Vertigo Chapter 4
The flash hit him, sending jolt along his body and he only saw gold for a moment. It was electrifying, but wasn’t unpleasing at all. A second later, Changmin felt like he was like drinking a very fine wine. All his senses filled with that delicious drink. He could smell the fruity berry aroma, a little spice and the woody scent.
His body felt warm and comfortable. His heart had never been this content before. It was like being whole, he never felt himself was incomplete until now, until he got this feeling of someone embracing him deep, protecting him within his arms.
Now that he finally met the scent again, there was no way he would part away from it. His nose was searching, trying to find the source of that scent. And when he found it, he sniffed deep, hands holding to keep it in place, and never wanted to let go.
*
Yunho greeted Mr Shim, who was having his breakfast. Yunho knew the man, Shim Ingeun, who was a professor and currently teaching at two universities; and his wife, Shim Chaeyong. Yunho had read Changmin’s profile. Mr Shim just nodded, and Mrs Shim led him upstairs to Changmin’s room.
“He’s been waiting for you,” she said before opened the door.
“I’m sorry it took so long,” Yunho replied, felt a bit guilty.
The boy was lying down weakly on the bed with thick blanket covering his body. Yunho’s guilt was replaced with longing as he could smell the strong scent of his mate. He smelled strong rose scent with sparkling wine.
He took big steps until he reached the bed. He was just standing still as he took a good look at his mate.
His eyes were closed, the long eyelashes framed his eyes beautifully. His cheekbones carved high, and Yunho frowned at how pale and skinny the boy was. Changmin’s lips were a little chapped, a little opened as small gasps came out from his mouth.
Hesitantly, Yunho extended his arm to touch his shoulder, but in a sudden, Changmin’s hand caught Yunho’s, just like an instinct. The thin golden thread along Changmin’s veins dancing towards his arms, finding its way to Yunho’s golden one, and bonded by their joining hands.
There was a shock along his body, but Yunho quickly gained his composure. He went closer, and slowly sat on the bed by Changmin’s head, hands still holding each other.
“I will leave you two. I’m downstairs if you need anything, Jung Yunho-shi,” Mrs Shim said.
“Thank you, Ma’am.” Yunho bowed to her, and she left the room.
Changmin’s hands were moving, trying to get closer to Yunho, and the older complied. He leaned closer, until Changmin had his arms around Yunho’s shoulder, sniffing the pulse in his neck, the source of his scent.
Yunho had no choice but to lie down beside his mate. His movements were limited but he succeeded in taking off his jacket suit. He unveiled the blanket and arranged their long bodies to be more comfortable. He put Changmin’s head on his bicep, letting the man got close to his neck, inhaling his scent more and more. He actually wanted to do that too, having a taste of Changmin’s scent from the boy’s neck pulse. But their position didn’t allow that. So he took Changmin’s hand, brought it to his face and breathed in the boy’s scent from the pulse in his wrist.
The source of both Alpha and Omega scent was their pulse. The strongest scent would be produced from the pulse in the neck and heart. It also came out from the pulse in their wrist and the back of their knee, but not as strong.
Yunho thought it was better he smelled from the wrist. If he inhaled the scent from the boy’s neck, it could be too overwhelming for him and afraid he’d got drunk and lose control.
Changmin’s whimpers quieted down, just like how a baby would calm after he was given his milk. He didn’t let go of his hold on Yunho, but the older didn’t mind. He interlaced their fingers and brought Changmin’s hands to his nose. The scent made him felt alive again, as if he was dead after all this time until he met his mate.
*
Changmin just woke up from the best sleep of his life. He opened his eyes to find skin in front of his eyes.
It was more like a slope… a jaw? A very sharp jaw.
His nose was tucked under the man’s face and Changmin pulled back slowly,… until he realized that… he slept with someone else?
He startled and it woke the man up.
A pair of slanted cat like eyes pierced trough him.
The man was holding his hand, and when he realized Changmin was in shock, he let go of it.
The older got up from the bed, straightened his wrinkled shirt awkwardly and cleared his throat. “I know we haven’t introduced ourselves,”
Changmin slowly sat up, looked at Yunho in wander, didn’t realize his mouth hung opened.
“I’m Jung Yunho. I am your-“
“My mate.”
“-mate.” Yunho smiled. “Yes, I am your soulmate.”
Changmin gulped but his throat was dry. He ended up coughed instead, and Yunho put his hand on his shoulder, asking, “Are you okay?”
Changmin just nodded and calmed himself down.
“Do you want some water? Let me get you-“
“No, it’s fine. I’ll just get it.” Changmin put his feet down to the floor and stood up. But his legs felt like jelly and he fell down, fortunately to the bed behind him.
“Changmin!” Yunho quickly went to his side. “Are you okay?”
“I’m okay.” Changmin mumbled. “I can-“ he tried to stand up again, and succeeded. In just one second, before he crashed towards Yunho’s body, face hitting the man’s chest and the older held his arms, steadying him.
“Stay in your room. I’ll go down and-“
“No.”
Yunho almost forgot that his mate was also an Alpha. A stubborn Alpha. So he just held Changmin up, slowly letting go after some time. The younger seemed to be able to walk, but his knees gave up, and Yunho caught him just in time.
“How come you’re not weak like me?” Changmin protested.
“I have to be strong for you.” Yunho reasoned.
Changmin snorted and the sarcastic gesture made Yunho let out a chuckle. The younger gave him a small smile. “Maybe it’s because I’m just staying in bed this past two days.”
“It must be it.” Yunho replied, hands still on Changmin’s arm and waist.
“It’s unfair how you’re doing fine while I’m a mess.” Changmin muttered.
“I’m a mess too. But I’m better at hiding it.”
Changmin glanced at him.
Yunho gave him a soft smile. “If you want to go down that badly, let me carry you,”
And before Changmin gave him the permission, Yunho lifted Changmin’s body bridal style. The younger almost protested, but when he tried to hide his face, his nose found its way to Yunho’s neck again. And the scent was a little intoxicating that he forgot to utter a word.
With Changmin in his arms, Yunho opened the bedroom door and went to the stairs.
“Stop.” Changmin said before Yunho stepped down the stairs. “You can’t see the way. We’ll fall.”
“I won’t drop you.”
“So you’ll fall on me?”
Yunho laughed again.
The sound warmed Changmin’s heart. “Let me down.”
“Then you’ll fall by yourself.”
“No if you help me.”
“So you’re asking for my help.” Yunho raised one of his eyebrows.
“If you want,” Changmin added.
Yunho just smiled. “Of course.” He put Changmin back to his feet slowly, but held the boy’s body close to his.
Changmin put his arm around Yunho’s shoulder. “I don’t want to make my mother worry some more.”
Yunho liked Changmin’s thoughtfulness for his parents.
Step by step, slowly but sure, Changmin could walk on his own. But Yunho didn’t let his guard down, standing close by him.
“You’re just in time for dinner,” Mrs Shim said, turning off the stove. “Come, come,”
Dinner?
The men took a look at the clock, it was a little after 7. Yunho remembered he arrived in the Shim’s house in the morning, maybe around half past 7. He didn’t know he had spent that much of time with his mate. Changmin seemed to be lost his track of time too.
“Yunho-shi, please join us for dinner,” Chaeyong said, put three bowls of rice on the dining table. “Your father will come later, he had to take care of the new exchange students,” she said to Changmin.
Changmin sat next to his mother, and Yunho sat on the opposite of the boy.
It was buddae jjigae. And chicken skewers. There were fresh vegetables too, with fresh chili and Changmin didn’t remember the last time he had his meal. The tempting smell of the soup and skewers invaded his mind and he didn’t think twice to fill his bowl with the soup, hands shivered in anticipation until finally the food entered his mouth.
“I bet you’re very hungry, Son. You didn’t eat anything yesterday,” Mrs Shim was glad Changmin’s appetite came back. “Please eat well, Yunho-shi. I know it’s nothing much, but-“
“Oh, this is a lot!” Yunho replied, covered his mouth in embarrassment because it was full with chicken. “I cook sometimes, and only one dish. We usually order out.”
“Your mother doesn’t cook?” Mrs Shim asked carefully.
“She’s overseas, with my sister. I live with my father and another sister.” Yunho replied.
“So you have two sisters?” Mrs Shim asked.
Yunho nodded. “Yeah. The little one is actually Changmin’s hoobae.”
Changmin didn’t stop eating, but looked at Yunho.
“Soojungie,” Yunho said. “Krystal.”
“Oh.” Changmin nodded slowly. He thought his relationship would be awkward, then. He was her brother’s mate. But that could wait after he filled his stomach.
“Please eat more, Yunho-shi,” Mrs Shim added more chicken skewers to Yunho’s plate.
Even after Mrs Shim finished eating, Changmin and Yunho were still munching. Mrs Shim didn’t mind, though. He left the men and went to the kitchen.
Changmin was reaching for the jjigae ladle but Yunho was first to hold it. His fingers touched Yunho’s.
“You first,” Yunho let go of the ladle.
Changmin took the ladle, but then he took Yunho’s bowl and filled it first, before pouring the rest of the jjigae to his own bowl. Yunho smiled to his food.
After they were done with their food, Mrs Shim was cleaning the table and Changmin burped loudly.
Changmin grinned mischievously to his mother. “Thank you, it was a good meal,”
“In front of the guest! How could you be impolite…” Mrs Shim scolded.
Yunho just chuckled. But accidentally burped too. “Sorry,” he said in embarrassment. “It was a very good meal.”
It was Changmin’s turn to laugh. And his mother did too.
“Mrs Shim, I’d love to stay longer but I’m afraid my sister will be waiting alone at home.” Yunho said.
“Oh, right.” Mrs Shim replied. “Wait, there’s still some jjigae left. You should bring it for your sister.”
“I’ll be very grateful, Mrs Shim.”
Yunho was ready to leave, and Changmin remembered something. He went upstairs to his room, and took the older’s jacket suit hung on his chair.
“You almost forget this.” Changmin said to Yunho by the door.
“I was going to leave it for you.” Yunho said.
Changmin blinked. “What for?”
“Just in case you need my scent.”
Changmin sighed. “I’m not that pathetic.”
“I’m not saying you’re pathetic.” Yunho replied. The guilt came again to him. “Sorry it takes so long for me to get you… I… I just thought it’s impossible because we’re both Alphas.”
“So you’re an Alp- of course you are…” Changmin’s brain tried hard to process what the older said. So Yunho was an Alpha too. Of course he was, there was no way the man like him was an Omega. But, so what? What if Yunho was an Alpha too? There wasn’t any problem with that, right? “That’s why you didn’t come to me when we met for the first time?”
Yunho’s face showed regret.
“Then, it’s not like you don’t like me as your mate..?”
“Of course not.” Yunho quickly answered. “I have nothing against that.”
Changmin looked down to the jacket suit in his hands.
Yunho took the jacket. But then he took off his tie and gave it to Changmin. “Because the tie is closer to my neck pulse.”
Changmin’s face felt hot, but he took the burgundy tie anyway.
“Don’t worry. We’ll see each other again.” Yunho smiled.
Changmin nodded at the promise. He watched the man went to his car and drove away.
When he checked his phone before he went to sleep, there were some texts from Junsu. Changmin told his bestfriend that he’d go to school tomorrow, and he had met his mate, so nothing to worry.
He realized a second later that he didn’t have Yunho’s number.
Changmin thought how dumb it was. How could he reach Yunho, then? Probably everything that happened today was just pure imagination, as he didn’t have any prove of it anyway.
But when he turned his head, he spotted something on the edge of his bed.
Yunho’s tie.
Changmin smiled as he thumbed it, traced the soft texture with his finger, thinking of how it went around Yunho’s neck for a whole day. A whole day spent with him.
*
Junsu interrogated him all day when they had the chance. During lessons, when the teacher wasn’t looking. During lunch, when they weren’t munching.
“I know it sounds weird, but it didn’t feel awkward at all. It was our first meeting- well, second, but… it wasn’t awkward. Yeah, maybe just five or ten minutes after I found him on my bed. But it’s like I’ve known him for a long time.”
“Of course,” Junsu nodded. “He’s your mate.”
After school, Changmin stopped to stare at a man standing near the gate. Yunho was there.
Maybe he was picking Soojung up. Yunho wasn’t there for him. Changmin knew he shouldn’t be this bigheaded. So he just walked calmly, tried not to look at Yunho though he wanted to see him again. Yunho was surely in his suit like usual. What color was his tie today? Did he wear the tie clip too? Changmin ignored the questions in his mind as he tried to catch up with what Junsu said.
“Changmin,”
Changmin’s heart beat faster as he knew whose voice that was. He looked up to see Yunho was walking towards him.
“I’m picking you up today,” Yunho added.
“Oh.” Changmin could only reply dumbly.
Junsu must be staring blatantly because Yunho glanced at him, but gave him a smile anyway. “Should you introduce us?”
Changmin turned his head to Junsu. “Right. Um, Junsu, this is Jung Yun-“
“So you’re Changminnie’s mate!” Junsu said, loud enough for the people around them to hear. “I’m Kim Junsu,”
“Yes. Nice to meet you, Junsu-shi,” Yunho bowed to him.
Junsu bowed too. “Nice to meet you too,”
Yunho looked at Changmin. “Should we get going now? Or do you already have plan?”
“Not at all!” Junsu answered for Changmin before the taller opened his mouth.
Actually Changmin was about to go to Junsu’s house to play this new game his brother bought yesterday.
“See you tomorrow at school, then, Min!” Junsu patted Changmin’s shoulder. “Annyeong!”
Changmin gaped.
“He’s a bright kid,” Yunho commented. He led Changmin to his Audi and opened the door for him.
Changmin shot Yunho a look. It made him feel awkward. “Don’t do this for me. I can open it by myself.” He regretted a second later how he sounded rude to his mate, though the older was nothing but being kind to him.
But Yunho was cool about it. “Okay. I just happened to be on this side of the car so I open the door while I’m here.” He said as he walked to the other side. “But in the future, I won’t do it again, noted.” He added before got in and sat on the driver’s seat.
Changmin wore his seatbelt. “How about Krystal? You’re not picking her up?”
“She has her own driver. And she has piano lesson today.”
Changmin bit his lip, before finally asked it. “Have you told Krystal? Or your parents? About… us,” he hesitated at the last word.
“My father is in China and my mother in Paris. So not yet. And Soojung is well… not yet.” He gave Changmin an innocent smile.
Changmin tried to change the subject. “Where are we going now?”
“I’m hungry. Are you?”
Changmin was always hungry, he was still in his growing phase. “Where are we going?” he asked again.
Yunho smiled at how Changmin replying the question until he got the answer. “My favorite restaurant. Hope you’ll like it too.”
Changmin looked out through the dark tinted window.
“And… I want to talk about something too.” Yunho said. “Our marriage.”
“What?” Changmin eyed Yunho rightaway.
“I’ve asked your parents. I told them that there was no reason why we should stall it. You’ll be busy with college and me with my job, and we have to do it anyway, so why wait?” Yunho glanced at him, before his eyes got back to the street.
Changmin didn’t know what to say. “Let’s just… talk this over food..?”