Of Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter and Chocolate - Part 4a of 4
Title: Of Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter and Chocolate (Part 4a of 4)
Pairing: Wooyoung / Junsu
Side Pairings: Jaebum / Taecyeon, Junho / Nichkhun, Chansung / Sooyoung
Rating: PG-13 (for mentions of sex and for Jaebum)
Words Count: 6907 (for part 4 a and b); 23 668 (for everything...)
Genre: Uhm. Romance + Fluff, with a (not so subtle) hint of crack, I guess
Summary: Wooyoung is a virgin. Apparently, that's a crime. And, "fortunately", his friends are there to help him get laid. Oh yay...
A/N: I knew this would happen. I JUST KNEW IT!
The last part won't fit in one post -_-
Damn...
So you now have part 4a and part 4b.
I write too much.
-sigh-
Of Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter and Chocolate - Part 4a
In the weeks that followed, Junsu became somewhat of a regular at the ice cream parlor. He usually took a simple vanilla ice cream, but he sometimes let Wooyoung choose for him when the latter found it definitely too boring of a flavor. Sometimes, when the place was very quiet, they would sneak a kiss over the counter separating them, and Wooyoung would taste the vanilla (or any other flavor chosen by himself) on the other man's lips and he usually found himself too busy concentrating on how sweet that tasted to really mind Chansung's cat calls.
The tall straight man still teased him from time to time, but he didn't do it as much as before, even though Wooyoung was still technically a virgin. He probably thought the “problem” would eventually be solved for good some time soon anyway, with Junsu around. Chansung was starting to have other problems at hand anyway (even some of his own).
First, there was Sooyoung. With her beautiful eyes and her beautiful smile and her beautiful round face and her beautiful hair that curled just right, and her “hella sexy” legs. Chansung had never been very good with women. It was depressing how every girl he had liked had always ended up either turning him down nicely or outright laughing at him. But it was true that he seriously looked like an idiot around pretty girls. And his flirting methods with Sooyoung still didn't show any kind of improvement acquired through the years. He acted stupid, as always. But that girl didn't seem to notice. And that was the problem, because she seemed completely oblivious about his feelings, and he had no idea how to make her see and understand how things were.
Then, there also was that tall big-teeth guy who seemed to have quite an effect on Jaebum. That weird guy had, just like Junsu, become somewhat of a regular, and every single time he dropped by, their American friend instantly lost his cool and vulgar self, only to become all smiles and giggles and batting eyelashes (hell yes, batting eyelashes). Chansung was still categorically refusing to give Wooyoung any money because the bet couldn't be considered over yet and they should wait... but he was pissed. That was obvious. He knew he was losing, their friend was definitely gay. And that pissed him off.
Oh, and Chansung had also decided to help Nichkhun get with Junho because the Thai boy's dumb behavior when around the boss' son was apparently getting annoying (and, honestly, Wooyoung could only agree with that). So the tall straight young man had taken it upon himself to make the two get together. Which implied convincing Nichkhun to confess. Which wasn't exactly easy, because Nichkhun was incredibly shy when it came to love, and he wasn't very talented in that field either.
So Chansung was a busy man. He didn't have that much time left for Wooyoung.
And the latter wasn't really disappointed by that fact.
It was a rainy day, so very few clients dared to eat ice cream. Wooyoung was cleaning the shelf, sometimes throwing furtive looks towards Chansung, who was busy giving advice to a blushing, but still intently listening, Nichkhun. The scene was entertaining, with Chansung looking all serious as he added exaggerated gestures to his words, and Nichkhun, eyes wide, listening as if those words would be the source of a brilliant revelation. (They probably wouldn't, but the Thai young man didn't need to know that.)
It was at that moment that Junsu stepped into the shop, the little bell at the top of the door ringing softly as he did. Wooyoung instantly gave his boyfriend (boyfriend, aaaaaah~) a smile and Junsu smiled back, giving him a quick peck on the lips as soon as he was close enough to do so. Wooyoung briefly threw a look at Chansung and was surprised to see that the latter had barely bothered nodding to Junsu before going back to giving his precious advice.
It was the first time the tall man hadn't said anything inappropriate or annoying.
And it had been over a week since the last time Wooyoung had received any disturbing message on his phone or email address.
So the young man thought that, finally, he was a free man, free to be happy without Chansung causing him any trouble. Finally.
o0O0o
Oh, how dumb he had been to think so. He should have known.
He was faced with that terrible realization only two days later, when their group was reunited around the counter of the ice cream parlor some time after closing. It was a little ritual they had, at least once a week, to just stay after closing and talk about stuff.
That night, there were Wooyoung, Junsu (because he had officially been accepted into their group, like Chansung had found important to mention, as if it was a big deal), Chansung, Jaebum, Nichkhun and Junho. Once, Sooyoung had stayed with them to chat, but that night she had a family reunion and had been forced to leave early. Most of them were still wondering what was worse: Chansung drooling over Sooyoung without her noticing, or him being his annoying normal self when she wasn't around. It had to be a tie.
At the moment, Nichkhun was lamely trying to flirt with Junho (who seemed to find the other's behavior weird, but still wasn't getting the point of it), Chansung was “subtly” asking Jaebum about that tall guy with the big teeth, trying to know what their relation was (the poor guy really didn't want to lose that bet, but Jay wasn't giving any satisfying answer, he always managed to avoid the matter by talking about something else, and Wooyoung really wondered if it was out of obliviousness, or on purpose) and, as for Wooyoung and Junsu, they were mainly watching the show while holding hands and sometimes sneaking kisses when they thought no one was looking. Or actually, when Chansung wasn't, because they couldn't care less if Junho or even Nichkhun saw them, they weren't annoying, and Jaebum hadn't been intrusive at all for the past few weeks, somehow. Chansung was still the main source of trouble, even though his comments were getting fewer and fewer.
Wooyoung could only be relieved about it, especially since Junsu was often around. He didn't want him to witness all that stupid nonsense that could come out of his friend's mouth sometimes.
So the night was pretty quiet and normal, just some chatting between friends. Nothing out of the ordinary. Wooyoung was starting to feel relaxed, especially with the tip of Junsu's nose tracing circles on his cheek, his nose being briefly replaced by his lips for a quick peck from time to time. The music major had his hand on his back, fingers running random patterns on the entire surface of it (while still remaining appropriate for a public place). It was nice.
“Aww, you're so cute,” Junho said, unconsciously interrupting Nichkhun in his pick-up line.
Wooyoung and Junsu smiled shyly, seeing as they suddenly had everyone's attention, and they automatically backed away a little. Cuddling in public wasn't a very good idea.
Chansung chose that moment to stop annoying Jaebum and to bring his attention back on the two lovebirds. Or actually on Junsu.
“You know, Junsu, I hope you'll take good care of Wooyoung,” he said, with a tone that wasn't very much like him, because it sounded serious, while still sounding sincere. How weird...
Junsu chuckled a bit, eyebrows frowning in light confusion. “Hum... I will?”
“Great.” Chansung nodded, visibly satisfied. “I just wanted you to know that we all care a lot about Wooyoung here, he's all fragile and sensitive and we want to protect him, so if anyone ever hurt him, we wouldn't hesitate to-”
“Chansung,” Wooyoung interrupted, a lazy annoyance in his voice. “Just shut up.”
The tall young man pretended to look surprised, but his raised eyebrows and wide eyes soon melted into a smile again.
“Okay, okay!” he said, raising both of his hands in the air. “I was just trying to be a friend, virgin boy.”
Most people in the room chuckled, waving Chansung off and telling him he would always be a lame friend and to just shut up, Jaebum even giving him a push on the shoulder, but all this came with a smile, because they were used to their friend's behavior and found it rather amusing. Wooyoung, on the other hand, wasn't amused at all and felt all his muscles tense up. And it only got worse when he saw, from the corner of his eye, Junsu turning his head to him. The latter was smiling, but there was confusion written all over his face.
“Virgin boy?” he asked, an hesitant frown matching his questioning smile. He seemed to expect it to be some inside joke. Something not true.
Everyone turned their head to the both of them and they all frowned, until realization dawned upon them.
“What, Wooyoung, you didn't tell him?” Chansung asked, his mouth turning into the shape of a “o” as he realized his mistake.
Wooyoung lowered his eyes and looked at his palms, feeling his face redden with shame. He could feel his friends' sorry eyes on him and it made him uneasy, but he hated even more to feel Junsu's surprised gaze directed at him. They had talked about a lot of things together, from their family to their friends, from their pets to their passions. But Wooyoung had never mentioned his (nonexistent) sex life. He hadn't considered it to be crucial.
The least one could say was that there was a moment of discomfort.
But hopefully, Junho quickly asked Jaebum something (Wooyoung didn't bother listening to what it was), and then the American answered, others joined, and they all started talking again about that new topic, laughing and joking as if nothing had just happened. All of them. Except for Wooyoung. And Junsu. But at least the discomfort wasn't as bad as it had been only seconds before.
The two of them remained silent for a while, more or less listening to what the others were saying, and staring at anything but each other. Or at least, that was Wooyoung's case. He felt so ashamed. He had never felt the need to explain to Junsu his sexual status, nor why he had ended up drunk in that bar where he had met him in the first place. He had looked stupid enough by letting his traumatized stomach ruin their hot night of sex, he hadn't felt like it was really necessary to add “virgin” to his already pathetic profile.
He had no idea how Junsu was taking it. But he was too coward to just turn his head and look at the other's face.
It was a bit stupid. He was probably freaking out over nothing, as always. He just happened to be a virgin, it wasn't like he had AIDS. Or that he was actually married with twelve kids, three dogs and two cats. Or that he was some psychopath who liked going out with pretty boys for a while before raping them and killing them, and then selling their kidneys on ebay. Yeah, really, it could have been worse!
But he still felt utterly stupid. Seriously, Chansung would hear about it! If that dumbass thought he would get away with this easily, he was entirely wrong, Wooyoung would never let him live this down and that damn tall idiot would definitely-
Woah. What was that on his neck?
He turned his head slightly, just enough to see Junsu's hair and understand that the other man had just left a butterfly kiss on his neck. Frowning, Wooyoung looked at his other friends, who were still talking together, not paying them any attention. It wasn't like they hadn't noticed, because they definitely had, but they pretended not to see.
And Wooyoung was grateful, he guessed.
He could feel Junsu's lips travel up to his cheek, where they lingered a bit, before moving to his ear. Teeth came nibbling at his earlobe and, really, Wooyoung could only be grateful for his friends' discretion.
However, when he felt the tip of tongue playing with the side of his ear, he thought this was way too inappropriate for a public place, and he meant to turn his head and tell Junsu to stop, but then he heard and felt a breathing right in his eardrums and that completely distracted him.
“Virgin, hmm?” whispered Junsu in his ear, and Wooyoung couldn't really find it in him to answer.
Those lips moved to his cheek again, trailing down to his jawline, before moving back to his ear.
“I think it's kind of cute.”
Wooyoung opened his eyes at this (he hadn't even noticed he had closed them in the first place) and turned his head to look at Junsu, who was smiling innocently at him. And his innocent act was pretty convincing. And pretty cute too.
In a matter of seconds they were kissing, with one of Wooyoung's hands in Junsu's hair, and Junsu's both hands on Wooyoung's shoulders. And maybe it was a bit too passionate for a public demonstration of affection, but they just put that thought aside and ignored the cat calls.
o0O0o
The next day was sunny, but a bit cold. Not cold enough to keep people from going out of their homes (it was still summer), but cold enough to take away the desire of ice cream from the population's minds. A few courageous ones came in from time to time, but not enough to keep the employees of the ice cream parlor busy. It wouldn't be a very good year for that kind of business.
Nichkhun was there, though, as always. Eating his cookie dough ice cream. As he listened intently to what Chansung had planned for the get-together with Junho. Wooyoung was listening absentmindedly as he took care of the few clients and cleaned the place, and he could only smile as he heard the tall man's crazy ideas. It implied dropping ice cream on Junho's shirt and wiping it off in a sexy way (it was possible to wipe ice cream off a shirt sexily?) and it would obviously never work. The Thai boy seemed to have lost interest as soon as “licking it off” had been mentioned anyway.
It seemed like it would be a very normal and uneventful day. Again. Probably a little boring, but a bit relaxing, at least.
So when Wooyoung heard Chansung say that he had to go get something in the locker room, he didn't twitch and kept on doing what he had been doing, because this was just normal, and it was quiet anyway, there weren't many clients and-
Well, it was a good thing there weren't many clients, because the horrified scream that was heard only seconds later could have scared the toughest child away.
“FUCK!” was the shout that followed, and then there was some unintelligible mumbling. Wooyoung and Nichkhun looked at each other with wide eyes, before rushing to where it seemed to come from: the locker room.
At first, all they could see was Chansung's back, as he stood in the middle of the doorway and blocked their view, but they got close enough to look over his shoulder (which wasn't exactly easy because that guy was so damn tall) and, well, they saw it.
It being Jaebum, kind of maybe half naked, trying to hide the key parts of his anatomy while also trying to put his clothes back on. That, in itself, was pretty unusual and unexpected, enough to widen Wooyoung and Nichkhun's eyes and leave their jaws hanging open. But the worst part of the equation was probably that he wasn't alone. And that the other person with him was that tall weird guy with the big teeth and the ears sticking out. And that he wasn't fully dressed either. And that, well... they were in the locker room! Obviously doing non catholic stuff. With each other. Both men. Jaebum. With another guy. Shit.
Jaebum looked horrified. Ashamed didn't even begin to describe what was showing in his eyes and all over his face as he looked at his friends and hid his nakedness with crumpled clothes. The tall stranger didn't even seem to understand what was going on. This had to be one of the strangest things Wooyoung had ever witnessed. This would be a day to remember.
It was also that day that Chansung gave Wooyoung his 20 000 won, too horrified to even look angry about it. This would definitely leave a scar somewhere. In his mind. And probably in his pride, once he would walk out of that haze.
Wooyoung just found it terribly amusing.
o0O0o
Things were a bit weird after that.
Even a few days after the “incident”, Chansung still kept on staring at Jaebum from afar, with what looked like a feeling of betrayal written all over his face. Really, betrayal. Even after days, he still wasn't back to his stupid normal self, and he only kept on staring. The only time he seemed the slightest normal was when he was around Sooyoung (of course), but apart from that...
Wooyoung tended to stare at Jaebum too. But with a smug smirk. Because this was all way too amusing. So, of course, every time their American friend happened to turn his head and see two pairs of eyes looking at him intently, he would freak out a bit. But he usually wouldn't say nor do anything about it. After all, he had been caught having sex with another man in the locker room where his friends could walk in any time. Those circumstances were not quite usual, and could explain unusual staring habits. So, in times like this, he would just blush and go back to what he had been previously doing, ignoring the scary eyes on him.
Jeez, Park Jaebum could blush.
Wooyoung, as for him, was simply happy that, for once, the “incident” wasn't one that included him in any way. Him, or his stomach. It was nice to be left in peace, for a change.
However, Wooyoung started being a bit worried for his American friend when, after yet another few days, he kept on remaining silent about the whole story, only speaking up to serve clients or to ask small work-related questions to his colleagues. It was far from his usual behavior, but the circumstances were unusual, so no one had really minded it so far, thinking it would go back to normal. But after a week, Wooyoung decided it was time for him to go back in “friend” mode.
Trying to talk to Jaebum wasn't exactly easy, as he usually tried to flee any time a conversation might start. But, one day, on Chansung's day off (it was better that way), Wooyoung somehow managed to corner his friend. They had been talking meaninglessly, because there really wasn't anyone else apart from the two of them in the place, and Wooyoung was slowly trying to tackle the subject.
Jaebum probably trusted him more than Chansung, because getting him to talk about it was revealed to be easier than expected. It almost came naturally. Wooyoung hardly had to ask who that big-teeth guy was, and he got an answer.
Apparently, Jaebum had first “met” him a while ago. But actually, it had just been the both of them happening to cross each other's path again and again, until it became clear that fate was having something to do with it. (Well, Jaebum didn't believe in fate, but that tall big-teeth guy did, apparently.) They had first talked on one of those rainy days, as they had both been waiting for the bus at the same stop at the same time, after weeks and weeks of fortuitous meetings. They hadn't talked about anything very deep or important, but they had shared their names and a bit about each other.
That was how the story had started. After that, they had kept on running into each other, and they had had a few other short conversations before Taecyeon (that was his name) had finally invited Jaebum for a drink, because apparently fate wanted them too. (Again, those were Taecyeon's words, because Jay couldn't give a shit about fate.) And just like that, they had become somewhat friends, chatting whenever they met, and Jaebum hadn't given it much thought until he had come to realize that his brain was starting to have technical problems whenever Taecyeon was around. He hadn't really understood (or hadn't wanted to understand) why this was happening, but it was then that he started being really scared to look stupid in front of the other man. (He actually did look stupid in front of the other, but Wooyoung didn't tell him that.)
Then, one day, Taecyeon had lost his watch on the ground during one of those chats with Jaebum, and the American man had noticed it only when the tall man had been too far away to hear him. So, when they had met again the following day, as Jaebum was walking to work and Taecyeon was walking to his mother's house, the shorter man had told him to follow him in the locker room so that he could give him back his watch.
After that... well... things leading to others...
Sex in the locker room.
Jaebum didn't seem to know exactly how it had happened either, but that was okay, because Wooyoung didn't need to hear the details anyway. All he wanted was to be a good friend and make sure his loved ones (yeah, he kind of considered Jaebum a loved one, somehow) didn't get hurt.
But he couldn't help being a little bit curious.
“Did you already know you were gay?” he asked, and he was surprised to see the question didn't seem to shock the other in any way.
“Yeah.”
“And you didn't tell us?” It wasn't asked with any bitter tone, it was just curiosity. He could have asked 'Was having sex in the locker room the only way you could find to come out?', but he wasn't Chansung, so he kept it for himself.
“I- I didn't know it was mandatory to say it! I just thought you guys had figured out anyway, so I didn't think I had to tell you. I mean... wasn't I obvious?”
Wooyoung smirked.
“Maybe not obvious, but I figured out. Chansung didn't, though.”
“Well, Chansung's an idiot.”
Wooyoung chuckled. “Yeah. I know.”
They both smiled at each other, remaining silent for a short while before Jaebum spoke up again.
“Do you think... Chansung is.. mad at me?”
The other man just laughed. “Chansung, mad? Ah, come on! You know how he is! He feels like he's scarred for life, but in a few days he'll be back at nagging at us to make sure our love lives are okay. He'll get over it!”
The American chuckled lightly, lowering his eyes, before raising them again and meeting Wooyoung's.
“Thanks.”
“You're welcome.”
o0O0o
The other matter at hand was Sooyoung. That girl, even after over a month at the ice cream parlor, still seemed infuriatingly oblivious to Chansung's infatuation with her, and to all of his lame flirting methods. She didn't even look bothered by the young man's weird behavior around her, as if she thought it was entirely normal and didn't even bother wondering what was wrong.
It was like she didn't even notice the weird behavior at all.
Wooyoung had found it cute at first, thinking a naïve girl would probably be good for Chansung, but the whole thing was starting to annoy him. Especially since Chansung had decided to call Wooyoung his confidant and could whine for hours on the phone or any other time the cute girl wasn't around, asking why he didn't have the guts to go ask her out, or why he was so unlucky with girls in general.
The good point was that Chansung had stopped teasing Wooyoung about his relationship with Junsu, had stopped annoying Nichkhun with bad advice and had even stopped staring at Jaebum all the time. But it soon became obvious that a lovesick Chansung was even worse.
So, after a week or two of that whining, Wooyoung had enough. And he took it upon himself to go talk to Sooyoung and wake her up by any mean possible. So, when he happened to work with her alone, as it was Jaebum's day off, and as Chansung was joining them only in an hour, he thought it was the perfect time to talk to her about it. He had his speech planned, nothing too long or complicated, there was no need to beat about the bush. He would tell her that Chansung had a huge crush on her and that she'd better do something about it because they were all getting bored of it. He would of course put more words and friendliness into this just so it would not scare her away, but he wanted to be firm.
However, when he finally got to talk to her, between two clients, he was shocked by the results.
“What?” she said, looking at him with a frown. “You think I don't see it? What, you think I'm that dumb?”
Wooyoung frowned. What could he say to this?
“I mean, come on!” she carried on, not minding his lack of answer. “Could he ever get more obvious?”
Definitely not.
“I'm just messing with him! Don't you think he's funny to watch?”
Well, yes...
“I'm just having fun! Once I get bored, I'll just kiss him and invite him for a drink.”
Wow...
“But of course... don't tell him anything I just said. That would ruin the fun.” she said with a pout that looked relatively sincere, but maybe not enough to be entirely convincing.
Wooyoung laughed.
“Uh.. I won't?” he said, still smiling.
She smiled at him and winked, muttering a “thanks” before leaving the room in a very cute and girly way. So innocent and sweet.
Her act was perfect.
Gosh, he suddenly loved that girl.
o0O0o
It wasn't very long before she got bored, apparently.
It was on one of those days. Not exactly quiet, but not exactly wearing either. It was three in the afternoon, and there was a down. Wooyoung was washing the counter with a cloth, Chansung was biting his nails in the corner and Sooyoung was placing a bobby pin in her hair. Jaebum had a funeral for some grand uncle he had never met, and he couldn't work that day.
Nothing was out of the ordinary. Wooyoung threw a glance at his two colleagues before smiling at a young boy who had just walked in and asking him what he would like to have. A minute later, he was handing him his chocolate ice cream and taking the money given to him. He handed back the change to the young boy and waved him goodbye. Then, out of instinct, he threw another glance at his two colleagues and...
Oh, look. They were kissing.
Or actually, Sooyoung was kissing Chansung, because the tall man was standing still, arms frozen on each side of his limp body, eyes wide and squinting while trying to look at the face that was suddenly so close to his. His participation in the kiss was obviously not very satisfying, but the girl didn't seem to mind as she pulled back and smiled, informing the young man they would meet at that Starbucks only two blocks away after work. And on this, she walked away, smiling at a newly arrived client as if nothing had just happened.
Chansung stood still for minutes afterward, mouth hanging open and eyes still as wide, and Wooyoung couldn't help but snicker to himself.
He had definitely underestimated Sooyoung. She was way cooler than expected.
But he didn't have much time to think about it, because more and more clients were walking in the ice cream parlor and he had to work.
But he would so never let Chansung live this down.
______________________________________
-sigh- Why do I write so much?
Part 4b : Here