[Oneshot] Tell me just once
Title: Tell Me Just Once
Rating: PG || Genre: Romance/Fluff || Status: Completed ||
Pairing(s): YooSu, Yoochun!centric
Warning: True facts mixed within the fictional ones [refering to Yoochun being in america and part of his meeting with Junsu]. Also, I own nothing, only the idea ^_^
Basic Synopsis: Junsu wants them to be "Soulmates" also.
People always told Yoochun that he was a gifted person.
The first time he heard that he did not even think about it. He was six and had just begun to know himself as a person, the world was his playground and nothing bothered him.
The second time he heard it he was twelve and not a child anymore (or so he thought), coming straight out of piano practice where his teacher kept repeating to his mother how incredibly gifted she thought Yoochun was. Yoochun saw his mother thanking the teacher, shyly, bowing countless times as her son was praised. She was proud, Yoochun thought, but her smile faded as soon as they got to the car and headed home.
“We are leaving the country.”
His mother’s words fell into the emptiness of his mind that day but he could not argue back. Not with her.
“Where? When?” he asked, not really wanting to know her answer.
“Virginia. It’s in America.” she answered and waited for her son’s reaction, but he says nothing “It will be better for us Yoochun, I promise.” she says, trying to look cheerful (and failing at that).
“Soon?” he asks, in a cold and straight forward way.
“Maybe next week” she states.
“I see. I guess we have to prepare, right? What about Yoohwan and dad?”
“Yoohwan is coming with us.”
“Yoohwan is coming with us.” Those words fall again into the emptiness that was Yoochun’s head at that time and he says nothing more. He just nods and goes to his room, the one he shares with his brother, jumps into bed and just stares at the ceiling. He won’t be able to sleep that night, he is sure of that.
Time goes by faster when you don’t want it to, is what Yoochun thinks after his plane lands in a country he is bound to hate. He thinks he won’t fit in, he knows that for sure. Nobody to talk with, no way to talk. No friends and a language he does not understand. He hates everything, but says nothing.
They have a small house near the center of the city, surrounded by trees and a basketball court. That would certainly come in handy, Yoochun thought.
School: He does not like it, but does not hate it either. He is the only asian teen out of a class of twenty-six students. All of them american, half of them blue-eyed blondes, none of them interested in the boy who came from Korea.
Yoochun heard it again when he was sixteen. “You are a fucking genius, man!” his friend, Tom spurred.
After the language barrier was gone, Yoochun had made himself known in campus. He did what he didn’t think was possible. He was one of them.
“Be serious. Genius for what?” Yoochun simply asked, getting up from the piano’s seat.
“That! It was fucking brilliant. Why didn’t you tell me you could play?” his friend asked, almost screaming.
“Because it’s nothing, just kid’s play. I’m not even that good. My fingers are all over the keyboard.”
Yoochun got his bag from the corner of the room and looked at his friend, staring at the piano. “Are you coming? I thought we were going for some basketball.”
Days, months, years went by. Their life did not go better like his mother said. She was overworking herself to be able to feed her sons and they were not getting anywhere. Sometimes it looked like the time was moving but they were far from moving on.
Yoochun had started working part-time a long time ago. He for once did not want to make things harder for his mother. Worrying about Yoohwan would be enough for her.
He worked everywhere, he did a bit of everything and he would earn enough to help his family and be independent at the same time.
He got his driver’s licence as soon as he could. Skipping school to go on a drive was his favourite thing to do. Not knowing where to go, just move on and go somewhere. A glimpse of freedom once in a while.
He started playing again. He would find himself using his pay check to buy books that would teach him how to play piano. Again. Better than before. He used the dust and box-filled old garage to put his new keyboard and sitting on an old chair, he would play whenever he could, sometimes through the night.
He taught himself how to play, on his own way. A free one, with no teacher telling him that he could not play this or that song and that made him happy.
He was not a brilliant student, not even a good one if he were to think about that. His grades were not something to be proud about and he simply did what he had to do to go through the high school years. No merits added, no mentions of his “geniality”.
He was popular with the girls and was proud about that. Yes, he was a player, but they liked it, and he had his fun. Micky, the name he chose after a year of hearing people ‘murdering’ his real name and trying to make it sound more ‘american’, had what he needed at the time. At least that was what he thought.
“You did what?” he yelled at his friend, not being the least careful and spitting all over the other’s face.
“What? What’s wrong? It’s just an audition. You would never try it on your own.” his friend stated matter of factly.
“You can bet on that! So, because I would never go in you just thought of putting my name in there? Without even asking me if I wanted?” Yoochun was angry, but at the same time he just knew why his friend did that.
“If it makes you feel better, I’m going too, ok? Just chill out. You’re probably not even going to pass the audition.” Tom blurted, as he started laughing.
“Hey! You believe THAT much in me, huh? I’ll show you then. I’m going to be the best they’ll get around here. Just wait and see.”
Tom just knew that throwing a little competition and the right words at Yoochun, no, Micky, would fire him up. He would always want to be the best. Always.
The audition day was nerve-wrecking and that pissed off Yoochun. He was proud to be calm and collected in every situation and yet he was feeling like throwing up as his turn to audition was drawing near.
“Park Yoochun. Is that right?” a tall and skinny man inquired.
“Yes, it’s me.” he was just too tired to talk anymore, so his words were just slurred and his tone, low.
“Why are you here? Why do you want to be a singer?” the man asked, as he adjusted his glasses on the tip of his nose and that was when it hit Yoochun. He never even thought about being a singer. Why was he there? What was he doing? He had to go away. But he was not able to.
“I want to give something to people. Something of mine, a piece of me. I want to touch them somehow. I just want to make a difference.” he states and he means every word.
“Have you told your family about this?”
“No” he simply says, eyes on the older man’s gaze.
“You should. You’re leaving for Korea in two weeks.”
“I’m what?” Yoochun was puzzled, not knowing of what those words meant. “Do you mean, that this audition…”
“You passed. Welcome to S.M. Entertainment, Mr. Park. I hope you are ready to work hard from now on.” and simply as that, the man removed his glasses, and called for the next candidate. Yoochun left the room, silently. His mind filled with too many thoughts, his face expressing a wide smile. A sincere one.
“I’m going back. To Korea. Is that ok?” he asked, the words just coming out of his mouth.
“You are going? When?” his mother inquired in a low tone.
“In two weeks. I went to an audition and passed. They say I’m good. That I’ll be famous.”
“Is that so?”
“I really want this, mom. I wanted for us all to go, but…”
His mother got up from her seat and looked at Yoochun. Her eyes, her look, everything in her was like Yoochun. Sometimes he just felt like looking at her was like looking at the mirror. He was like her and they just understood each other like no one else.
“I’ll ask for a leave from work and will take you to the airport, ok?” she said, smiling.
“Are you sure? Are you going to be ok just with Yoohwan?”
“I’ll manage somehow.” she simply said “Just do what you want to do, for once in your life, Yoochun. I just want you to be happy. You know that, don’t you?”
And like that, he just felt the luckiest being on earth. He felt like crying and he did so. That night, on the departing day and on his way back home.
He was back in his own country and now it felt like he was an outsider. “A new foreigner trainee is coming today” that was what he heard all day in the company’s corridors. People were talking about him, he was sure of that.
As the manager made him go into the training room to meet his new mates, Yoochun noticed that there were four of them in the room; all of them were dancing to a beat he’d never heard before. He noticed how two of them looked more comfortable with their moves while the other two seemed a bit stiffer.
“Can we take a break, please?” The raven haired guy said “I think the maknae will pass out soon”
Both of them stopped moving then, while the taller guy just grabbed a towel and sit on the floor “It’s you who is about to pass out right? Don’t put the blame on him.”
While Yoochun was able to witness that scene and hear the weirdest laugh ever coming from the guy who was previously dancing along - and that for some reason was not able to remain quiet - he thought the guy just looked so cute and bubbly…
Soon enough their manager announced their entry and the four boys got up immediately.
Yoochun had never felt so observed in his life.
“I will introduce your group mates to you now. So, here is Kim Junsu, next to him is Kim Jaejoong, Jung Yunho and the cute and tall kid is Shim Changmin” the manager introduced.
“Annyeong haseyo.” Yoochun greeted.
“I thought he was caucasian. Isn’t he american? Although he looks chinese to me.” Junsu whispered, only to be pushed over by Yunho.
“Shut it, Junsu.” Yunho demanded.
“But he DOES look chinese.” Junsu pouted, folding his arms tightly.
Yoochun smiled at the boy’s cuteness. Yunho approached him and greeted him with a smile, Changmin just said his greetings shyly and Jaejoong just kept looking at Yoochun like he wanted to take a piece of him. [He has such a cold stare] Yoochun thought.
“You still look funny to me…” Junsu said, while scanning Yoochun’s face VERY closely.
[Damn, he looks good too]
“Are you sure you are Korean?” The cute male asked him.
“Yeah, last time I checked.” [Is he wearing lip gloss?? Wait! Why am I even staring at his lips? Wake up, Park Yoochun.]
“How do you say reindeer in English?” He suddenly asked
Yoochun’s mind went blank then. “What? It’s… er… wait…” [I can’t believe I forgot it… damn!]
After a few seconds Junsu seemed completely disappointed and just scoffed “It’s Rudolph, pabo.” The boy said, tsking and Yoochun didn’t know if he should cry or laugh at him. “You’ll be a handful, but let’s be friends, Yoochun-ah”.
The boy stretched out his hand and grabbed Yoochun’s and the older thought if it was even possible or normal to feel something tingling inside while just shaking hands?
*
It would take longer until someone said it again. Those words. The ones he never liked so much to hear because it would always sound fake to him. He was twenty-two and this time, those words sounded like heaven.
“You are actually a genius, Park Yoochun. I’m impressed.” Junsu said, as he put down the music sheet on the table and picked up his hot cocoa’s filled mug. “Where did you get the inspiration for this one?”
“Inspiration? Huh… I don’t know. Somewhere.” Yoochun said, slurring his words.
“Somewhere, huh? I’d like to go to that “somewhere” and be inspired too. We all know you’re a genius composer, but seriously this time is really amazing. I’m sure it will be picked to be in the next album.” Junsu took a sip of his hot cocoa as he looked at a smiling Yoochun “You are smiling like an idiot.”
“I’m happy. I was called a genius. It’s only sad that it had to be by you” He teased, achieving his goal to see a frustrated dolphin-boy pouting. “C’mon, just let it out. You’re just restraining yourself, aren’t you?”
Junsu tried to keep drinking the hot liquid inside his mug, but suddenly an uncontrollable laughter came out.
“Ue kyang kyang! Oh, I’m so sorry, I was trying to be collected and sensitive, but Oh My God, it’s so incredible and Yoochun you are such a genius guy. Can I be like you? Can I? Please?” Junsu begged.
Yoochun took his music sheets and put them away inside his notebook. “That is impossible. There can’t be anyone like me” The man said, showing his greasy smile to Junsu “Anyway, it’s the first time you call me a genius.”
“You should not be that surprised. It’s true, you are a genius and if no one else would think that, at least for me you would always be one.”
“Really?” Yoochun was surprised by the sudden praising. “Thanks.”
“Yoochun” Junsu said, almost whispering. “Why aren’t we close?”
“What are you talking about? People look at us and say we are inseparable.” Yoochun stated
“Are we? Then why aren’t we ‘soulmates’?”
“’Soulmates’?” Yoochun was getting confused “Are you talking about me and Jaejoong and what fans call us? Don’t tell me you want to take that away from Jae like you did when you stole Changmin’s cute image after our debut?” Yoochun joked.
“I’m serious. I really wanted us to be closer. Like you and Jaejoong that go out to drink together and get tattoos together and talk about serious and important stuff together.”
“Are you in need of affection, or something?”
“Yah!” The younger yelled.
“Come with us, then. Drink with us. Do you want a tattoo? We can fix that also.”
“I can’t drink and I hate needles. Besides, I don’t like tattoos” Junsu said.
Yoochun rolled his eyes and let out a grunt that didn’t please Junsu “Didn’t you say you wanted us to be ‘Soulmates’? Are you a girl by any chance? Can’t drink and is afraid of needles… Besides, I thought you said you liked my tattoos.”
“I like them because they’re yours, but I hate it to be something where I can’t follow you. Couldn’t you have gotten into something that required less pain and was more… normal?”
“And why must you follow me at any cost?” Yoochun asked, folding his arms
“Can I really tell you? I want to be sure you won’t be mad with me before I tell you” Junsu said, looking intently at Yoochun.
The boy shrugged a bit “I don’t know, but I don’t think there’s anything you can say to me that can make me feel mad, Junsu.”
“I like you.” The boy blurted “I really like you” He repeated the sentence, looking at Yoochun while unconsciously sustaining his breathe.
Yoochun remained silent and didn’t move an inch not even when the younger got closer to him and made his lips touch his. He felt like he was dying. Correction: he had already died, all his thoughts had left his brain and his head only started functioning again when the warmth of Junsu’s lips abandoned his own. At the sudden lost of contact, he was left wanting for that act to repeat itself again just for him to be sure it had actually happened or maybe because it felt too good to be true.
“So?” Junsu asked, questioning the boy with both his words and his eyes.
“I... am… I’m supposed to say something?”
“I don’t know. If you want to. Actually it would be helpful to me since I’m kind of dying with embarrassment here.” Junsu said.
“I just never thought you felt like that. I was surprised and I’m…” Yoochun couldn’t finish as Junsu interrupted him.
“Disgusted, angry?”
“Happy.” Yoochun just let it out for once. “Shocked, but really happy. I was wondering if I was the only one having weird thoughts.”
“It looks like geniuses think alike. I’m glad they feel alike too”
Yoochun scoffed “I’m the only genius here, Mr. duck-butt.”
“Well, you might be a genius, Mr. wide forehead, but I know how you squirmed the last time you had a new tattoo. Jaejoong said you whimpered like a girl. Just admit it.”
“Alright, I admit, it did hurt like hell and I thought I was dying. Happy?” The older said
Junsu smiled then. “Yes, happy. From now on I want you to always tell me what you think, what you feel, what you want to say. That way we’ll share much more than over-sized body parts.” He said, trying to look mellow and suddenly realizing the smirk Yoochun was giving him “I am talking about your forehead and my butt, only and with no hidden meanings!”
Yoochun approached the younger then and leaned his forehead against Junsu’s “Sounds fair. I think I can do that”
Everyone always told him he was gifted. They would always say he had something inside him, an ability to touch people. Even if he did not know whether people were just being nice or actually sincere, Yoochun would always unknowingly do everything for others. To make them happy, to make them laugh, to make them cry (of happiness).
This time, he would be just a little selfish and finally do something for himself. Looking for what was important to him and holding onto it. For as long as he could, because he had suddenly discovered that being happy was not so difficult after all.
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A/N: Happy Yoosu Day!!
