LOVE IN A SNAP - CHAPTER 1
LOVE IN A SNAP
Pairing: YunJae
Genre: Fluff, Romance
Summary: Jaejoong is set on capturing the heart of Eri. Except in order to do that, he has to win against the charming Jung Yunho who is also actively pursuing her. Now hoping to get an edge over his rival, Jaejoong sabotages the man’s every attempt to woo the girl he likes. But just when he thought everything was going according to plan, an accident happens that somehow, by twist of fate, directs Yunho’s charm and unbidden attention towards him.
sorry, this chapter is unbeta'd as always.
If you spot any spelling mistakes and such,
please feel free to point it out so I can correct it.
***
Jaejoong prepared a gift one monday morning because he learned chocolate cake was her favorite. "Eri-chan! I made you something.” He beamed, completely ignoring Yunho’s scowl for interrupting their conversation.
He had that shy smile on him as he approached their table when suddenly, he tripped on thin air. He watched in horror as the cake flew and then toppled over Eri's head.
She shrieked in disgust at her current state while everyone in the cafeteria laughed, pointing at them.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” Jaejoong gasped, then glared at Yunho who was shaking his head in mirth. “You! Look what you made me do!”
“Me?” Yunho questioned with raised eyebrows. “My dashing good looks made you fall?"
“No, your ugliness was in the way!”
“Sure, blame your clumsiness on someone else.”
Jaejoong hated that even magic couldn’t fix that part of him. He was terribly uncoordinated. He profusely mumbled an apology to the distraught girl before snapping at Yunho again.
"Shut up.” Jaejoong growled. “I can’t even look at you. You are so ugly it's torture to me.”
“Better than looking like a wimpy little girl."
“What did you say?!”
“I said you look like a girl.” Yunho said, his casual tone provoking Jaejoong further.
Face red and looking ready to burst in anger, he grabbed Yunho by the collar and whispered menacingly, “Don’t… ever… call me that again.”
“Whoa now, not so close.” Yunho’s mouth twisted into a light teasing smile. “You’re not gonna kiss me are you?”
Jaejoong instantly distanced himself from Yunho who in turn laughed at his bewildered expression. They were busy squabbling while Eri, was smack right in the middle looking from one to the other.
“Please, stop it. You’re embarrassing me.” She mumbled awkwardly. Then excused herself as she ran to the restroom leaving her two suitors biting each other’s head off.
“It’s your fault. You scared her away.” Jaejoong snarled.
“My fault? don't be ridiculous.”
“I hate you.”
“Don’t worry, the feeling’s mutual.”
They scoffed at each other before turning away in opposite directions. Yunho didn’t get very far though when Jaejoong snapped his finger, instantly making Yunho tumble forward landing face flat on the floor.
***
"You just wait," he mumbled under his breath. "You'll see who the little girl is between us once I kick your ass."
Taking a turn around the curb, he quickened his steps taking the familiar road knowing it led him to his favorite place; a small coffee shop that served the best caramel macchiato in town. The bell jingled upon pushing the door open and he was greeted warmly by the wait staff, most of them he already knew by name. His eyes scanned the quaint room for an empty table, brightening up instantly when he spotted one at the far corner. He dropped himself dramatically on the empty seat, puffing a loud breath when he jerked upright upon hearing a familiar giggle.
The shop was set-up with wooden dividers that separated every table for a bit of privacy, so it was impossible to see who was behind him without actually looking like a creeper.
He heard another familiar voice, and right then he knew, because there was no mistaking who it was. He kneeled on the cushioned chair and peered over the cubicle next to him. His eyes widened confirming his suspicion.
He stood up, marched over to the other side and squeezed himself next to Eri. “Funny, I didn’t expect to see you here."
"Jaejoong. Hi." She smiled. "Do you come here often?"
“Yes, actually--“
”You're interrupting our date," Yunho said cutting him off. "Go away."
"What date?” He blinked innocently at them.
"Can't you see we’re--“
"Shut it, pug face.” He said pointing an open palm at Yunho’s face. Turning to Eri, "I was feeling lonely sitting there alone," he said, while propping an elbow on the table and resting his chin on his palm. "Then I heard your beautiful laugh as if it was calling to me,” he added with a dreamy sigh. "It's fate I tell you."
Yunho ignored him. “Would you mind trading seats with me, Eri-chan?” he insisted noticing the two’s close proximity.
"I do mind!” Jaejoong interjected glaring at Yunho. “Do you need saving from this monstrosity, Eri? I can take you somewhere else.”
She looked from one to the other, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.
"Back off.” Yunho hissed, kicking a foot under the table but mistakenly hit Eri's leg. She yelped in surprise.
"Sorry!" Yunho grimaced. He kicked again, his foot still hitting the same spot.
She yelped one more time.
"What..." Yunho looked under the table and saw why he kept missing. Jaejoong's feet were actually pulled up.
Jaejoong crouched down at the same time meeting Yunho's gaze under the table while swinging his legs back and forth as he grinned deviously at him.
Ten minutes into the conversation, Eri's phone began to beep successively. “I have to go,” she mumbled reading the messages. “My mom needs me back home.”
“But I just got here. Can't you stay a little longer?” Jaejoong pleaded.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized to Yunho as well who nodded at her in understanding. “I'll see you guys at school,” she said before waving goodbye.
“You always ruin everything.” Yunho sighed in exasperation. “Didn’t you notice your company wasn’t welcomed?”
“Excuse you, she was talking to me. I don’t think--“
"Here you go, Jaejoong." The waiter arrived with his cup of caramel macchiato. "The usual... and one extra cup for Jaejoong's date," he grinned. "It's on the house."
"No! He's not!"
"Yeah, I really am not!”
"Don't worry," the small guy whispered to both of them conspiratorially. "I don't judge." He gave a wink before moving along.
There was an awkward silence as they blinked at each other. Jaejoong shifted, deciding to speak. "Well Eri's not here now, don't you think it's time for you to leave?"
"This is my table. You leave."
"Hmpf." Jaejoong stood up and made his way back to his original spot but found it was already occupied. He glanced around, biting his lip seeing all others were taken as well.
"Don't... say a word.”
Yunho looked up in surprise when Jaejoong sat back on the empty seat across from him.
“That's my free coffee you're drinking,” he added quickly. It was another way of saying they were sharing a table whether Yunho liked it or not.
They momentarily glared at each other before finally, slumping back to their seats as they both conceded--
"Fine."
"Fine."
They basically ignored each other's existence the entire time until the nosy waiter returned to their table asking if they needed anything else.
"Choco chip muffin." The two uttered at the same time.
Jaejoong scrunched his nose. "Actually, no, I'll get anything he's not having," he said moodily.
Moments later though, regretting his decision, Jaejoong spent more time poking his carrot cupcake in disgust. Yunho observing his gloomy face, pointed at it in light amusement.
"Aren't you gonna eat that?"
Jaejoong looked up, blinking his sad puppy eyes away into his usual cold expression.
Yunho studied his face then to Jaejoong's surprise, "You look pitiful. Okay, how about a trade?" He swiped the plate under Jaejoong's merciless poking and shoved his plate of untouched muffin forward.
"Here, take mine."
Jaejoong eyed him suspiciously.
"You don't want it? well then--"
Jaejoong slapped Yunho's hand away. "I didn't say I didn't want it!" He was positive that he spotted a small smile from Yunho but Jaejoong ignored it as he attacked the muffin in glee.
***
Jaejoong believed wednesday was going to be his lucky day. He sniggered, a bottle of mixture in his hand which he named 'Fall-in-love-with-Jaejoong-because-he's-more-handsome-than-Yunho's-ugly-face' potion. But there was a catch, the effect would last no more than a week before the magic wore off. Jaejoong was confident though that it was enough time to discourage Yunho from pursuing Eri anymore. How to make her fall in love for real was something he could worry about later when her rival was finally out of the way.
Jaejoong beamed thinking himself an absolute genius. Now all he had to do was find Eri and--
“Ooof!”
As he made a turn at the end of the empty hallway, Yunho turned up out of nowhere, all sweaty looking like he just got out of gym class.
"Watch where you're going."
"You bumped into me!"
“Grow a few more inches, will ya? maybe I won't have any trouble seeing you next time.” Yunho paused, wiping away droplets of sweat from his forehead. “Can I have that?”
“It’s not my fault you’re a 6-foot walking celery!” Jaejoong was busy scowling at the insult he didn't notice Yunho eyeing the drink that it took a second for him to react when the bottle was quickly snatched away from his hand.
“Wait! No, no! You can't... give that back!" Jaejoong tried to reach for it but Yunho firmly held him by the head and kept him away at an arm's length.
"You're such a brat." Yunho sneered disapprovingly. "I’ll buy you another one." Then using his mouth to swirl the cap open, he took a swig and finished the contents down to the last drop.
Jaejoong looked on with wide eyes, no longer struggling as he just stood there gaping like a fish.
“What?”
Jaejoong blinked comically. “Uh…”
Yunho leaned closer. “I know my face can be quite distracting to an average guy but it’s really creepy to stare at me like that.”
“A-Are you okay?” Jaejoong spouted in panic. “You don’t feel... anything... weird?”
Yunho frowned. “You’re the one acting weird.”
Jaejoong gave him a final once-over, and once he’d decided Yunho was still acting like himself--cocky and stupid, only then did he finally manage a sigh of relief.
Phew.
“Okay. Cool.” Maybe it only worked on girls. He was just about to leave when Yunho's voice stopped him.
"Where are you headed anyway? Looking for Eri I presume?” Yunho was casually leaning against the wall with that unsettling calmness forever plastered on his face.
Jaejoong blinked again. “What’s it with you?”
“Nothing that interests me, just that if you’re planning to ask her out,” the corner of his mouth quirked upwards knowingly. “You should know she already agreed to go to the park with me later.”
“No, she didn’t.” Jaejoong contested but Yunho just shrugged, flicking away an imaginary lint off his shoulder before walking away. That overconfidence emanating from him though was enough to rile Jaejoong up.
“Yah!” He barked, his voice echoing through the empty halls reaching Yunho’s retreating back. “Don’t gloat about it just yet because it’s not over, you hear me? I’m not losing to you!”
Yunho waved a hand without turning back. “Not gonna happen, pretty boy. but I'd like to see you try.”
Jaejoong stood there, seething in silence. How he hated Yunho's guts! For his next attempt, he was going to make sure it packed enough heat to kick Yunho out of the picture once and for all--
"Wait," Jaejoong's scowl deepened. "Did he just call me pretty? but he'd never… maybe…? nah.”
He shrugged the thought dismissively as he quickly made a beeline to the central park thinking he had an afternoon date to spy on.
***
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A/N:
Hello guys! I'm done with Chapter 2 but it still needs a bit of editing. I'll be going away with my family for over a week and won't be back until the 28th. So... I probably won't be able to update for a while. I'll really really try to keep the story short so I can start on this another story that I've always wanted to write. That one will be longer I think. :) ANYWAY, I hope you enjoyed this one! Let me know what you think!