(01) Masquerade
Title: Masquerade
Pairing: Kyusung
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG-13
Beta: broadway_bound3 she really did a great job helping me with this fic. Thank you so much!
Summary: To mask one's self in order to gain the attention of others, that was what Yesung has been doing all his life. He's been so good at it that he got to the point where he no longer knew himself. A singer was once his dream, now that it's fulfilled, he found himself suffocating in it. Masks and facade. will they be shattered painfully or will they be removed slowly out of love?
A/N: Yesung's part in The Lost Child. Sequel as well. Better read it first before this. And do leave a comment. Thanks.
Warning: Physical abuse and Jongwoon's cuteness overload in the last part.
“Yesung! Why are you spacing out again? You need to focus!” someone yells. I’m currently inside the recording studio and I’ve been standing here for three hours without stopping. I’m already exhausted from my flight earlier and I haven’t slept for two days now. My manager expects me to do well in everything without minding that I need some rest. I sigh. I need to focus and smile.
“Sorry, hyung. I just feel really tired, that’s all,” I answer.
He scoffs and I can’t help but clench my fists. “You’re always tired yet you never do anything. Now get back to singing or we’ll be here till dawn.”
I never do anything?! I just finished a concert. A two-day concert! After that, I had to fly all the way to Thailand to film a CF, go to a fan meeting, and then fly back here to this damned country for another recording session. The only sleep I’ve had so far was when I was in the airplane. The stewardess’, though a big fan of mine, couldn’t help but pity me. I saw it in their eyes.
I sigh again and try singing, but with my voice as hoarse as this, I don’t think today’s recording will be finished.
“Yesung, stop singing. Everybody, that’s a wrap,” Shindong hyung orders. And when everything starts spinning and going black I can still comprehend what’s going on around me.
My name is Yesung. I’m a singer--a popular singer. My manager, Jaejoong told me that to be a successful superstar, one needs to wear a mask to hide their real identity. I’ve been wearing mine since I was 18, when I first debuted. I’ve worn it so long that I no longer know who I am or who I was supposed to be. What kind of person was I? Does this mask really need to be worn all the time?
Just like a mask worn in a masquerade ball, his mask was prominent. His mask was more distinct, flawless. Because that’s what he was supposed to be. That’s what people expected him to be-flawless. But is that what he really was? Was the man wearing the mask really flawless?
It was a given that if you’re in the entertainment world, everybody has high expectations and the only thing the artist could do was prove himself worthy of this expectation. Was I not allowed to complain that I was tired or simply just hungry? Was I not allowed to voice out my opinion about the songs I would sing? Was I not allowed to re-live his childhood for once and act like a child?
The answer? No. A big ‘no’ sign was plastered on my face since the beginning. No. It was always the answer to my unvoiced requests. No. Always, no.
.: | :.
He continued till my face was flat on the floor-till I was bleeding. He never stopped because I never told him to. He never stopped because I never did anything to stop him. It hurts-physically and emotionally. But I’ve been taught to hide my emotions, even pain. So this pain is nothing. I’m nothing. I’ll forever be nothing.
I feel very alive on stage because people acknowledge me. People know me and they scream my name. The price of wearing a mask is this attention. This attention that people gave me and that I longed for-the attention that only my fans can give.
I got a week off, finally, and it’s all thanks to Shindong-hyung. I wish he was my manager instead, but he can’t because he’s the CEO of the DH Company. It would’ve been nice to have Shindong-hyung with me, because I know he’ll try his best to make me comfortable in every way possible--unlike Jaejoong who enslaves me with loads of work.
Jaejoong taught me that no matter what happens I should always smile. Even if I’m sad, hurt, angry or lonely, I should never forget how to smile; the mask he forced me to wear. I know it’s worn out and I don’t know how long it will hold on.
“Didn’t I tell you not to complain? Didn’t I tell you that in order to become famous you need to become resilient! You’re such a weakling!”
He hit me.
Again.
And again.
“JAEJOONG! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”
A shout.
A shriek.
Noises I can’t comprehend. I’m already so numb from the pain that both my body and my mind are in oblivion. I clos my eyes and let sleep take me away from this place.
“You’re an idiot, you know that?” Shindong-hyung mutters when I open my eyes. I look around and see that I’m in a white walled room-my room
“Hey, hyung! It’s nice to see you again. How are you?”
“Drop the act, Yesung.” His voice is so stern that it makes me flinch. “I tried to fire Jaejoong as your manager, but he said you two have a contract and the only person who can terminate that contract is you.
“Do yourself a favor will you? Let Jaejoong go and free yourself from this misery.” He ends his speech with a pat on my back before he leaves my room.
It’s true that the only way to end my contract is by voicing out my thoughts. But how can I if I’ve been brainwashed to believe that I should always bear a smile and not question authorities in order to shine?
Jaejoong made that contract with the knowledge that I’ll forever be trapped in his grasp. He’s the mask I can’t get rid of. He’s my mask, stronger than my own will. The devil of the play, the antagonist.
.: | :.
My manager and I roam around the mall. As usual, I have to disguise myself because Jaejoong hates being mobbed. I go to the washroom for a little while and leave him outside to do my business. When I return, I see him pulling an innocent child. I stood by the sidelines without doing anything. I didn’t even bother helping because I was taught not to.
The child is crying and keeps calling for his father, but my manager is pretending to be deaf. He even almost resorts to slapping the child to shut him up when a man, who I assume is his father, comes. His fist flies towards Jaejoong’s face. Blood trickles down his face as he sits on the ground completely flabbergasted at the turn of events.
The kid runs towards the man while the latter scoops him up into his arms. The kid keeps crying and holding onto his father tightly. The man, however, has a scowl on his face and he looks at my manager as if he’s going to kill him.
“If I see your face again, you’re dead!” The man threatens It makes me tremble, as well as Jaejoong. He looks at the man’s retreating back with a flash of anger in his eyes, I think. I can’t tell. I’m too busy admiring his courage for defending his kid and for himself as well. I wonder if somebody would do that for me or if I’d be able to do that for myself.
“Pathetic guy! He missed the chance of having his kid be a superstar. Whatever,” he scoffs as he pushes himself up then dusts off his pants. “It’s no longer my problem. Come on, Yesung. Let’s go grab lunch. I’m hungry.”
I look back in the direction the kid and his father went off to. Blankly staring off to the empty walkway, I silently wish to meet the two of them again.
.: | :.
It has been months since I last saw the father and son, and I kind of miss them. Due to my tight schedule I haven’t had time for myself-not that I’ve ever had any in the first place. But still, lounging on the couch doing nothing for an hour is already a luxury to me, or even a complete 8 hours of sleep. I’ve always been sleep deprived and whenever I get the chance, I instantly doze off.
My throat suddenly became hoarse due to being over-worked. I have a lot of year-end special programs to attend to and I need my voice to be functional or else I’ll lose my fans and they’ll start to ignore me. I don’t want that. I want their attention. I want to be loved.
Face masks are really helpful whenever you want to hide your identity to the world. I would know because right now I’m wearing one while walking down the hospital hallway, and not one person ever asked me for an autograph. I can’t be seen because news will spread and according to my manager, it’ll affect my popularity if people spot me inside a hospital.
The emergency room opened while I was roaming around the hospital. I have no idea why I was there in the first place but I got this weird urge to visit the said room. Two police officers entered followed by a crying man with a kid on his arms. The man looked familiar but I couldn’t point out where I had seen him.
I moved a little to let the gurney pass. The kid. It was the kid I saw months ago. What happened to him? I looked at the man again and saw him being held back by the nurses and police officers. It was the man who punched my manager. I wanted to go and comfort him but I couldn’t. Something was stopping me. If I comfort him, my identity would be revealed and I don’t want that. So I stood in a corner and watched him cry helplessly.
Minutes after the police officers left, two guys came with worry etched on their faces. “Kyuhyun!” Kyuhyun? So that’s his name. “Kyuhyun, are you alright? Where’s Jongwoon?” Who’s Jongwoon? The kid?
Kyuhyun said something but I couldn’t hear from where I was standing. I watched from a distance as the blonde hugged him. The doctor came out and I assume he said some good news because the new comers smiled and thanked him profusely. Kyuhyun mumbled something again, but this time the brunette slapped him hard on the face.
“Yes, all of this wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t met him. But did it occur to you that if you hadn’t met him you wouldn’t be this happy? If you hadn’t met him you would still be that insensitive, arrogant kangaroo that Hyuk and I are putting up with. If you hadn’t met him, would you cry like this? Would you show your emotions and be vulnerable for once? Kyu, you’ve changed for the better and it’s all thanks to Jongwoon. It’s all thanks to your son. He brought color to your life. Stop thinking about the negative things. He’s alive and that’s what’s important. Do you understand me Kyu?”
“Kim Yesung?”
I looked behind me and saw a nurse with a clipboard on her hand. She gave me a sweet smile which I returned but I realized she couldn’t see it because I had a face mask on.
“Please follow me. Dr. Park is waiting for you,” the nurse said before leading the way to Dr. Park’s room.
.: | :.
“Your voice is very strained Yesung. I suggest you rest it for a while, but I doubt you’ll follow that because of your profession. Talk as little as possible and only use it when needed. Here’s a prescription for you to drink and please, please, come back next month for a post check-up.”
I’ll try doctor. Thank you for your concern. Dr. Park gave me a pen and paper so I wouldn’t have to use my voice. He did insist that I rest it and use it as little as possible anyways.
“Your brother’s my friend and colleague. He’ll be angry at me if he knew I wasn’t doing anything to take care of you.”
I know. That’s why I’m really thankful. I’ll be going now. My manager might wonder what’s taking me so long.
“Jaejoong. I really hate him. When are you going to fire that guy?” he said with a frown, making me sigh.
You know I can’t Yoochun. I just can’t.
He heaves out a tired sigh before flashing a small smile. “It’s your choice, Yesung. Now off you go. I’ll be waiting for the release of the new album.”
Walking out of Dr. Park’s room, I suddenly remembered my brother. He was the sweetest ever, but he rarely calls me ever since he knew I went to become a singer. He works in the province now and the last time I saw him was when I had just debuted. Among the two of us, his desire to become a singer was stronger than mine. He finally got the opportunity to become one, but I took that away from him. I took that away from him when Jaejoong took me in and made me a star.
.: | :.
“What the fuck?! Why did this over heat? Stupid van! Fuck this!” Jaejoong curses continuously when the van stops. He slams the door shut when he hops out. I look around me and see we’re in front of a park where little children are running around and playing happily with each other. My gaze lands on a lone man sitting on a bench with a smile etched on his face. Kyuhyun.
I hop out the van then look at Jaejoong who’s talking--but more like shouting--at someone on the phone. Maybe the mechanic? I stealthily walk away from the van and approach Kyuhyun from behind. My heart’s thumping for some reason. I’m almost near him and I can feel my hands sweating and my legs trembling. Why I’m reacting this way, I have no idea.
“I see your son is doing fine,” I say as I take a seat beside him. My gaze is fixed on the little kid running around the playground and playing tag with the other kids. I can’t look at the man beside me because I know he’s staring at me in shock.
“What do you mean?”
“I saw you rushing him to the hospital the other night. I also saw you on the mall where you punched the man who happens to be my manager,” I chuckle at the memory of Jaejoong’s flabbergasted face. I should’ve taken a picture of it for remembrance.
“Sorry about that. I didn’t mean it,” he answers. When I turn to look at him, he’s scratching the back of his head with a blush evident on his face which makes me laugh. I laugh heartily for the first time in years.
“It’s alright. He got what he deserved.” Woah! Did that really came out of my mouth? That was really unexpected of me. “He forced your son to come with him because he said your son was so handsome. He wanted to make him a star.” I see him nod as he understands what had happened. “My name’s Yesung by the way. You are?”
Kyuhyun. I know your name is Kyuhyun, but for formalities I went ahead and introduced myself. This guy makes me really comfortable.
“Kyuhyun. Cho Kyuhyun and that’s my son Jongwoon. It’s a pleasure to meet you… Wait… Yesung? As in that famous singer?”
I laugh again, but this time louder. “Am I really that famous?”
“I’m a big fan of yours! I love your songs, though I’m not really fond of music,” he exclaims in excitement. So I have a fan boy? Sweet!
“Daddy!” I look ahead and see the cute little kid eyeing me curiously. I smile at him but he keeps eyeing me.
“Are you done playing, baby?” Kyuhyun asks his son as he picks him up and sits him down on his lap. Such a cute family. I wonder where the mom is.
“Yeah. Who is he, daddy?”
“He’s daddy’s friend. His name is Yesung. Say hi to him, baby.”
I kind of expect either a cute hello with a warm smile or Jongwoon looking away and acting as if I don’t exist. But what he does surprises me. He crawles out of Kyuhyun’s lap and comes over to me and then gives me a peck on the lips.
I turn to Kyuhyun who pulls Jongwoon away from me with a horrified expression. I don’t know how I should react. I’ve never dealt with kids before, but I would love to try. Kids are cute and adorable anyways.
“Jongwoon, please leave the poor man alone,” Kyuhyun sighs when his son crawls back into my lap again.
“Daddy, I like him. Can he be my daddy, too? Please? I know you’re lonely because mommy is with her friend.” I laugh at the kid’s suggestion. How old is this kid? Five or six maybe?
“What a cute kid you have here. He’s really smart for his age,” I mutter as I ruffle the kid’s hair.
“Yeah, that’s what his teachers say.” He smiles. I like it when he smiles. He looks so handsome and carefree. I wish he would smile at me like that one day. My thoughts fly out my head when the kid pecked me on the lips again. I’m only brought back to Earth by the ringing of my phone.
“Yesung, what are you doing there? Get back here right now!” Jaejoong orders. I look in the direction of the van and see him glaring at me while tapping his foot impatiently.
“I need to go now. It was really nice meeting you, Kyuhyun, as well as this little guy right here. Here’s my number. Call me whenever okay? I want to meet you and your son again.”
The kid goes back to Kyuhyun’s lap as I give Kyuhyun my calling card. I walk back to the van and before I hop in, I look back and wave at them. They have such a nice father and son relationship. I wish I had that with my father but he doesn’t want to talk to me. I sigh.
“Who was that man, Yesung?” Jaejoong interrogates when I close the passenger’s door.
“His name is Kyuhyun and the kid is his son,” I answer.
“I don’t want you hanging around him. Do you understand?” I felt my eyes widened in shock as I turn to look him in the eye. His face is stern and left no room to argue, so I just nod my head in agreement.
He starts the engine and drives us away from the park, away from Kyuhyun and Jongwoon. This is the first time I’ve wanted to know someone better, but I was once again forbidden to interact with anyone and that pains me. Silently I cry, and I make sure Jaejoong doesn’t see it. I make sure to let only two drops of tears fall from my eyes before locking the thoughts in the back of my mind and move forward.
CHAPTER 2 >>
Pairing: Kyusung
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG-13
Beta: broadway_bound3 she really did a great job helping me with this fic. Thank you so much!
Summary: To mask one's self in order to gain the attention of others, that was what Yesung has been doing all his life. He's been so good at it that he got to the point where he no longer knew himself. A singer was once his dream, now that it's fulfilled, he found himself suffocating in it. Masks and facade. will they be shattered painfully or will they be removed slowly out of love?
A/N: Yesung's part in The Lost Child. Sequel as well. Better read it first before this. And do leave a comment. Thanks.
Warning: Physical abuse and Jongwoon's cuteness overload in the last part.
“Yesung! Why are you spacing out again? You need to focus!” someone yells. I’m currently inside the recording studio and I’ve been standing here for three hours without stopping. I’m already exhausted from my flight earlier and I haven’t slept for two days now. My manager expects me to do well in everything without minding that I need some rest. I sigh. I need to focus and smile.
“Sorry, hyung. I just feel really tired, that’s all,” I answer.
He scoffs and I can’t help but clench my fists. “You’re always tired yet you never do anything. Now get back to singing or we’ll be here till dawn.”
I never do anything?! I just finished a concert. A two-day concert! After that, I had to fly all the way to Thailand to film a CF, go to a fan meeting, and then fly back here to this damned country for another recording session. The only sleep I’ve had so far was when I was in the airplane. The stewardess’, though a big fan of mine, couldn’t help but pity me. I saw it in their eyes.
I sigh again and try singing, but with my voice as hoarse as this, I don’t think today’s recording will be finished.
“Yesung, stop singing. Everybody, that’s a wrap,” Shindong hyung orders. And when everything starts spinning and going black I can still comprehend what’s going on around me.
My name is Yesung. I’m a singer--a popular singer. My manager, Jaejoong told me that to be a successful superstar, one needs to wear a mask to hide their real identity. I’ve been wearing mine since I was 18, when I first debuted. I’ve worn it so long that I no longer know who I am or who I was supposed to be. What kind of person was I? Does this mask really need to be worn all the time?
Just like a mask worn in a masquerade ball, his mask was prominent. His mask was more distinct, flawless. Because that’s what he was supposed to be. That’s what people expected him to be-flawless. But is that what he really was? Was the man wearing the mask really flawless?
It was a given that if you’re in the entertainment world, everybody has high expectations and the only thing the artist could do was prove himself worthy of this expectation. Was I not allowed to complain that I was tired or simply just hungry? Was I not allowed to voice out my opinion about the songs I would sing? Was I not allowed to re-live his childhood for once and act like a child?
The answer? No. A big ‘no’ sign was plastered on my face since the beginning. No. It was always the answer to my unvoiced requests. No. Always, no.
.: | :.
He continued till my face was flat on the floor-till I was bleeding. He never stopped because I never told him to. He never stopped because I never did anything to stop him. It hurts-physically and emotionally. But I’ve been taught to hide my emotions, even pain. So this pain is nothing. I’m nothing. I’ll forever be nothing.
I feel very alive on stage because people acknowledge me. People know me and they scream my name. The price of wearing a mask is this attention. This attention that people gave me and that I longed for-the attention that only my fans can give.
I got a week off, finally, and it’s all thanks to Shindong-hyung. I wish he was my manager instead, but he can’t because he’s the CEO of the DH Company. It would’ve been nice to have Shindong-hyung with me, because I know he’ll try his best to make me comfortable in every way possible--unlike Jaejoong who enslaves me with loads of work.
Jaejoong taught me that no matter what happens I should always smile. Even if I’m sad, hurt, angry or lonely, I should never forget how to smile; the mask he forced me to wear. I know it’s worn out and I don’t know how long it will hold on.
“Didn’t I tell you not to complain? Didn’t I tell you that in order to become famous you need to become resilient! You’re such a weakling!”
He hit me.
Again.
And again.
“JAEJOONG! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”
A shout.
A shriek.
Noises I can’t comprehend. I’m already so numb from the pain that both my body and my mind are in oblivion. I clos my eyes and let sleep take me away from this place.
“You’re an idiot, you know that?” Shindong-hyung mutters when I open my eyes. I look around and see that I’m in a white walled room-my room
“Hey, hyung! It’s nice to see you again. How are you?”
“Drop the act, Yesung.” His voice is so stern that it makes me flinch. “I tried to fire Jaejoong as your manager, but he said you two have a contract and the only person who can terminate that contract is you.
“Do yourself a favor will you? Let Jaejoong go and free yourself from this misery.” He ends his speech with a pat on my back before he leaves my room.
It’s true that the only way to end my contract is by voicing out my thoughts. But how can I if I’ve been brainwashed to believe that I should always bear a smile and not question authorities in order to shine?
Jaejoong made that contract with the knowledge that I’ll forever be trapped in his grasp. He’s the mask I can’t get rid of. He’s my mask, stronger than my own will. The devil of the play, the antagonist.
.: | :.
My manager and I roam around the mall. As usual, I have to disguise myself because Jaejoong hates being mobbed. I go to the washroom for a little while and leave him outside to do my business. When I return, I see him pulling an innocent child. I stood by the sidelines without doing anything. I didn’t even bother helping because I was taught not to.
The child is crying and keeps calling for his father, but my manager is pretending to be deaf. He even almost resorts to slapping the child to shut him up when a man, who I assume is his father, comes. His fist flies towards Jaejoong’s face. Blood trickles down his face as he sits on the ground completely flabbergasted at the turn of events.
The kid runs towards the man while the latter scoops him up into his arms. The kid keeps crying and holding onto his father tightly. The man, however, has a scowl on his face and he looks at my manager as if he’s going to kill him.
“If I see your face again, you’re dead!” The man threatens It makes me tremble, as well as Jaejoong. He looks at the man’s retreating back with a flash of anger in his eyes, I think. I can’t tell. I’m too busy admiring his courage for defending his kid and for himself as well. I wonder if somebody would do that for me or if I’d be able to do that for myself.
“Pathetic guy! He missed the chance of having his kid be a superstar. Whatever,” he scoffs as he pushes himself up then dusts off his pants. “It’s no longer my problem. Come on, Yesung. Let’s go grab lunch. I’m hungry.”
I look back in the direction the kid and his father went off to. Blankly staring off to the empty walkway, I silently wish to meet the two of them again.
.: | :.
It has been months since I last saw the father and son, and I kind of miss them. Due to my tight schedule I haven’t had time for myself-not that I’ve ever had any in the first place. But still, lounging on the couch doing nothing for an hour is already a luxury to me, or even a complete 8 hours of sleep. I’ve always been sleep deprived and whenever I get the chance, I instantly doze off.
My throat suddenly became hoarse due to being over-worked. I have a lot of year-end special programs to attend to and I need my voice to be functional or else I’ll lose my fans and they’ll start to ignore me. I don’t want that. I want their attention. I want to be loved.
Face masks are really helpful whenever you want to hide your identity to the world. I would know because right now I’m wearing one while walking down the hospital hallway, and not one person ever asked me for an autograph. I can’t be seen because news will spread and according to my manager, it’ll affect my popularity if people spot me inside a hospital.
The emergency room opened while I was roaming around the hospital. I have no idea why I was there in the first place but I got this weird urge to visit the said room. Two police officers entered followed by a crying man with a kid on his arms. The man looked familiar but I couldn’t point out where I had seen him.
I moved a little to let the gurney pass. The kid. It was the kid I saw months ago. What happened to him? I looked at the man again and saw him being held back by the nurses and police officers. It was the man who punched my manager. I wanted to go and comfort him but I couldn’t. Something was stopping me. If I comfort him, my identity would be revealed and I don’t want that. So I stood in a corner and watched him cry helplessly.
Minutes after the police officers left, two guys came with worry etched on their faces. “Kyuhyun!” Kyuhyun? So that’s his name. “Kyuhyun, are you alright? Where’s Jongwoon?” Who’s Jongwoon? The kid?
Kyuhyun said something but I couldn’t hear from where I was standing. I watched from a distance as the blonde hugged him. The doctor came out and I assume he said some good news because the new comers smiled and thanked him profusely. Kyuhyun mumbled something again, but this time the brunette slapped him hard on the face.
“Yes, all of this wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t met him. But did it occur to you that if you hadn’t met him you wouldn’t be this happy? If you hadn’t met him you would still be that insensitive, arrogant kangaroo that Hyuk and I are putting up with. If you hadn’t met him, would you cry like this? Would you show your emotions and be vulnerable for once? Kyu, you’ve changed for the better and it’s all thanks to Jongwoon. It’s all thanks to your son. He brought color to your life. Stop thinking about the negative things. He’s alive and that’s what’s important. Do you understand me Kyu?”
“Kim Yesung?”
I looked behind me and saw a nurse with a clipboard on her hand. She gave me a sweet smile which I returned but I realized she couldn’t see it because I had a face mask on.
“Please follow me. Dr. Park is waiting for you,” the nurse said before leading the way to Dr. Park’s room.
.: | :.
“Your voice is very strained Yesung. I suggest you rest it for a while, but I doubt you’ll follow that because of your profession. Talk as little as possible and only use it when needed. Here’s a prescription for you to drink and please, please, come back next month for a post check-up.”
I’ll try doctor. Thank you for your concern. Dr. Park gave me a pen and paper so I wouldn’t have to use my voice. He did insist that I rest it and use it as little as possible anyways.
“Your brother’s my friend and colleague. He’ll be angry at me if he knew I wasn’t doing anything to take care of you.”
I know. That’s why I’m really thankful. I’ll be going now. My manager might wonder what’s taking me so long.
“Jaejoong. I really hate him. When are you going to fire that guy?” he said with a frown, making me sigh.
You know I can’t Yoochun. I just can’t.
He heaves out a tired sigh before flashing a small smile. “It’s your choice, Yesung. Now off you go. I’ll be waiting for the release of the new album.”
Walking out of Dr. Park’s room, I suddenly remembered my brother. He was the sweetest ever, but he rarely calls me ever since he knew I went to become a singer. He works in the province now and the last time I saw him was when I had just debuted. Among the two of us, his desire to become a singer was stronger than mine. He finally got the opportunity to become one, but I took that away from him. I took that away from him when Jaejoong took me in and made me a star.
.: | :.
“What the fuck?! Why did this over heat? Stupid van! Fuck this!” Jaejoong curses continuously when the van stops. He slams the door shut when he hops out. I look around me and see we’re in front of a park where little children are running around and playing happily with each other. My gaze lands on a lone man sitting on a bench with a smile etched on his face. Kyuhyun.
I hop out the van then look at Jaejoong who’s talking--but more like shouting--at someone on the phone. Maybe the mechanic? I stealthily walk away from the van and approach Kyuhyun from behind. My heart’s thumping for some reason. I’m almost near him and I can feel my hands sweating and my legs trembling. Why I’m reacting this way, I have no idea.
“I see your son is doing fine,” I say as I take a seat beside him. My gaze is fixed on the little kid running around the playground and playing tag with the other kids. I can’t look at the man beside me because I know he’s staring at me in shock.
“What do you mean?”
“I saw you rushing him to the hospital the other night. I also saw you on the mall where you punched the man who happens to be my manager,” I chuckle at the memory of Jaejoong’s flabbergasted face. I should’ve taken a picture of it for remembrance.
“Sorry about that. I didn’t mean it,” he answers. When I turn to look at him, he’s scratching the back of his head with a blush evident on his face which makes me laugh. I laugh heartily for the first time in years.
“It’s alright. He got what he deserved.” Woah! Did that really came out of my mouth? That was really unexpected of me. “He forced your son to come with him because he said your son was so handsome. He wanted to make him a star.” I see him nod as he understands what had happened. “My name’s Yesung by the way. You are?”
Kyuhyun. I know your name is Kyuhyun, but for formalities I went ahead and introduced myself. This guy makes me really comfortable.
“Kyuhyun. Cho Kyuhyun and that’s my son Jongwoon. It’s a pleasure to meet you… Wait… Yesung? As in that famous singer?”
I laugh again, but this time louder. “Am I really that famous?”
“I’m a big fan of yours! I love your songs, though I’m not really fond of music,” he exclaims in excitement. So I have a fan boy? Sweet!
“Daddy!” I look ahead and see the cute little kid eyeing me curiously. I smile at him but he keeps eyeing me.
“Are you done playing, baby?” Kyuhyun asks his son as he picks him up and sits him down on his lap. Such a cute family. I wonder where the mom is.
“Yeah. Who is he, daddy?”
“He’s daddy’s friend. His name is Yesung. Say hi to him, baby.”
I kind of expect either a cute hello with a warm smile or Jongwoon looking away and acting as if I don’t exist. But what he does surprises me. He crawles out of Kyuhyun’s lap and comes over to me and then gives me a peck on the lips.
I turn to Kyuhyun who pulls Jongwoon away from me with a horrified expression. I don’t know how I should react. I’ve never dealt with kids before, but I would love to try. Kids are cute and adorable anyways.
“Jongwoon, please leave the poor man alone,” Kyuhyun sighs when his son crawls back into my lap again.
“Daddy, I like him. Can he be my daddy, too? Please? I know you’re lonely because mommy is with her friend.” I laugh at the kid’s suggestion. How old is this kid? Five or six maybe?
“What a cute kid you have here. He’s really smart for his age,” I mutter as I ruffle the kid’s hair.
“Yeah, that’s what his teachers say.” He smiles. I like it when he smiles. He looks so handsome and carefree. I wish he would smile at me like that one day. My thoughts fly out my head when the kid pecked me on the lips again. I’m only brought back to Earth by the ringing of my phone.
“Yesung, what are you doing there? Get back here right now!” Jaejoong orders. I look in the direction of the van and see him glaring at me while tapping his foot impatiently.
“I need to go now. It was really nice meeting you, Kyuhyun, as well as this little guy right here. Here’s my number. Call me whenever okay? I want to meet you and your son again.”
The kid goes back to Kyuhyun’s lap as I give Kyuhyun my calling card. I walk back to the van and before I hop in, I look back and wave at them. They have such a nice father and son relationship. I wish I had that with my father but he doesn’t want to talk to me. I sigh.
“Who was that man, Yesung?” Jaejoong interrogates when I close the passenger’s door.
“His name is Kyuhyun and the kid is his son,” I answer.
“I don’t want you hanging around him. Do you understand?” I felt my eyes widened in shock as I turn to look him in the eye. His face is stern and left no room to argue, so I just nod my head in agreement.
He starts the engine and drives us away from the park, away from Kyuhyun and Jongwoon. This is the first time I’ve wanted to know someone better, but I was once again forbidden to interact with anyone and that pains me. Silently I cry, and I make sure Jaejoong doesn’t see it. I make sure to let only two drops of tears fall from my eyes before locking the thoughts in the back of my mind and move forward.
CHAPTER 2 >>