[fic] The reunion (character's profiles + chapter 11)
Title: The reunion
Pairing: Jaemin (main)
Warnings: language, drugs, a sore in the eye (for this chapter)
Rating: PG-13 to R
Summary: The two boys were childhood friends, but a reunion was not always that sweet (btw as much as I love school fic, this is not one of them ^^)
CHARACTER'S PROFILES
(A really late one, but not without purpose! Now I don't have to be afraid of spoilers teehehehe . Btw multiple ages listed were the age in every written period of life in the story. As for Jae and Min, remember they had birthdays? xD)
Kim Jaejoong (12 y.o ~~ 25-26 y.o)
Formerly was a credible journalist loved by readers, worked in a prestigious art-lover community magazine, Beautiful Mind, before ended up as a humble CD store's employee. His views and attitudes towards love and work are complete opposites. Rather blunt, cries and get jealous easily.
Like(s): All form of art (esp music), brands, Changmin, Changmin, Changmin
Dislike(s): his own weakness
Shim Changmin (6 y.o ~~15 y.o ~~ 19-20 y.o)
Jaejoong's long lost childhood friend. Used to be a sweet, pushy kid who stubbornly offered love and comfort, returned as an ex-prisoner and mischievous drug addict who enjoyed teasing and blackmailing. The content of his head was always mysteries. Loves to paint.
Like(s): hugs, hyungs, painting, foods, pineapple
Dislike(s): crying Jaejoong
Kim Junsu (16 y.o ~~ 20 y.o)
A super rich college boy; while short-tempered and sharp mouthed, caring and affectionate in his own way. He was the one who dragged Changmin into drugs back then, and later regrets it for a lifetime.
Like(s): Changmin's paintings, dogs, popsicles, study (surprise, huh?), controls people, calls people with dishonoring names, jabs Changmin's neck with pineapple thorns, sends Changmin text messages out of the blue
Dislike(s): being shouted at, being given orders, being useless
Jung Yunho (25 y.o)
A therapist who helped Changmin with his addiction; played piano as a side job and hobby. Jaejoong's friend in highschool, had a big crush on him ever since. Has the patience and self control of a saint and weak against puppy eyes. And Jaejoong's touch.
Like(s): Piano, lends an ear, Jaejoong, cute dongsaengs, elderlies
Dislike(s): almost nothing
Park Yoochun (17 y.o ~~ 26 y.o~~ 30 y.o)
An important person to Changmin. He saved little Changmin from his former family and raised the boy with his own hand, before suffering from his pedophylic love and took a sick, reckless decision that ruined both sides. He filled Changmin's life with happiness, love, tears and lies.
Like(s): japanese pop (esp Fukuyama Masaharu), Changmin, Changmin, Changmin
Dislike(s): His self
(Additionals)
Choi Minho (16 y.o)
Jaejoong and Changmin's work buddy, a cashier boy. A smiley, cheerful, happy go lucky teen. In fact he didn't do anything wrong, he didn't even hate Jaejoong, but Jaejoong seemed to dislike him (basically because he acted aegyo and skinshiped Changmin a lot)
Like(s): handsome hyungs, skinship, money, fast foods, attention, fashion, Wonder Girls
Dislike(s): Super Junior (he said 'come on i'm cuter, right Hyung?' in which Changmin replied 'Absolutely' and Jaejoong sulked)
Kitagawa Eriko (47 y.o)
The owner of the CD store where the guys worked. A warm and energetic middle aged Japanese woman. Secretly a Yunjae worshiper. (unfortunately world doesn't always work the way she wants)
Like(s): handsome guys, Yunho visited Jaejoong in CD store at the lunchtime.
Dislike(s): When Yunjae seemed unreal.
Tahitian noni juice (made in USA)
Contains high amount of vitamin C and antioxidants. Drink regularly.
And soooo here's the storyy!! xD
CHAPTER 11A
"Hyung... it's strange. This someone I love… he's like a missing piece of puzzle. He feels so fit."
Changmin placed the rose bouquet in front of the grave.
"Do you think... I can try to live for the present? I just want you to be happy up there, and stop worrying. "
Tracing the beautiful lines of writing for the last time, he dragged his feet away from the cemetery.
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A squeaked sound elicited as Changmin keyed the door and pushed it open to have a rush of familiar air invaded his awareness. Clutching tightly onto his bag, the first step was reluctant like he was about to face the scariest test in his life; air felt thick around his throat. The house was, in fact, not as dusty as he thought despite no one had taken care of it ever since Yoochun had no choice but to continue living in a hospital. He had stopped his employees from working there; knowing he possibly wouldn’t come back.
Walking shakily across the living room, the tall guy scanned every furniture and utensil in a glimpse, not wanting to waste his time in the heart breaking scenery nor its reminiscence. He headed to his old room, only to find that it was still exactly the same with the one he saw for the last time. Not even an item had been replaced from its previous place, except for his self made drawings on the wall and some framed photos; they were no longer in the place they used to be. Everything occurred to be neat and tidy, even the bed sheet and comforter was the ones he remembered from 5 years before, tucked properly.
Feeling the uncomfortable tingle scratching his chest, he immediately closed the door even before turning courageous enough to walk through it. The next room was the place where his painful anticipation accumulated the biggest. His hand shook when turning the doorknob open, gathering the scattered strength and determination. While pushing the door in a slowest manner, he remembered how he had always wanted a same shampoo, same soap, and same cologne as the ones Yoochun owned; however he could never have the same scent as his stepbrother. There was something enticing in his smell that Changmin could never copy nor describe.
And Yoochun’s room was filled with that scent, to the point where it suffocated him.
It suffocated him even more to see the change in that room -its wall was now fully decorated by his paintings; the ones that Junsu had sold. Somehow they made their way to Yoochun, and Changmin just didn’t understand how. He only knew, from Eunjung, that throughout those years Yoochun had never stopped looking for him, and the drug incident and his imprisonment was what make the older guy discovered his existence. More thoroughly then what he had done to his room, he grazed the surfaces of every things -the table, the chair, the books, cupboards, the bed, wholeheartedly. It was like he could reenact Yoochun behind his study table, writing something with a faint smile, humming a song by Fukuyama Masaharu. He could almost hear his voice, calling him ‘Cutie’, persuading him to come closer, asking him what was wrong.
“Nothing. Nothing is wrong, Hyung. It happened for a reason… isn’t it…?”
He surprised hearing himself answered to air, while reaching out to the framed photos arranged on the table, admiring the past Yoochun and him, and their old, earnest smile, wondering if he could smile like that again in the future. Settling a bittersweet smile, he gathered the photos and shoved them into his bag. When the room’s scent was too much, memory jumbled and choked him in such point where he couldn’t bear; he was about to leave the room when something behind the table caught his attention. It was a padlocked wooden box about as tall as his knee, with his junior high graduation photo plastered on its top. Realizing that one of the keys he owned had smaller size than the others, he decided to try it onto the padlock. Fortunately they matched. In fact the box was filled with his old stuffs, squeezing his chest even worse. There were the misshaped animals he drew when he was a kid, his favorite clothes, his toys, his favorite cassettes, his school reports, even the birthday presents, and the written messages they wrote for each other.
He read one of them and couldn’t help but smile while drenching the crumpled paper with tears:
Dear Yoochun Hyung,
I forgive you for cutting your hair. I still want you to take my report tomorrow.
PS: Suddenly I want to watch movie.
Dear Changminnie,
My new haircut is cool, you just don’t want to admit it.
PS: Only if it’s Spiderman.
He gathered the letters and messages and put them into his bag, as well as the deluxe crayon box Yoochun once gave him as a present. It was one of his favorite presents and had loved it too much to use it often. Seeing it also padlocked and couldn’t find the key, he took some paper clips from the table before getting away from the place as soon as he could.
Apparently he wasn’t as ready as he thought, even the room air felt like pricks.
He read the text from Eunjung while finding his way out.
--No need to rush. I’m just carrying out his wish, that’s all. Tell me whenever you’ve got leisure time, my husband will help us get through some confusing things--
Changmin sighed. Eunjung Noona had called earlier and told him that Yoochun had made him his heir; the house and those entire properties was now his. However he didn’t feel the joy even the slightest bit. It just pained him even more to accept something that Yoochun had worked hard for, however he had no choice but to respect the deceased’s decision.
The painter arrived at Seoul’s train station about an hour before sunset, after spending a noon roaming around in Busan, the city where he grew up. On his way home he walked along the riverside down the road, feeling the sunset reflection on its surface while holding the crayon box over his chest, once in a while trying to unlock it with a piece of straightened paper clip.
He exhaled in relief when the last attempt to unlock the box succeeded, only to have his breath paused seeing something he recognized so well fell to the ground.
A rag handmade rabbit was staring at him with his black buttoned eyes.
The guy stunned. This one and Jaejoong’s one, he knew them. He knew them like the back of his hand.
“Give it back to me!!”
A desperate, high pitched voice shattered his moment of entangling the thread; he flinched in surprise and switched his attention to a group of elementary boys not so far from him, bullying a younger, thinner kid.
“Look at this sissy!! He brings doll to school!!” one of them commented, waving a bear doll he just snagged in disgust followed by a mocking choir from the others.
“No… please don’t take that… ” The feminine looking kid tried to get back his doll, begging in panic.
The older boy glanced at the river and smirked. “What if I throw it there…?”
“NO!!!!” The small boy cried aloud when his doll was thrown to the heavy current, unable to find any instrument to prevent the thing from fleeting away. For a brief moment the group cheered at the achievement they had made, only to have their mouth promptly silenced when a tall and slender figure jumped to the river, trying to get the forsaken thing back.
"SOMEONE'S JUMPING!!!" one of them shouted.
As the cold water struck, rows of scenery were displayed through Changmin’s vision like a film roll, showing him a room he used to see in his hallucinations, that foreign but familiar warmth he often felt in his dream. Someone whose face he could never decipher was now gradually forming its features, slowly but sure, like wiping a palm over a dewy window glass. As he began to lose his consciousness, the red lips, the tears, and the annoyed pout that had been vague were becoming clear, and it nudged his understanding why he considered the person as the missing piece of puzzle; he was indeed the missing piece of puzzle.
However when he reached that state, his chest had felt like constricted and so everything went dark.
He didn’t remember anything, didn't know how long it takes until the tumultuous sounds of people’s crowd invited back his consciousness.
“Hyung!!! Hyung!!”
“Young man, wake up!!”
Water spurted from his lungs, rinsing the disgusting taste of tobacco and old geezer’s stinky breath that had been occupying his mouth for God knows how long.
“See?? It’s the miracle of CPR!! Don’t worry young man, you’re saved!!”
“Seriously, why challenged such heavy current if couldn’t swim!!?”
“Was it suicide attempt…?”
Opening his eyelids slowly, Changmin frowned and gritted his teeth, fighting back the ear stabbing noise before hastily got up in realization about the edgy state he was in.
“Hyuuunngg!!!” Upon seeing the resurrected warrior, the feminine looking boy from before rushed towards him and hugged him hysterically, crying in both ease and worry. He gave him the bag and the bunny doll Changmin had dropped few seconds before jumping. “T-These are y-yours… “The boy stuttered in gratitude. “Thanks for getting me back my bear, Hyung….”
Still gasping, he patted the boy’s head, staring at his girly features with mind that wasn’t in the right place. “I… I should go….”
“Take it easy kid, you’re still wet…here, lucky you, I bring a towel…”
Changmin wiped the towel all over his face absentmindedly, not even scanning the faces of his life savers surrounding him. “Ahjussi… T-Thank you so much, but I’m in a hurry, really…”
“Are you depressed, kid? Come to my house, we’ll change your clothes and have a talk…” suggested one of them.
He clutched his bag and Minmin, the little one whose name suddenly popped out inside his head, tightly. He knew these kinds of persistent middle aged men could never leave a suspicious youngster alone until they could find a way to assure themselves that they had ‘saved the young generation from destruction’. So with one, long inhale, Changmin jumped up and dashed as fast as his exhausted body could, not even giving chance to the men to do anything but hanging their mouths agape.
“THANK YOU SO MUCH AHJUSSI!!!!”
His mind was a hullabaloo.
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[to be continued]
The next chapter will be around next month, unfortunately.
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Just kidding, here’s the next chapter.
CHAPTER 11B
Jaejoong had spent his off day in his comfy apartment, watching TV, playing piano, listening to music (lately he was into 'Loving you' by Minnie Riperton. Why? Because it's Minnie Riperton.), sometimes giggling like a lovesick adolescent. His cell phone was neglected in the corner, hadn't been checked for almost a day.
So it startled him to find 25 miscals by Changmin, wondering if leaving his apartment without permission could make the painter that panic.
Had something happened?
He jumped when the door bells rang repeatedly, and rushed to open the door only to jump even more to see Changmin greeted him with body soaked from head to toe, panting and glaring at him furiously.
“Changmin!! What happened!!??” The blond swirled around to find a towel but Changmin immediately gripped his wrist hard, yanking him into the room and kicked the door closed.
“Why don’t you tell me!!??”
“Tell…. you….?” Jaejoong frowned, couldn’t quickly grasped what the younger was talking about. He stepped backwards shakily, being defeated by nerve rending presence.
The fiery guy cornered him towards the living room. “You knew it, right!?”
“About what!?”
“You knew it!!! That was the only explanation for your strange behavior!!!”
Even to this point Jaejoong still couldn’t catch it better. “Strange…? W-Why strange…?” Whatever that meant it didn’t feel good. “I… I don’t understand Changmin, let me change your clothes first, okay…?” He groggily grabbed a towel splaying on the sofa and used it to absorb the droplets of waters from Changmin’s neck.
The painter shut his eyes hurtfully; his chest was being crushed to bits realizing what had happened all along, knowing what horrible pain he actually had caused, knowing how Jaejoong had suffered alone and the sight of Jaejoong treating him with such caring demeanor only made it worse.
However he was too blinded to do anything but lashing his complicated emotion uncontrollably.
“How could you do things like these and not letting me know…??” He swatted Jaejoong’s hand away, causing the towel to fall to the floor.
“Minnie, calm down… speak clearly… ” The more Jaejoong reacted with patience and affection, the more his emotion burned. He grabbed Minmin from his pocket and pressed it roughly against Jaejoong’s chest. “THIS!!!” The thing fell.
Jaejoong stared at the neglected plushy on the floor, eyes were shock in realization of what the other guy was fussing about.
“Changmin… you…. “
His eyes watered.
And Changmin’s pain only rose. He gripped Jaejoong’s shoulders and shook them roughly, causing the latter to wince in pain. It was ironic that while he hated himself from hurting Jaejoong, at the moment he couldn’t stop himself from doing it. “I GAVE ONE OF THEM TO YOU, RIGHT!? THE ONE IN YOUR BAG!! NOW I KNOW WHY THAT THING ALWAYS BOTHERS ME!!!
Jaejoong writhed and freed himself. “IT HURTS!!! STOP YELLING AT ME!!” he massaged his shoulder.
Stirred by fury, Changmin pushed Jaejoong harder. “WHY DON’T YOU TELL ME!!??”, he demanded, while the older guy wobbled and bumped against a hard table’s edge. Some books scattered onto the floor.
Now being equally furious at Changmin’s childish reaction, Jaejoong replied the blow with an equally strong push. “HOW!?? YOU’RE THE ONE WHO LEFT!!! YOU’RE THE ONE WHO DIDN’T REMEMBER ANYTHING!!”
“WHAT DO YOU EXPECT, I WAS A FUCKING TODDLER!!! MY LIFE WAS A MESS!!!”
“THEN DON’T BLAME ME FOR YOUR OWN CLUELESSNESS!!!!” Jaejoong threw a book at Changmin’s direction but the latter easily swatted it away. In reply, he grabbed Jaejoong’s collar and screamed at his face.
“YOU COULD TELL ME SOMETHING!!! YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH I FRENZIED OVER THIS!!”
“HOW COULD I TELL YOU WITHIN THIS MADNESS LATELY!!??” he grabbed a thin stack of paper and slapped it to Changmin’s face. The latter replied with a more desperate push, causing Jaejoong to fell onto the couch.
“YOU KNEW IT FROM THE START, THAT WAS THE REASON YOU STUTTERED AND STARED AT ME LIKE THAT!!!! YOU COULD’VE JUST TOLD ME THAT TIME!!!” He pressed his hands on either side of the older guy’s shoulder blades momentarily before ice cold water was splashed onto his face.
“COOL YOUR HEAD!!” Jaejoong kicked Changmin’s shin, placing the now empty glass back to the table. “DO YOU THINK I COULD BELIEVE IT, THAT MY INNOCENT ANGEL RETURNED AS A CUNNING DRUG ADDICT, BLACKMAILING ME WITH THE PHOTO OF A HUMILIATING KISS AND ACTED LIKE A TOTAL JERK!!!??”
“DO YOU THINK I WANT IT!!?? DO YOU THINK I WANTED TO STOP BEING THAT INNOCENT ANGEL TO BE THAT CUNNING DRUG ADDICT, A TOTAL JERK WHO ONLY WANTED TO FUCK YOU!!??”
Changmin instantly cursed himself seeing the change in Jaejoong’s face, knowing the older guy had taken his words the wrong way.
“….. I know it okay?… I know that’s what you think and I won’t ask for more, but why should you say it out loud--”
“Hyung!!! I don’t mean it NOW, you know its different now!!”
The older didn’t react to the amendment. The previous words had stabbed him deep.
“Yeah… everything is different… it’s just different… ” Tears threatened to fall from his eyes, and worse since the younger was having no clue of how to deal with it.
“Why are you crying!!??” The younger guy yelled in frustration before ended up gaining more waters in his already wet face.
“You’re crying too!!” Jaejoong retorted. He shakily searched for his bag, attempting to leave. “I-I think we better chill our head first…” He took a dash towards the door but even before the second step Changmin had caught his arm, yanking him back.
“OH NO, YOU WON’T RUN AWAY AGAIN, NOT UNTIL YOU SPILL EVERYTHING!!”
“IN THIS STATE!!?? TELL ME HOW CAN I!!!”
“STOP CRYING!!!”
“DON’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!!!” With a strong pull, Jaejoong retracted his claimed arm and hastily tried to escape only to have his body losing its balance and crashed against the table, causing the empty glass to fell and shattered on the floor. A chunk of glass flung and tore his heel, causing him to hiss painfully as the blood splattered onto the floor and soaked his jeans.
“YAH, HYUNG!!! WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS SO STUPID!!??” The panic Changmin tried to lend a hand but apparently the older was just as stubborn as him.
“GO AWAY!!!”
The painter let out a loud angry groan. With the speed of a ninja, he took the previously neglected towel, tied it clumsily around Jaejoong’s foot and carried the shorter guy in a wacky bride style.
Jaejoong blushed and gapped pathetically, wiggling and kicking his feet to random directions. “PUT ME DOWN YOU LUNATIC!!!” Suddenly he understood the mystery of adrenaline rush because in normal situation, there was no way the slender painter could lift him that easy.
“IT’S FUCKING BLOOD!!!!!! WE SHOULD GO TO THE HOSPITAL!!!”
“HOSPITAL!!?? THIS IS FUCKING NOTHING!!”
“DON’T BE SUCH A BABY!!”
“CHANGMIN!!!! LET ME GO!! I CAN WALK!!!”
“SHUT UP, YOU CAN’T!!!”
“JUST LET ME GO, FUCKTARD!! YOU’RE MAKING ME WET!!! CHANGMIN!!!”
Jaejoong really couldn’t believe how fast Changmin made his way out of his apartment room, leaving it unlocked (in which Jaejoong complained, ‘don’t treat my house the same way as yours!’ -but they left it unlocked anyway) and dominated the hallway and lift with their scene of quarrel, inviting weird stares and buzz of gossips from people passing by. Honestly, a guy soaked from head to toe, carrying another guy whose foot was wrapped by a bloody towel, yelling at each other? They were lucky police was nowhere to be seen.
Whenever Jaejoong screamed at Changmin to put him down, the taller guy only glared at him with a loud “SHUT THE FUCK UP”, and so the ‘bride’ could only mentally protested:
‘Remember when you threatened me with the kissing photo, when you said you’d leak it out loud to everyone that I’m gay? Well thanks, now you’ve succeeded.’
After some episodes of ‘got released and got captured back’, eventually they made it into a taxi, and even inside the taxi the quarrel continued, causing the innocent taxi driver to wince and flinch in fear.
“YOU’RE OVERREACTING!!” Jaejoong stormed, losing patience.
“YOU’RE UNDERESTIMATING THINGS!! JUNSU’S UNCLE GOT HIS LEG AMPUTATED BECAUSE OF SUCH WOUND!!!”
“I’M NOT SOME OLD MAN WITH DIABETES!!!”
“OR PERHAPS TETANUS!!”
“I CAN GET A TETANUS SHOT!!”
“THAT’S WHY WE’RE GOING TO THE HOSPITAL!!”
In less than 3 minutes they reached the hospital (in which Jaejoong grumbled, ‘I usually come here walking for God shake!’), right at their emergency unit to be precise.
“YOU CALL THIS EMERGENCY!!??”
“SHUT UP.” Changmin prevented him from stepping out of the taxi and called a male nurse to bring the wheeled chair instead. “SIR!!! MASSIVE BLEEDING HERE!!”
“IGNORE HIM, HE’S RETARD!!!” Jaejoong pleaded.
His face was deep crimson as nurses began to gather around hearing the phrase ‘massive bleeding’, before they dissipated one by one upon seeing the 2 cm length cut. Only one nurse stayed loyal, biting an amused smile and stirred Jaejoong to one of their rooms. Changmin almost followed them but the wounded guy prevented him by using the scariest glare of that day, mouthing ‘fuck you.’
Surprisingly Changmin obeyed, maybe because the older guy was already in the expert’s hands.
As expected the wound wasn’t deep enough to reach the muscle part, but still it required some stitches. However the worst part was the embarrassment scratching Jaejoong's face while the practitioners’ mocking smiles burned into his skin. But then as he waited for the doctor to finish uniting the separated layer of skin, his previously raging emotion evaporated within so many musings.
Came to think of it, it was a lie that caused Changmin to suffer all those years. It was Yoochun’s lie about his past, and most importantly Yoochun’s lie about his betrayal. The painter was sick of lies. He felt guilty towards Yoochun, and now his guilt towards Jaejoong was eating him. He put the blame on his own cluelessness, and apparently was too tired and confused to act in a wiser way.
FInally they had his wound treated beautifully.
After a while crippling towards the waiting room, he discovered Changmin was waiting for him on a seat, still with his damp clothes, slouching onto his knees and palms all over his face. He was really worried after all.
He walked towards the younger guy and knocked his head lightly.
Changmin looked up and asked the unexpected with a blank face, “Are you calmer now?”
“That’s my line!!” Jaejoong shrieked. Changmin ignored the annoyed look and switched the attention to the bandaged foot.
“…. Your wound…?”
“The doctor and nurses laughed at us.” He lifted his foot for Changmin for a better sight. ”See? It’s a kindergarten’s cut.”
Changmin slouched deeper. “There were so many bloods.”
“Well, not ‘so many…’”
“Still.”
“... My throat hurts. I want to go home.”
“Me too. My arms hurt. You’re heavy.”
Jaejoong sulked at the last comment though no harm intended.
After a while, he found his way out of the hospital and stopped a taxi. He stepped in and Changmin joined him by his side.
“Uhm… I thought you said you wanted to go home.”
“Yeah.”
“Why are you following me?”
The painter crossed his arms over his chest. “Whatever.”
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Jaejoong sighed in relief upon finding no trace of robber left inside his previously unlocked apartment room. Without saying anything to the taller guy who was tailing him, he proceeded to the closet and took out a loose T-shirt, shorts, boxer and towel, before shoving them to the taller guy’s chest.
“Wash yourself.” He said, sounding cold though he didn’t mean to.
Changmin uttered no word of objection; he dragged his feet to the bathroom and closed the door, while Jaejoong headed to the kitchen, boiled a kettle of water and waited its whistling sound while preparing the tea leaves absentmindedly.
Probably lost in thought for quite a while, he didn’t hear footsteps coming closer.
The kettle whistled at the same time as a pair of arms wrapped his waist, a chest pressed against his back and forehead against his shoulder. He yelped in surprise. “Oh… you’re finished…” He sighed, turning the fire off and sniffed his shampoo’s scent on Changmin’s hair. “See who hasn’t calmed down yet…”
“……….I’ve never yelled so much in my life. Now my head spins.” The painter mumbled to his shoulder.
“…..yet you don’t dry your hair. Come here.” Grabbing the painter’s hand, he took Changmin to his bedroom and prompted him to sit on the bed before looking for a hairdryer.
The next minutes passed without words, only the buzzing sounds of dryer filled the room as Jaejoong directed the warm air to Changmin’s head, while simultaneously running fingers through his hair. Changmin only stayed silent and looked down in obedient manner, waiting the older guy to finish.
Jaejoong had just pressed the dryer’s off button when Changmin clutched his hand. “Please don’t hate me…” the painter said, eyes fixated on his knees.
Enveloped by the familiar rush of warmth, Jaejoong tilted Changmin’s chin and blew his face with the dryer’s warm air, just for a millisecond. “Come on.” He said, rather firmly.
The painter continued weakly, rather stumbled in his words. “ I…I wasn’t angry at you, I just… angry. It was irritating.” His breathing cowered. “It wasn't your fault, it was mine, but I… I shouldn’t have… sorry. Sorry. That was so childish.”
“Minnie… it’s over now…” Jaejoong put the dryer aside and stroked the other’s guy head tenderly. He took a seat beside Changmin and pulled him into a hug, something the painter always loved since he was a kid.
Changmin nuzzled deeper. “Don’t leave me Hyung… I need you…” Jaejoong knew tears would soon defeated the younger guy again, all those incidents had brought that side of him into surface.
And so his immediate reply was a deep kiss on the other guy’s lips, stronger than words. He smiled when Changmin responded rather too eagerly, resembled a panic boy. Still he kept his pace slow, wanting Changmin to feel his earnest self more than the pleasure he might offered.
“I won’t, baby. I won’t” The blond finally answered when they parted. Changmin looked at his eyes, a bit surprised, seemingly thrilled upon hearing a certain word.
“… what did you just say…?"
Jaejoong frowned. “……Baby?”
The painter quickly planted his face onto Jaejoong’s chest but still unable to hide the ears that were as red as boiled crabs.
“Oh my….” The blond rolled his eyes but chuckled nevertheless. Changmin loved the mushy calling; it spun his tummy like an afternoon comedy.
Changmin took a pillow and placed it onto Jaejoong before scooting him further to the center of the bed, arranging their position so Changmin got a comfortable Kim Jaejoong and a pillow to place his head on, while the latter should bear a heavy painter on his lap and leaned against the headboard. “We’ll be like this for hours I don’t care if your legs cramp.” It was an order.
Jaejoong faked a pitiful tone. “I just hurt my foot, remember…?”
“Hyuuuunggg…” Changmin shifted a bit, trying to put less weight on Jaejoong’s bandaged foot.
The older guy burst out laughing. “Big baby.”
He spent some comfortable moments of silence by stroking Changmin’s hair, enjoying the times they both had lost, feeling the other’s steady breath rhythm on his lap .
After a while shutting his eyes in bliss, he noticed Changmin was gazing at him in both astonishment and disbelief.
So he placed a soft kiss on that ever so irresistible nose.
“Long time no see, Minnie-ah….”
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NEXT: EPILOGUE
A/N: The epilogue is up but I have to go now, so maybe I'll post it tomorrow at the latest...^^
Pairing: Jaemin (main)
Warnings: language, drugs, a sore in the eye (for this chapter)
Rating: PG-13 to R
Summary: The two boys were childhood friends, but a reunion was not always that sweet (btw as much as I love school fic, this is not one of them ^^)
CHARACTER'S PROFILES
(A really late one, but not without purpose! Now I don't have to be afraid of spoilers teehehehe . Btw multiple ages listed were the age in every written period of life in the story. As for Jae and Min, remember they had birthdays? xD)
Kim Jaejoong (12 y.o ~~ 25-26 y.o)
Formerly was a credible journalist loved by readers, worked in a prestigious art-lover community magazine, Beautiful Mind, before ended up as a humble CD store's employee. His views and attitudes towards love and work are complete opposites. Rather blunt, cries and get jealous easily.
Like(s): All form of art (esp music), brands, Changmin, Changmin, Changmin
Dislike(s): his own weakness
Shim Changmin (6 y.o ~~15 y.o ~~ 19-20 y.o)
Jaejoong's long lost childhood friend. Used to be a sweet, pushy kid who stubbornly offered love and comfort, returned as an ex-prisoner and mischievous drug addict who enjoyed teasing and blackmailing. The content of his head was always mysteries. Loves to paint.
Like(s): hugs, hyungs, painting, foods, pineapple
Dislike(s): crying Jaejoong
Kim Junsu (16 y.o ~~ 20 y.o)
A super rich college boy; while short-tempered and sharp mouthed, caring and affectionate in his own way. He was the one who dragged Changmin into drugs back then, and later regrets it for a lifetime.
Like(s): Changmin's paintings, dogs, popsicles, study (surprise, huh?), controls people, calls people with dishonoring names, jabs Changmin's neck with pineapple thorns, sends Changmin text messages out of the blue
Dislike(s): being shouted at, being given orders, being useless
Jung Yunho (25 y.o)
A therapist who helped Changmin with his addiction; played piano as a side job and hobby. Jaejoong's friend in highschool, had a big crush on him ever since. Has the patience and self control of a saint and weak against puppy eyes. And Jaejoong's touch.
Like(s): Piano, lends an ear, Jaejoong, cute dongsaengs, elderlies
Dislike(s): almost nothing
Park Yoochun (17 y.o ~~ 26 y.o~~ 30 y.o)
An important person to Changmin. He saved little Changmin from his former family and raised the boy with his own hand, before suffering from his pedophylic love and took a sick, reckless decision that ruined both sides. He filled Changmin's life with happiness, love, tears and lies.
Like(s): japanese pop (esp Fukuyama Masaharu), Changmin, Changmin, Changmin
Dislike(s): His self
(Additionals)
Choi Minho (16 y.o)
Jaejoong and Changmin's work buddy, a cashier boy. A smiley, cheerful, happy go lucky teen. In fact he didn't do anything wrong, he didn't even hate Jaejoong, but Jaejoong seemed to dislike him (basically because he acted aegyo and skinshiped Changmin a lot)
Like(s): handsome hyungs, skinship, money, fast foods, attention, fashion, Wonder Girls
Dislike(s): Super Junior (he said 'come on i'm cuter, right Hyung?' in which Changmin replied 'Absolutely' and Jaejoong sulked)
Kitagawa Eriko (47 y.o)
The owner of the CD store where the guys worked. A warm and energetic middle aged Japanese woman. Secretly a Yunjae worshiper. (unfortunately world doesn't always work the way she wants)
Like(s): handsome guys, Yunho visited Jaejoong in CD store at the lunchtime.
Dislike(s): When Yunjae seemed unreal.
Tahitian noni juice (made in USA)
Contains high amount of vitamin C and antioxidants. Drink regularly.
And soooo here's the storyy!! xD
CHAPTER 11A
"Hyung... it's strange. This someone I love… he's like a missing piece of puzzle. He feels so fit."
Changmin placed the rose bouquet in front of the grave.
"Do you think... I can try to live for the present? I just want you to be happy up there, and stop worrying. "
Tracing the beautiful lines of writing for the last time, he dragged his feet away from the cemetery.
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A squeaked sound elicited as Changmin keyed the door and pushed it open to have a rush of familiar air invaded his awareness. Clutching tightly onto his bag, the first step was reluctant like he was about to face the scariest test in his life; air felt thick around his throat. The house was, in fact, not as dusty as he thought despite no one had taken care of it ever since Yoochun had no choice but to continue living in a hospital. He had stopped his employees from working there; knowing he possibly wouldn’t come back.
Walking shakily across the living room, the tall guy scanned every furniture and utensil in a glimpse, not wanting to waste his time in the heart breaking scenery nor its reminiscence. He headed to his old room, only to find that it was still exactly the same with the one he saw for the last time. Not even an item had been replaced from its previous place, except for his self made drawings on the wall and some framed photos; they were no longer in the place they used to be. Everything occurred to be neat and tidy, even the bed sheet and comforter was the ones he remembered from 5 years before, tucked properly.
Feeling the uncomfortable tingle scratching his chest, he immediately closed the door even before turning courageous enough to walk through it. The next room was the place where his painful anticipation accumulated the biggest. His hand shook when turning the doorknob open, gathering the scattered strength and determination. While pushing the door in a slowest manner, he remembered how he had always wanted a same shampoo, same soap, and same cologne as the ones Yoochun owned; however he could never have the same scent as his stepbrother. There was something enticing in his smell that Changmin could never copy nor describe.
And Yoochun’s room was filled with that scent, to the point where it suffocated him.
It suffocated him even more to see the change in that room -its wall was now fully decorated by his paintings; the ones that Junsu had sold. Somehow they made their way to Yoochun, and Changmin just didn’t understand how. He only knew, from Eunjung, that throughout those years Yoochun had never stopped looking for him, and the drug incident and his imprisonment was what make the older guy discovered his existence. More thoroughly then what he had done to his room, he grazed the surfaces of every things -the table, the chair, the books, cupboards, the bed, wholeheartedly. It was like he could reenact Yoochun behind his study table, writing something with a faint smile, humming a song by Fukuyama Masaharu. He could almost hear his voice, calling him ‘Cutie’, persuading him to come closer, asking him what was wrong.
“Nothing. Nothing is wrong, Hyung. It happened for a reason… isn’t it…?”
He surprised hearing himself answered to air, while reaching out to the framed photos arranged on the table, admiring the past Yoochun and him, and their old, earnest smile, wondering if he could smile like that again in the future. Settling a bittersweet smile, he gathered the photos and shoved them into his bag. When the room’s scent was too much, memory jumbled and choked him in such point where he couldn’t bear; he was about to leave the room when something behind the table caught his attention. It was a padlocked wooden box about as tall as his knee, with his junior high graduation photo plastered on its top. Realizing that one of the keys he owned had smaller size than the others, he decided to try it onto the padlock. Fortunately they matched. In fact the box was filled with his old stuffs, squeezing his chest even worse. There were the misshaped animals he drew when he was a kid, his favorite clothes, his toys, his favorite cassettes, his school reports, even the birthday presents, and the written messages they wrote for each other.
He read one of them and couldn’t help but smile while drenching the crumpled paper with tears:
Dear Yoochun Hyung,
I forgive you for cutting your hair. I still want you to take my report tomorrow.
PS: Suddenly I want to watch movie.
Dear Changminnie,
My new haircut is cool, you just don’t want to admit it.
PS: Only if it’s Spiderman.
He gathered the letters and messages and put them into his bag, as well as the deluxe crayon box Yoochun once gave him as a present. It was one of his favorite presents and had loved it too much to use it often. Seeing it also padlocked and couldn’t find the key, he took some paper clips from the table before getting away from the place as soon as he could.
Apparently he wasn’t as ready as he thought, even the room air felt like pricks.
He read the text from Eunjung while finding his way out.
--No need to rush. I’m just carrying out his wish, that’s all. Tell me whenever you’ve got leisure time, my husband will help us get through some confusing things--
Changmin sighed. Eunjung Noona had called earlier and told him that Yoochun had made him his heir; the house and those entire properties was now his. However he didn’t feel the joy even the slightest bit. It just pained him even more to accept something that Yoochun had worked hard for, however he had no choice but to respect the deceased’s decision.
The painter arrived at Seoul’s train station about an hour before sunset, after spending a noon roaming around in Busan, the city where he grew up. On his way home he walked along the riverside down the road, feeling the sunset reflection on its surface while holding the crayon box over his chest, once in a while trying to unlock it with a piece of straightened paper clip.
He exhaled in relief when the last attempt to unlock the box succeeded, only to have his breath paused seeing something he recognized so well fell to the ground.
A rag handmade rabbit was staring at him with his black buttoned eyes.
The guy stunned. This one and Jaejoong’s one, he knew them. He knew them like the back of his hand.
“Give it back to me!!”
A desperate, high pitched voice shattered his moment of entangling the thread; he flinched in surprise and switched his attention to a group of elementary boys not so far from him, bullying a younger, thinner kid.
“Look at this sissy!! He brings doll to school!!” one of them commented, waving a bear doll he just snagged in disgust followed by a mocking choir from the others.
“No… please don’t take that… ” The feminine looking kid tried to get back his doll, begging in panic.
The older boy glanced at the river and smirked. “What if I throw it there…?”
“NO!!!!” The small boy cried aloud when his doll was thrown to the heavy current, unable to find any instrument to prevent the thing from fleeting away. For a brief moment the group cheered at the achievement they had made, only to have their mouth promptly silenced when a tall and slender figure jumped to the river, trying to get the forsaken thing back.
"SOMEONE'S JUMPING!!!" one of them shouted.
As the cold water struck, rows of scenery were displayed through Changmin’s vision like a film roll, showing him a room he used to see in his hallucinations, that foreign but familiar warmth he often felt in his dream. Someone whose face he could never decipher was now gradually forming its features, slowly but sure, like wiping a palm over a dewy window glass. As he began to lose his consciousness, the red lips, the tears, and the annoyed pout that had been vague were becoming clear, and it nudged his understanding why he considered the person as the missing piece of puzzle; he was indeed the missing piece of puzzle.
However when he reached that state, his chest had felt like constricted and so everything went dark.
He didn’t remember anything, didn't know how long it takes until the tumultuous sounds of people’s crowd invited back his consciousness.
“Hyung!!! Hyung!!”
“Young man, wake up!!”
Water spurted from his lungs, rinsing the disgusting taste of tobacco and old geezer’s stinky breath that had been occupying his mouth for God knows how long.
“See?? It’s the miracle of CPR!! Don’t worry young man, you’re saved!!”
“Seriously, why challenged such heavy current if couldn’t swim!!?”
“Was it suicide attempt…?”
Opening his eyelids slowly, Changmin frowned and gritted his teeth, fighting back the ear stabbing noise before hastily got up in realization about the edgy state he was in.
“Hyuuunngg!!!” Upon seeing the resurrected warrior, the feminine looking boy from before rushed towards him and hugged him hysterically, crying in both ease and worry. He gave him the bag and the bunny doll Changmin had dropped few seconds before jumping. “T-These are y-yours… “The boy stuttered in gratitude. “Thanks for getting me back my bear, Hyung….”
Still gasping, he patted the boy’s head, staring at his girly features with mind that wasn’t in the right place. “I… I should go….”
“Take it easy kid, you’re still wet…here, lucky you, I bring a towel…”
Changmin wiped the towel all over his face absentmindedly, not even scanning the faces of his life savers surrounding him. “Ahjussi… T-Thank you so much, but I’m in a hurry, really…”
“Are you depressed, kid? Come to my house, we’ll change your clothes and have a talk…” suggested one of them.
He clutched his bag and Minmin, the little one whose name suddenly popped out inside his head, tightly. He knew these kinds of persistent middle aged men could never leave a suspicious youngster alone until they could find a way to assure themselves that they had ‘saved the young generation from destruction’. So with one, long inhale, Changmin jumped up and dashed as fast as his exhausted body could, not even giving chance to the men to do anything but hanging their mouths agape.
“THANK YOU SO MUCH AHJUSSI!!!!”
His mind was a hullabaloo.
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[to be continued]
The next chapter will be around next month, unfortunately.
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Just kidding, here’s the next chapter.
CHAPTER 11B
Jaejoong had spent his off day in his comfy apartment, watching TV, playing piano, listening to music (lately he was into 'Loving you' by Minnie Riperton. Why? Because it's Minnie Riperton.), sometimes giggling like a lovesick adolescent. His cell phone was neglected in the corner, hadn't been checked for almost a day.
So it startled him to find 25 miscals by Changmin, wondering if leaving his apartment without permission could make the painter that panic.
Had something happened?
He jumped when the door bells rang repeatedly, and rushed to open the door only to jump even more to see Changmin greeted him with body soaked from head to toe, panting and glaring at him furiously.
“Changmin!! What happened!!??” The blond swirled around to find a towel but Changmin immediately gripped his wrist hard, yanking him into the room and kicked the door closed.
“Why don’t you tell me!!??”
“Tell…. you….?” Jaejoong frowned, couldn’t quickly grasped what the younger was talking about. He stepped backwards shakily, being defeated by nerve rending presence.
The fiery guy cornered him towards the living room. “You knew it, right!?”
“About what!?”
“You knew it!!! That was the only explanation for your strange behavior!!!”
Even to this point Jaejoong still couldn’t catch it better. “Strange…? W-Why strange…?” Whatever that meant it didn’t feel good. “I… I don’t understand Changmin, let me change your clothes first, okay…?” He groggily grabbed a towel splaying on the sofa and used it to absorb the droplets of waters from Changmin’s neck.
The painter shut his eyes hurtfully; his chest was being crushed to bits realizing what had happened all along, knowing what horrible pain he actually had caused, knowing how Jaejoong had suffered alone and the sight of Jaejoong treating him with such caring demeanor only made it worse.
However he was too blinded to do anything but lashing his complicated emotion uncontrollably.
“How could you do things like these and not letting me know…??” He swatted Jaejoong’s hand away, causing the towel to fall to the floor.
“Minnie, calm down… speak clearly… ” The more Jaejoong reacted with patience and affection, the more his emotion burned. He grabbed Minmin from his pocket and pressed it roughly against Jaejoong’s chest. “THIS!!!” The thing fell.
Jaejoong stared at the neglected plushy on the floor, eyes were shock in realization of what the other guy was fussing about.
“Changmin… you…. “
His eyes watered.
And Changmin’s pain only rose. He gripped Jaejoong’s shoulders and shook them roughly, causing the latter to wince in pain. It was ironic that while he hated himself from hurting Jaejoong, at the moment he couldn’t stop himself from doing it. “I GAVE ONE OF THEM TO YOU, RIGHT!? THE ONE IN YOUR BAG!! NOW I KNOW WHY THAT THING ALWAYS BOTHERS ME!!!
Jaejoong writhed and freed himself. “IT HURTS!!! STOP YELLING AT ME!!” he massaged his shoulder.
Stirred by fury, Changmin pushed Jaejoong harder. “WHY DON’T YOU TELL ME!!??”, he demanded, while the older guy wobbled and bumped against a hard table’s edge. Some books scattered onto the floor.
Now being equally furious at Changmin’s childish reaction, Jaejoong replied the blow with an equally strong push. “HOW!?? YOU’RE THE ONE WHO LEFT!!! YOU’RE THE ONE WHO DIDN’T REMEMBER ANYTHING!!”
“WHAT DO YOU EXPECT, I WAS A FUCKING TODDLER!!! MY LIFE WAS A MESS!!!”
“THEN DON’T BLAME ME FOR YOUR OWN CLUELESSNESS!!!!” Jaejoong threw a book at Changmin’s direction but the latter easily swatted it away. In reply, he grabbed Jaejoong’s collar and screamed at his face.
“YOU COULD TELL ME SOMETHING!!! YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH I FRENZIED OVER THIS!!”
“HOW COULD I TELL YOU WITHIN THIS MADNESS LATELY!!??” he grabbed a thin stack of paper and slapped it to Changmin’s face. The latter replied with a more desperate push, causing Jaejoong to fell onto the couch.
“YOU KNEW IT FROM THE START, THAT WAS THE REASON YOU STUTTERED AND STARED AT ME LIKE THAT!!!! YOU COULD’VE JUST TOLD ME THAT TIME!!!” He pressed his hands on either side of the older guy’s shoulder blades momentarily before ice cold water was splashed onto his face.
“COOL YOUR HEAD!!” Jaejoong kicked Changmin’s shin, placing the now empty glass back to the table. “DO YOU THINK I COULD BELIEVE IT, THAT MY INNOCENT ANGEL RETURNED AS A CUNNING DRUG ADDICT, BLACKMAILING ME WITH THE PHOTO OF A HUMILIATING KISS AND ACTED LIKE A TOTAL JERK!!!??”
“DO YOU THINK I WANT IT!!?? DO YOU THINK I WANTED TO STOP BEING THAT INNOCENT ANGEL TO BE THAT CUNNING DRUG ADDICT, A TOTAL JERK WHO ONLY WANTED TO FUCK YOU!!??”
Changmin instantly cursed himself seeing the change in Jaejoong’s face, knowing the older guy had taken his words the wrong way.
“….. I know it okay?… I know that’s what you think and I won’t ask for more, but why should you say it out loud--”
“Hyung!!! I don’t mean it NOW, you know its different now!!”
The older didn’t react to the amendment. The previous words had stabbed him deep.
“Yeah… everything is different… it’s just different… ” Tears threatened to fall from his eyes, and worse since the younger was having no clue of how to deal with it.
“Why are you crying!!??” The younger guy yelled in frustration before ended up gaining more waters in his already wet face.
“You’re crying too!!” Jaejoong retorted. He shakily searched for his bag, attempting to leave. “I-I think we better chill our head first…” He took a dash towards the door but even before the second step Changmin had caught his arm, yanking him back.
“OH NO, YOU WON’T RUN AWAY AGAIN, NOT UNTIL YOU SPILL EVERYTHING!!”
“IN THIS STATE!!?? TELL ME HOW CAN I!!!”
“STOP CRYING!!!”
“DON’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!!!” With a strong pull, Jaejoong retracted his claimed arm and hastily tried to escape only to have his body losing its balance and crashed against the table, causing the empty glass to fell and shattered on the floor. A chunk of glass flung and tore his heel, causing him to hiss painfully as the blood splattered onto the floor and soaked his jeans.
“YAH, HYUNG!!! WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS SO STUPID!!??” The panic Changmin tried to lend a hand but apparently the older was just as stubborn as him.
“GO AWAY!!!”
The painter let out a loud angry groan. With the speed of a ninja, he took the previously neglected towel, tied it clumsily around Jaejoong’s foot and carried the shorter guy in a wacky bride style.
Jaejoong blushed and gapped pathetically, wiggling and kicking his feet to random directions. “PUT ME DOWN YOU LUNATIC!!!” Suddenly he understood the mystery of adrenaline rush because in normal situation, there was no way the slender painter could lift him that easy.
“IT’S FUCKING BLOOD!!!!!! WE SHOULD GO TO THE HOSPITAL!!!”
“HOSPITAL!!?? THIS IS FUCKING NOTHING!!”
“DON’T BE SUCH A BABY!!”
“CHANGMIN!!!! LET ME GO!! I CAN WALK!!!”
“SHUT UP, YOU CAN’T!!!”
“JUST LET ME GO, FUCKTARD!! YOU’RE MAKING ME WET!!! CHANGMIN!!!”
Jaejoong really couldn’t believe how fast Changmin made his way out of his apartment room, leaving it unlocked (in which Jaejoong complained, ‘don’t treat my house the same way as yours!’ -but they left it unlocked anyway) and dominated the hallway and lift with their scene of quarrel, inviting weird stares and buzz of gossips from people passing by. Honestly, a guy soaked from head to toe, carrying another guy whose foot was wrapped by a bloody towel, yelling at each other? They were lucky police was nowhere to be seen.
Whenever Jaejoong screamed at Changmin to put him down, the taller guy only glared at him with a loud “SHUT THE FUCK UP”, and so the ‘bride’ could only mentally protested:
‘Remember when you threatened me with the kissing photo, when you said you’d leak it out loud to everyone that I’m gay? Well thanks, now you’ve succeeded.’
After some episodes of ‘got released and got captured back’, eventually they made it into a taxi, and even inside the taxi the quarrel continued, causing the innocent taxi driver to wince and flinch in fear.
“YOU’RE OVERREACTING!!” Jaejoong stormed, losing patience.
“YOU’RE UNDERESTIMATING THINGS!! JUNSU’S UNCLE GOT HIS LEG AMPUTATED BECAUSE OF SUCH WOUND!!!”
“I’M NOT SOME OLD MAN WITH DIABETES!!!”
“OR PERHAPS TETANUS!!”
“I CAN GET A TETANUS SHOT!!”
“THAT’S WHY WE’RE GOING TO THE HOSPITAL!!”
In less than 3 minutes they reached the hospital (in which Jaejoong grumbled, ‘I usually come here walking for God shake!’), right at their emergency unit to be precise.
“YOU CALL THIS EMERGENCY!!??”
“SHUT UP.” Changmin prevented him from stepping out of the taxi and called a male nurse to bring the wheeled chair instead. “SIR!!! MASSIVE BLEEDING HERE!!”
“IGNORE HIM, HE’S RETARD!!!” Jaejoong pleaded.
His face was deep crimson as nurses began to gather around hearing the phrase ‘massive bleeding’, before they dissipated one by one upon seeing the 2 cm length cut. Only one nurse stayed loyal, biting an amused smile and stirred Jaejoong to one of their rooms. Changmin almost followed them but the wounded guy prevented him by using the scariest glare of that day, mouthing ‘fuck you.’
Surprisingly Changmin obeyed, maybe because the older guy was already in the expert’s hands.
As expected the wound wasn’t deep enough to reach the muscle part, but still it required some stitches. However the worst part was the embarrassment scratching Jaejoong's face while the practitioners’ mocking smiles burned into his skin. But then as he waited for the doctor to finish uniting the separated layer of skin, his previously raging emotion evaporated within so many musings.
Came to think of it, it was a lie that caused Changmin to suffer all those years. It was Yoochun’s lie about his past, and most importantly Yoochun’s lie about his betrayal. The painter was sick of lies. He felt guilty towards Yoochun, and now his guilt towards Jaejoong was eating him. He put the blame on his own cluelessness, and apparently was too tired and confused to act in a wiser way.
FInally they had his wound treated beautifully.
After a while crippling towards the waiting room, he discovered Changmin was waiting for him on a seat, still with his damp clothes, slouching onto his knees and palms all over his face. He was really worried after all.
He walked towards the younger guy and knocked his head lightly.
Changmin looked up and asked the unexpected with a blank face, “Are you calmer now?”
“That’s my line!!” Jaejoong shrieked. Changmin ignored the annoyed look and switched the attention to the bandaged foot.
“…. Your wound…?”
“The doctor and nurses laughed at us.” He lifted his foot for Changmin for a better sight. ”See? It’s a kindergarten’s cut.”
Changmin slouched deeper. “There were so many bloods.”
“Well, not ‘so many…’”
“Still.”
“... My throat hurts. I want to go home.”
“Me too. My arms hurt. You’re heavy.”
Jaejoong sulked at the last comment though no harm intended.
After a while, he found his way out of the hospital and stopped a taxi. He stepped in and Changmin joined him by his side.
“Uhm… I thought you said you wanted to go home.”
“Yeah.”
“Why are you following me?”
The painter crossed his arms over his chest. “Whatever.”
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Jaejoong sighed in relief upon finding no trace of robber left inside his previously unlocked apartment room. Without saying anything to the taller guy who was tailing him, he proceeded to the closet and took out a loose T-shirt, shorts, boxer and towel, before shoving them to the taller guy’s chest.
“Wash yourself.” He said, sounding cold though he didn’t mean to.
Changmin uttered no word of objection; he dragged his feet to the bathroom and closed the door, while Jaejoong headed to the kitchen, boiled a kettle of water and waited its whistling sound while preparing the tea leaves absentmindedly.
Probably lost in thought for quite a while, he didn’t hear footsteps coming closer.
The kettle whistled at the same time as a pair of arms wrapped his waist, a chest pressed against his back and forehead against his shoulder. He yelped in surprise. “Oh… you’re finished…” He sighed, turning the fire off and sniffed his shampoo’s scent on Changmin’s hair. “See who hasn’t calmed down yet…”
“……….I’ve never yelled so much in my life. Now my head spins.” The painter mumbled to his shoulder.
“…..yet you don’t dry your hair. Come here.” Grabbing the painter’s hand, he took Changmin to his bedroom and prompted him to sit on the bed before looking for a hairdryer.
The next minutes passed without words, only the buzzing sounds of dryer filled the room as Jaejoong directed the warm air to Changmin’s head, while simultaneously running fingers through his hair. Changmin only stayed silent and looked down in obedient manner, waiting the older guy to finish.
Jaejoong had just pressed the dryer’s off button when Changmin clutched his hand. “Please don’t hate me…” the painter said, eyes fixated on his knees.
Enveloped by the familiar rush of warmth, Jaejoong tilted Changmin’s chin and blew his face with the dryer’s warm air, just for a millisecond. “Come on.” He said, rather firmly.
The painter continued weakly, rather stumbled in his words. “ I…I wasn’t angry at you, I just… angry. It was irritating.” His breathing cowered. “It wasn't your fault, it was mine, but I… I shouldn’t have… sorry. Sorry. That was so childish.”
“Minnie… it’s over now…” Jaejoong put the dryer aside and stroked the other’s guy head tenderly. He took a seat beside Changmin and pulled him into a hug, something the painter always loved since he was a kid.
Changmin nuzzled deeper. “Don’t leave me Hyung… I need you…” Jaejoong knew tears would soon defeated the younger guy again, all those incidents had brought that side of him into surface.
And so his immediate reply was a deep kiss on the other guy’s lips, stronger than words. He smiled when Changmin responded rather too eagerly, resembled a panic boy. Still he kept his pace slow, wanting Changmin to feel his earnest self more than the pleasure he might offered.
“I won’t, baby. I won’t” The blond finally answered when they parted. Changmin looked at his eyes, a bit surprised, seemingly thrilled upon hearing a certain word.
“… what did you just say…?"
Jaejoong frowned. “……Baby?”
The painter quickly planted his face onto Jaejoong’s chest but still unable to hide the ears that were as red as boiled crabs.
“Oh my….” The blond rolled his eyes but chuckled nevertheless. Changmin loved the mushy calling; it spun his tummy like an afternoon comedy.
Changmin took a pillow and placed it onto Jaejoong before scooting him further to the center of the bed, arranging their position so Changmin got a comfortable Kim Jaejoong and a pillow to place his head on, while the latter should bear a heavy painter on his lap and leaned against the headboard. “We’ll be like this for hours I don’t care if your legs cramp.” It was an order.
Jaejoong faked a pitiful tone. “I just hurt my foot, remember…?”
“Hyuuuunggg…” Changmin shifted a bit, trying to put less weight on Jaejoong’s bandaged foot.
The older guy burst out laughing. “Big baby.”
He spent some comfortable moments of silence by stroking Changmin’s hair, enjoying the times they both had lost, feeling the other’s steady breath rhythm on his lap .
After a while shutting his eyes in bliss, he noticed Changmin was gazing at him in both astonishment and disbelief.
So he placed a soft kiss on that ever so irresistible nose.
“Long time no see, Minnie-ah….”
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NEXT: EPILOGUE
A/N: The epilogue is up but I have to go now, so maybe I'll post it tomorrow at the latest...^^