho hadn’t change even a bit. He actually felt that he missed Yunho even more than before. Jaejoong smiled when he saw Yunho.
“You look great.” Said Yunho.
“Thanks. Let me lock my door first.”
“Sure.”
The ride to the restaurant was silent. Jaejoong felt so awkward. He silently thanked God when Yunho stopped the car and killed the engine. He stepped out from the car and widened his eyes. This was the sushi restaurant Siwon took him! He nervously followed Yunho to their seat. Yunho signaled the waiter to come as soon as he sat on the chair.
“Good night, sir. I’m Misako. Are you ready to order now?” She smiled sweetly. Clearly ignoring Jaejoong. ‘This damn waitress is clearly flirting with Yunho!’ Jaejoong screamed in his mind.
“I’d like 1 bowl of Spicy ramen and maybe Jaejoong wants a Salmon Sashimi?” Yunho asked. Jaejoong was so surprised that his mouth formed an ‘o’ shape.
‘Yunho knows what I ate the other day with Siwon!’ Thought Jaejoong.
“Yes, please.” Jaejoong weakly answered.
“And 2 cold Ocha, please.” Yunho handed the menu back to the waitress. Then, the waitress left their table. Both shared silence again.
“So, Yunho-“
“So, Jae-“
Both spoke for the first time.
“I’m sorry. You go first, Yun.”
“You can go first, Jae.”
Jaejoong took a deep breath and broke the silence between them.
“I’d like to ask you something, Yun. I’m sorry if this is too personal. You can choose not to answer it.” Jaejoong bit his lower lip. This was the habit he couldn’t get rid of since junior high.
“Calm down, Jae. Let me hear the question first.”
“Are you married?”
There was a brief silence between them. Jaejoong felt like crying. Now he was sure that Yunho wasn’t single. Yunho took a deep breath.
“I used to be married.”
“Err-so now you’re not?”
“My wife passed away because of leukemia. She has left me and my daughter Ji Yool for 5 years.” Yunho sighed.
Jaejoong covered his mouth in shock. Tears rolling down from his eyes to his cheeks. Yunho was surprised with the reaction Jaejoong gave. He was hoping Jaejoong would leave him as soon as he heard the word ‘daughter’, just like the girl he used to date before. Yunho wiped the tears with his thumb.
“Why are you crying?”
“I’m so sorry, Yun. I thought-I thought-“ Jaejoong said between his sobs.
“Calm down, Jae.”
“I saw your necklace and I thought that you were not single and you were a jerk for asking me out for a dinner when you were still married.”
“Now, everything’s clear right?” Yunho smiled. Jaejoong nodded.
“Now, it’s my turn!” Yunho spoke.
“Jae, I fell in love with you from the very first time I talked to you on our flight to here. I love how you laugh, how you sleep, how you smile, how you eat, how you pout. Everything about you. I know that you don’t feel the same way but I want you to know that I won’t stop loving you.” Jaejoong felt happy and confused at the same time.
“What makes you think that I don’t feel the same way?”
“I saw you, Jae. I saw you with another man. Eating here and you looked so happy.” Jaejoong widened his eyes.
“So that’s why you brought me here? And you even know what I ate? I didn’t see you!”
“I saw you but you didn’t see me. I was in the VIP room but I saw you when I walked in.” Yunho looked sad.
“Well, Yun. Let me make this whole thing clear. His name is Siwon. He is a friend of mine who I met because I spilled coffee all over his shirt. I don’t feel what I feel toward you when I’m with him.” Jaejoong smiled genuinely.
“So, you love me too?”
“Do you even have to ask?” Jaejoong smiled. Yunho smiled back. This was his happiest day!
“But, we haven’t known about each other better.” Jaejoong continued.
“Oh babe, we have all the time in the world to get to know each other.” Yunho smiled.
“One more thing, Yun. Don’t flirt with that waitress!” Yunho laughed out loud.
………………………………………………………………………………………………