Paper Cranes 13/??
Title: Paper Cranes 13/??(Sequel to Paper Cuts)
Author: giveitupjessica
Rating: PG-NC-17 (depending on the chapter)
Pairings: 2min, onkey, jazzhyun (read paper cuts to know about this one), taemin/sulli
Genre: AU, romance, comedy, pregnancy, angst
Summary: Lee Taemin was everything Minho wanted in a lover. He was the boy he wanted to come home to. The kind of boy that he never wanted to leave. The kind of boy that makes Minho want to give him everything. And finally it seemed like that he was finally going to get what he wanted. Taemin was breaking up with Sulli to be with him. He couldn't be happier. But just how long will their happiness last? Minho knew the kind of storm that would brew once Taemin broke up with Sulli, but he didn't care. He was going to stay by Taemin, no matter what. As long as the younger's heart was beating next to his, he didn't care. (sorry I suck at summaries)
A/N: Since my last chapter was kind of a fail. I decided to update again. This one is a lot of better. :) Hope you enjoy and please comment <3
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Minho and I were sitting in the living room on this quiet night as rain lightly landed on the window. I was sitting in front of the coffee table with my math homework spread out in front of me. Minho’s was sitting on the couch, legs outstretched using the coffee table as a footrest, laptop resting on his lap. I loved nights like this. Where we were drowning in a comfortable silence, working on our own individual things, content with just feeling each other’s presence. I had started to move all my stuff into his place the day after he asked me to move in with him. It was actually working out amazingly. We quickly fell into a nice routine with one another. I definitely felt at home here with him. More so than I ever did in my actual home growing up. Key and Onew have moved into my old apartment and Jazzy and Jonghyun were a few floors up. Everything was perfect.
A knock on the door pulls my attention away from the problem I’ve been trying to figure out for the past fifteen minutes, “I’ll get it!” I shoot up from the floor and half walk, half slide over to the door. I open the door and let out a shocked squeak.
“Who is it baby?” Minho calls from the living room.
“Uh, uh,” I try to answer, but can’t. My parents are standing in front of me. My mom is smiling while my dad has a grimace on his face. Definitely wasn’t expecting this. Nice curve ball Lady Fate.
“Taemin,” my dad says.
“Appa, umma,” manage to stumble out of my mouth.
“Baby,” I can hear Minho’s voice from behind me, “Who’s at the door?”
“Baby?” my dad raises an eyebrow at me.
“Um,” I turn back and forth between my parents and my lover. I had no idea what to do or what to say.
“Taemin?” my mom grabs my hand, “Sweetheart? Are you okay? You look a little pale. Maybe we should go and sit down.”
“No, it’s okay umma,” I squeeze her hand, “I’m okay. What are you guys doing here?”
“Well we were in the neighborhood and thought we should visit our son,” my mom gives me a warm smile.
“Imagine our surprise when we knock on what we think is your door to be greeted by some stranger with a drumstick in his hand saying you don’t live there anymore. That you live across the hall with your boyfriend. Boyfriend?! Lee Taemin!” my dad’s voice bellows down the halls.
Onew and Key open up their door and look around. And sure enough Onew is holding a drumstick in his hand as they look at us. He gives me a sympathetic look and Key gives me a worried one.
“What is this about a boyfriend?” my dad’s voice is no longer loud, but the anger is still there. I flinch when I hear him speak. How was I going to get out of this one alive? I feel Minho behind me now, his arm snakes around my waist and my dad takes notice of it. I see his glare get more intense and I flinch into Minho’s embrace.
“I’m sorry,” Minho says in his usual calm and collected voice, “We haven’t been properly introduced. I’m Choi Minho, your son’s boyfriend. I apologize, I didn’t expect our first meeting to be like this. Please come in.”
Minho pulls both of our bodies to the side so that my parents can step into the apartment. Once we’re all inside, he leads the way to the living room, “I’m sorry for the mess. We were studying,” He leaves my side and quickly gathers up all of our stuff in a neat pile on the coffee table.
“Please take a seat. Can I get you anything? Water? Juice?” Minho asks still standing in the middle of the room.
“No, we’re okay,” my dad replies.
“So um, appa, umma,” I stutter again.
“Taemin, I’m still waiting from an explanation from you,” my dad is staring me down and my words are stuck in my throat.
“Honey, stop it. You’re making everyone uncomfortable. I’m sure Taemin will explain everything to us once you stop interrogating him,” my mom tells my dad.
“Excuse me Minho-ssi,” my dad turns his attention to Minho still hasn’t taken a seat yet. He must be feeling intimidated by my dad too.
“Yes sir?”
“Do you mind leaving us alone with Taemin for awhile. We need to talk to him in private. Family matters. You understand right?”
I get up from where I’m sitting and walk over to his side. I grab his hand and look at my parents, “He can stay. He is my boyfriend. Whatever you want to talk about to me, you can say in front of him.”
“Taemin,” my dad is giving me a stern look now.
“It’s okay baby,” Minho says down to me and kisses the top of my head, “I’ll be at Jazzy’s. I have my phone if you guys need anything. Please feel free to stay as long as you like and make yourselves at home. There are drinks and food in the kitchen.”
“Minho, please don’t go,” I whisper to him as I pull him into a hug, “Please. I need you here with me.”
“Your dad obviously doesn’t want me here baby. I don’t think we need to make him more mad than he already is. I’m only going to be a few floors up. Just text me if you need anything.”
“Can’t you just go across the hall instead? That way I know you’re near?”
“It’s only three floors. It’ll take me five minutes tops to get back down here. Besides, I’m sure Onew and Key hyung want to be alone on their first night in their new place. You’ll be fine. Love you,”
“Love you too,” I go up on my tippy toes and peck his lips. He seems a bit surprised when he pulls away, but smiles at me nonetheless.
“Bye. It was nice meeting you Mr. and Mrs. Lee,” and with that Minho is out the door. I hesitantly turn back to my parents. My mom is trying to hold back a smile while my dad is staring at me, not happy at all.
“Taemin, sit down,” my dad orders me like I was five again. It brought me back to the time that I accidentally used his notes as doodling paper and he called me into his office to scold me. I take a seat on the recliner and try not to make eye contact with my parents.
“What is going on son? I’m gone for a few short weeks and I come back to this? You’ve broken off your engagement to Sulli and you’re dating a man. You’re dating a man and you’ve moved in with him?”
“Appa, I can explain.”
“I sure hope you can. What the hell is going on?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t love Sulli. I’ve realized that I never have. So I can’t stand in front of a priest, god, you two, Sulli, and her parents and declare my love for her. Because I don’t feel that way for her. If anything it was just deep like and admiration. I never meant to fall for Minho, at least not this hard and this fast. But I do love him. I love him a lot.”
“Since when have you been gay? You’ve always dated girls.”
“I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m gay dad. I just happened to fall in love with another man. You know they say that you can’t choose who you love. And that’s my case. But I wouldn’t take it back for the world.”
“Taemin,” my dad shakes his head before resting it in his hands, prompting his arms up on his knees, “What am I going to do with you?”
“Appa, please just give him a chance. I know that you’ll love him just like I do if you get to know him.”
“Taemin, it has nothing to do with whether or not we will like him.”
“Then what is it about?”
“It’s about the deal we made with Sulli’s parents a long time ago.”
“But you said that if I didn’t want to go through with it, I didn’t have to.”
“I know, but that was before son. Before you agreed to it in the first place.”
“Appa, what are you trying to say? That I have to marry Sulli because I said I would? Because I was foolish and naïve?”
“Taemin,” my mom finally speaks up, “Sulli’s appa isn’t happy about any of this. Apparently Sulli has been upset since you broke off the engagement. She’s been horribly depressed and he’s blaming us. He’s accusing us for his daughter being in this state. She says she will only be happy if you’re back in her life.”
“No way!” I yell as I jump out of my seat, “No way! I’m not marrying her. I don’t love her. I love Minho. I want to be with him, I need to be with him. Not Sulli. Please don’t make me go through this!”
My parents just hang their heads in shame, “UMMA! APPA! PLEASE!”
“Taemin, I’m sorry,” my dad looks at me and the anger is gone, replaced by sadness, “But her father has threatened to destroy the company otherwise. And I can’t let that happen. I can’t let all the hard work your mom and I have put into the company be in vain. I can’t let him ruin it all. I’m sorry Taemin.”
“Appa,” I turn to look at him.
“Taemin, please. I wouldn’t ask you otherwise. Sulli’s appa has changed so much since we started this business together. He’s gotten so much more greedy and cold-hearted. I’m trying my best to keep our company spot free, trying to make sure we grow and improve without having to play dirty like so many other companies out there. He’s even starting to talk with Kim Industries. They’re known to be ruthless in the business world.”
“But Appa,” I begin again.
“Taemin, if there was any other way. You know we would do it, but there isn’t. Not right now at least. We’re still trying to think of a way around all of this,” my mom cuts me off.
“I don’t want to be with Sulli though. I love Minho! What part of that can’t you understand?”
“We understand it all sweetheart. And from what we’ve seen you both love each other very much. If we didn’t have to involve you, we wouldn’t. We just need some time to figure out another plan, until then you just have to-”
“Pretend to be in love with Sulli and break up with Minho?” I finish for her.
“I’m sorry sweetheart,” she gets up from the couch and comes over to give me a hug.
“Don’t make me break up with him umma. Can’t we just pretend to break up and just keep our relationship a secret.”
“Taeminnie,” my dad has joined us and I can feel his arms around me as well.
“Please umma, appa. I can’t be without him. I can’t break up with him. I’ll die.”
“You won’t die sweetie,” my mom strokes my head and kisses my forehead.
“I will umma. I’ll die of a broken heart and I can’t bear to break his heart. I can’t. Please don’t make me do it. I will pretend to be engaged to Sulli again, I’ll even be the doting fiancé in public. Just don’t take him away from me.”
“Sshh,” my mom says and I don’t know when it started, but tears were falling from my eyes. My hands clenched into fists around my dad’s shirt.
“Yeobo,” my mom says to him.
“I know, I know. Give me a second to think.”
“We can’t force him to do it. There has to be another way.”
“I know, we just need the time to figure it out. I’m afraid that if Taemin doesn’t agree to marry Sulli again soon that her appa will make good on his promise. You’ve seen how he is now. Why do you think he was served with divorce papers? He’s not the same guy he was when we were growing up.”
“I know honey. I can’t see our son like this though. I can’t steal his happiness from him.”
“Neither can I. Neither can I.”
I continue to stand there, sandwiched between my parents as they both try to comfort me. I feel like a little kid again. Waking up from a horrible nightmare only to sneak into my parents room for comfort. I feel us moving and realize that we are on the couch again. My mom is cradling me in her arms while my dad rubs my back, both trying to ease my sobs. The thought of leaving Minho was too heart-breaking for me. It scared me how much he’s grown on me. How much I need him and can’t bear even the thought of being without him. He had become my everything in the short time that we’ve been together. And realizing it scared me even more. Thoughts of Minho filled my mind as I continued to cry and before long I fell into an uneasy sleep.
*~*
I punch in the code and let myself into the apartment. After doing so I remember what happened last time that happened. I ended up walking in on them on the couch. Didn’t need a repeat of that. No thank you. So I close my eyes as I step into the apartment.
“Jazzy? Jjong hyung? Are you two decent?” I call out as I wave my arms around in front of me for the wall. When I feel my hand hit it, I bring my other hand to meet it as well and start to shuffle down the hall, using the wall as my guide.
“Minho, what the fuck are you doing?” I hear Jazzy say and I turn towards where her voice is coming from.
“Are you decent?”
“As opposed to being indecent?” she asks a little confused.
“You know what I mean. Remember last time I just let myself in like this?”
“Oh! You just wanna make sure Jjongie and I aren’t having sex. That’s what you mean when you ask if we’re decent.”
“Yeah.”
“What if we’re not?”
“Oh! My bad!” I start to turn and hope that I’m heading back in the direction of the door, but talking to Jazzy kind of distracted me. I forgot which why I was going to head into the apartment, “Sorry Jjong hyung! I’m not trying to cock block.”
“Open your damn eyes babo!” Jazzy says and I feel her slap my arm.
“Ouch!” I open my eyes and rub the spot she hit me, “You don’t need to get violent on me.”
“When you’re being a babo like this? Yeah I do.”
I look around the apartment, “Where’s Jjong hyung?”
“Where do you think?”
“Office again? I thought he said he had today off.”
“That’s what I thought until I got a text from him apologizing because his dad called him into the office.”
“I’m sorry Jazzy.”
“I feel like I’m dating a ghost.”
“Well I’d rather be dating a ghost right now if it makes you feel any better.”
“What are you talking about? What are you doing here anyways? I though you were working on your paper.”
“Taemin’s parents showed up at our door.”
“Oh what a lovely afternoon surprise,” she says sarcastically and I follow her into the kitchen, “Hungry?”
“Lovely my ass and yes I am hungry. Whatcha got?”
“Every upset because of their significant other favorite,” she pulls out a tub of ice cream from the freezer.
“What kind?”
“The usual.”
“Bring it here.”
She goes to the drawer and pulls out two spoons. We retire to the living room and get comfortable on the couch, “So the parentals showed up.”
“Yup. Apparently they knocked on his old apartment door first.”
“Oh no and Key oppa probably answered it huh? Being his usual self.”
“No, worst.”
“Onew oppa with a drumstick in his hand?”
“Yup.”
“Oh,” Jazzy makes a face and turns away, “That’s not too much better than Key answering it.”
“Yeah. I’m just glad that Taemin and I were just studying when they came.”
“Rather than your usual ‘study,’” she makes air quotes around the word, “Sessions. Where you tend to focus more on human anatomy than anything else. Even though neither of you are in that class.”
“We’re just preparing ourselves for next quarter. Thank you very much.”
“That’s quite some preparation you two are doing,” Jazzy starts to laugh and I shove a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth.
“Quit it. This is serious. They weren’t too happy to hear about me being her boyfriend.”
“Well we can’t all have parents like yours Minho.”
“I thought his dad was going to kill me, he looked so angry.”
“Well you’re alive and well right? Everything is in tact right?” she asks and jokes around my looking down at my crotch, “Your little man is still there right?”
“Jazzy!” I playfully shove her head away.
“What? I’m trying to lighten the mood here and help you find the silver lining.”
“Yes I am still one piece. My little man is still there.”
“And there’s the silver lining,” she motions as if underlining her sentence with her hand.
“Some silver lining.”
“Look, they were going to find out sometime right? Granted this probably wasn’t the ideal way for them to find out, but at least you finally have this behind both of you. You’ve both suffered and survived the dreadful ‘meet the parents’ portion of the relationship. Now you just need to get through the whole, ‘get the parents’ to like you portion. And I’m sure his parents will love you just like your parents love him.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Again when am I ever wrong? I swear I’m clairvoyant when it comes to your life.”
“You probably are.”
“Probably,” we continue to shovel ice cream into our mouths in silence before I can’t stand it anymore. I’m too worried about what’s going on in my apartment downstairs to sit in silence. I needed to talk or something to keep my mind off of it.
“So what did you do today?”
“Nothing. Went to class, tutored, came home. I actually just got home not too long ago. Maybe five minutes before you showed up.”
“Huh? But you’re tutoring only lasts two hours. What did you do afterwards?” I look over at her and she’s just holding her spoon in her hand, head down, eyes focusing on the floor. Something wasn’t right.
“Nothing.”
“Jazzy,” I turn her head up so I can see it and I’m surprised when I see that tears are welling up in her eyes. I don’t know if it’s just the pregnancy, but I feel like she’s been crying way too much lately, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing Minho. It’s nothing,” she slaps my hand away, “Finished with the ice cream?”
“Mm,” I answer as I continue to stare at her. She grabs the carton from my hands and walks back to the kitchen. It only takes me a moment to follow her, “Jazzy. What aren’t you telling me? I’m your best friend. You know you can tell me anything.”
“It’s nothing Minho. You have your own stuff to worry about anyways. You don’t need to add my stupid problems to it too,” she waves me off like it’s nothing.
I walk over to her and turn her to face me, “Jazzy tell me what’s going on. You’re hurting. I can see it. And I have a feeling it’s not just because Jjong hyung is never around anymore because his douchebag of a father is working him to the bone at the company.”
“I told you it’s nothing.”
“Bullshit Jazzy! You know ever since I’ve gotten together with Taemin I feel like you’re pushing me away.”
“You’re just imagining things.”
“Jazzy. This is me you’re talking to. No matter how hard you push me, I’m not going anywhere. I still know you better than you know yourself. And I know that something is wrong with you, so just tell me.”
She stays silent and just turns her head away from me. I let out a sigh, “You know I’m just going to keep bugging you until you talk right? So talk.”
“I went to his house this afternoon.”
“Whose?”
“Jjongie’s.”
“What? Why?”
“His mom found me when I was leaving campus after tutoring. The car was parked right at the entrance.”
“And?”
“She told me to get in, so I did.”
“That’s not what I was asking Jazzy. What happened at his house?”
She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly before telling me what happened. I listen intently through the whole story, not wanting to interrupt her. Tears are slowly falling from her eyes as she tells it and I wipe them away, but say nothing. How could she think she had to go through this by herself? Look who’s the real babo now.
*~*
I was just leaving the library after tutoring Nickhun in chemistry. I swear he understood more than he was letting on, but I didn’t mind since I was still getting paid regardless. I was excited to get home because this was going to be the first night Jjongie had off. I planned on making a nice dinner for the both of us and just spending the night wrapped in his arms. A small smile played at my lips as I thought of this.
“Jazzy?” I hear a voice call my name and I snap out of my thoughts just in time to stop myself from running into the black car that’s parked in front of me. I look around and see that the back passenger window is open and Jjongie’s mom is staring at me.
“Mrs. Kim?” I say.
“Yes, please get in.”
“Um, Jjongie’s expecting me any minute now. Can this wait?” I ask as I lean down to the window.
“He’s at the office with his father,” she replies.
“No, he said he has tonight off.”
“He doesn’t. His father just called him in. Please get in the car,” she motions for me to move and I do so she can open the door. She slides over in the backseat to make room for me and I hesitantly get in.
“So he’s working tonight?” I say more to myself than to her and I can’t help the sadness that washes over my entire body.
“Yes.”
“Why are you here Mrs. Kim?”
“I needed to talk to you.”
“About what?”
“About Jonghyun.”
“Oh.”
“But not here. We’ll talk once we get to my home.”
“Okay,” we spend the car ride in silence and I just stare out the window as I rub my stomach. Once we arrive at the house, I quietly follow her through the house until we’re outside again. At least I think we’re outside, but instead we’re in a room where three of the four walls are made entirely of glass. The soft afternoon light spilling into the room and framing the view of their huge backyard. I see a table is set up in the middle of the room and follow her to the table.
“Do you like tea?”
“Um,” I look down at my stomach.
“Oh yes, the baby. Don’t worry, it’s caffeine free.”
“How’d you?”
“His father has been ranting about it since you two left that night. Calling it a catastrophe and the worst thing that could ever happen.”
“Oh,” I bring both my arms around my stomach as if to protect the baby.
“Don’t worry honey. I don’t feel that way. I’m happy about getting a grandchild.”
“Oh?”
“Is that all you can say?”
“I’m sorry. I’m still kind of in shock. Why did you bring me here?”
“I told you in the car. I brought you here to talk about Jonghyun. But first, how is the baby?”
“Healthy. I just went for a check up the other day.”
“Did you get an ultrasound?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have it with you?”
“No, it’s at home. In the baby book we started.”
“Oh well then you will have to bring it some time so I can see them.”
“Okay.”
The servants begin to serve us tea and set various plates of food in front of us as well. I look over at her and she gives me a warm smile before motioning for me to enjoy. I grab a cucumber sandwich and begin to nibble on it.
“Jazzy. Do you love my son?”
I try not to choke on the piece of sandwich in mouth and bring my cup up to take a sip to help it go down easier, “Excuse me.”
“Do you love my son? It’s a quite simple question.”
“Yes, yes I do.”
“Would you do anything for him?”
“Yes.”
“Even if in the end, it hurts both of you?”
I didn’t like where this conversation was headed so I occupied myself by sipping on my tea.
“Jazzy. Please answer my question.”
“Yes, even if in the end we both get hurt, I’d still do anything for him.”
“Then break up with him.”
I start to choke on the tea in my mouth. Did she just say what I think she just said? I continue to cough as the liquid tries to make it’s way down the wrong tube. I feel her lightly patting my back, but my coughing doesn’t subside. If anything it gets worst as tears start to join the mix.
After what seems like forever, my coughing stops and just silent tears remain, “I’m sorry what did you say?”
“Break up with Jonghyun.”
“How can you ask me to do that after asking me if I love him?”
“I want you to break up with him BECAUSE you love him.”
“What?”
“I know Jonghyun’s appa. He’s going to keep pushing and pushing Jonghyun to the bone until he gets what he wants. The only reason why he’s working my poor son so hard is because he wants you to get fed up and break up with him.”
“Well shouldn’t I not break up with him because of it?”
“In normal circumstances yes, but not when it comes to his appa. He’ll push him to the brink of death if he has too.”
“But he’s his son.”
“Yes, but his first child will always be his company.”
“I don’t get it. I should be sticking by Jjongie’s side not leaving it.”
“It will just get worst for both him and you if you let it this go on Jazzy. If pushing Jonghyun isn’t enough, his appa will find a way to push you along with it. I don’t want to see you two get hurt. And I know that you don’t want Jonghyun to get hurt.”
“No I don’t.”
“How is he looking these days? Like a zombie huh?”
“Yeah.”
“And like I said, it’ll only get worst. So please help him by breaking up with him.”
“I don’t know.”
“Jazzy. I know you two love each other dearly and I know that you have a child coming soon as well. If you’re worried about the child, don’t be. I will personally make sure that you and your child don’t have to suffer. I will make sure that you two have everything you need. Just break up with him. Stop his suffering before it gets any worst. And please believe me that this is nothing compared to what his appa is really capable of. Look at his brother, Hyun Joong, he used to be so full of life and happiness. Look at him now. He’s like a robot. I don’t want both of my son’s to end up that way. The longer Jonghyun defies his appa, the worst his punishment will be.”
“I, I don’t know,” I stand up and start to make my way for the door. I didn’t know what to think. My thoughts were a complete mess much like the last time I was at this house. I should really stop coming here.
I’m not watching where I’m going as I wipe my eyes for the hundredth time and I run into something. Well more like someone. I look up and see that it’s Hyun Joong.
“Oppa, sorry,” I say and make to leave, but he doesn’t let me. He holds my arms firmly in his hands and bends down to study my face. He pulls out a handkerchief from his pocket and wipes away the tears that managed to escape while he was looking at me. I’m surprised when he pulls me into a hug and it only takes a moment before the tears are falling again.
“Junsu,” he says, “Bring my car out front so I can take Ms. Song home.”
I’m about to oppose, but he just stares down at me, “How else will you get home?”
“Thank you oppa.”
Author: giveitupjessica
Rating: PG-NC-17 (depending on the chapter)
Pairings: 2min, onkey, jazzhyun (read paper cuts to know about this one), taemin/sulli
Genre: AU, romance, comedy, pregnancy, angst
Summary: Lee Taemin was everything Minho wanted in a lover. He was the boy he wanted to come home to. The kind of boy that he never wanted to leave. The kind of boy that makes Minho want to give him everything. And finally it seemed like that he was finally going to get what he wanted. Taemin was breaking up with Sulli to be with him. He couldn't be happier. But just how long will their happiness last? Minho knew the kind of storm that would brew once Taemin broke up with Sulli, but he didn't care. He was going to stay by Taemin, no matter what. As long as the younger's heart was beating next to his, he didn't care. (sorry I suck at summaries)
A/N: Since my last chapter was kind of a fail. I decided to update again. This one is a lot of better. :) Hope you enjoy and please comment <3
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Minho and I were sitting in the living room on this quiet night as rain lightly landed on the window. I was sitting in front of the coffee table with my math homework spread out in front of me. Minho’s was sitting on the couch, legs outstretched using the coffee table as a footrest, laptop resting on his lap. I loved nights like this. Where we were drowning in a comfortable silence, working on our own individual things, content with just feeling each other’s presence. I had started to move all my stuff into his place the day after he asked me to move in with him. It was actually working out amazingly. We quickly fell into a nice routine with one another. I definitely felt at home here with him. More so than I ever did in my actual home growing up. Key and Onew have moved into my old apartment and Jazzy and Jonghyun were a few floors up. Everything was perfect.
A knock on the door pulls my attention away from the problem I’ve been trying to figure out for the past fifteen minutes, “I’ll get it!” I shoot up from the floor and half walk, half slide over to the door. I open the door and let out a shocked squeak.
“Who is it baby?” Minho calls from the living room.
“Uh, uh,” I try to answer, but can’t. My parents are standing in front of me. My mom is smiling while my dad has a grimace on his face. Definitely wasn’t expecting this. Nice curve ball Lady Fate.
“Taemin,” my dad says.
“Appa, umma,” manage to stumble out of my mouth.
“Baby,” I can hear Minho’s voice from behind me, “Who’s at the door?”
“Baby?” my dad raises an eyebrow at me.
“Um,” I turn back and forth between my parents and my lover. I had no idea what to do or what to say.
“Taemin?” my mom grabs my hand, “Sweetheart? Are you okay? You look a little pale. Maybe we should go and sit down.”
“No, it’s okay umma,” I squeeze her hand, “I’m okay. What are you guys doing here?”
“Well we were in the neighborhood and thought we should visit our son,” my mom gives me a warm smile.
“Imagine our surprise when we knock on what we think is your door to be greeted by some stranger with a drumstick in his hand saying you don’t live there anymore. That you live across the hall with your boyfriend. Boyfriend?! Lee Taemin!” my dad’s voice bellows down the halls.
Onew and Key open up their door and look around. And sure enough Onew is holding a drumstick in his hand as they look at us. He gives me a sympathetic look and Key gives me a worried one.
“What is this about a boyfriend?” my dad’s voice is no longer loud, but the anger is still there. I flinch when I hear him speak. How was I going to get out of this one alive? I feel Minho behind me now, his arm snakes around my waist and my dad takes notice of it. I see his glare get more intense and I flinch into Minho’s embrace.
“I’m sorry,” Minho says in his usual calm and collected voice, “We haven’t been properly introduced. I’m Choi Minho, your son’s boyfriend. I apologize, I didn’t expect our first meeting to be like this. Please come in.”
Minho pulls both of our bodies to the side so that my parents can step into the apartment. Once we’re all inside, he leads the way to the living room, “I’m sorry for the mess. We were studying,” He leaves my side and quickly gathers up all of our stuff in a neat pile on the coffee table.
“Please take a seat. Can I get you anything? Water? Juice?” Minho asks still standing in the middle of the room.
“No, we’re okay,” my dad replies.
“So um, appa, umma,” I stutter again.
“Taemin, I’m still waiting from an explanation from you,” my dad is staring me down and my words are stuck in my throat.
“Honey, stop it. You’re making everyone uncomfortable. I’m sure Taemin will explain everything to us once you stop interrogating him,” my mom tells my dad.
“Excuse me Minho-ssi,” my dad turns his attention to Minho still hasn’t taken a seat yet. He must be feeling intimidated by my dad too.
“Yes sir?”
“Do you mind leaving us alone with Taemin for awhile. We need to talk to him in private. Family matters. You understand right?”
I get up from where I’m sitting and walk over to his side. I grab his hand and look at my parents, “He can stay. He is my boyfriend. Whatever you want to talk about to me, you can say in front of him.”
“Taemin,” my dad is giving me a stern look now.
“It’s okay baby,” Minho says down to me and kisses the top of my head, “I’ll be at Jazzy’s. I have my phone if you guys need anything. Please feel free to stay as long as you like and make yourselves at home. There are drinks and food in the kitchen.”
“Minho, please don’t go,” I whisper to him as I pull him into a hug, “Please. I need you here with me.”
“Your dad obviously doesn’t want me here baby. I don’t think we need to make him more mad than he already is. I’m only going to be a few floors up. Just text me if you need anything.”
“Can’t you just go across the hall instead? That way I know you’re near?”
“It’s only three floors. It’ll take me five minutes tops to get back down here. Besides, I’m sure Onew and Key hyung want to be alone on their first night in their new place. You’ll be fine. Love you,”
“Love you too,” I go up on my tippy toes and peck his lips. He seems a bit surprised when he pulls away, but smiles at me nonetheless.
“Bye. It was nice meeting you Mr. and Mrs. Lee,” and with that Minho is out the door. I hesitantly turn back to my parents. My mom is trying to hold back a smile while my dad is staring at me, not happy at all.
“Taemin, sit down,” my dad orders me like I was five again. It brought me back to the time that I accidentally used his notes as doodling paper and he called me into his office to scold me. I take a seat on the recliner and try not to make eye contact with my parents.
“What is going on son? I’m gone for a few short weeks and I come back to this? You’ve broken off your engagement to Sulli and you’re dating a man. You’re dating a man and you’ve moved in with him?”
“Appa, I can explain.”
“I sure hope you can. What the hell is going on?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t love Sulli. I’ve realized that I never have. So I can’t stand in front of a priest, god, you two, Sulli, and her parents and declare my love for her. Because I don’t feel that way for her. If anything it was just deep like and admiration. I never meant to fall for Minho, at least not this hard and this fast. But I do love him. I love him a lot.”
“Since when have you been gay? You’ve always dated girls.”
“I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m gay dad. I just happened to fall in love with another man. You know they say that you can’t choose who you love. And that’s my case. But I wouldn’t take it back for the world.”
“Taemin,” my dad shakes his head before resting it in his hands, prompting his arms up on his knees, “What am I going to do with you?”
“Appa, please just give him a chance. I know that you’ll love him just like I do if you get to know him.”
“Taemin, it has nothing to do with whether or not we will like him.”
“Then what is it about?”
“It’s about the deal we made with Sulli’s parents a long time ago.”
“But you said that if I didn’t want to go through with it, I didn’t have to.”
“I know, but that was before son. Before you agreed to it in the first place.”
“Appa, what are you trying to say? That I have to marry Sulli because I said I would? Because I was foolish and naïve?”
“Taemin,” my mom finally speaks up, “Sulli’s appa isn’t happy about any of this. Apparently Sulli has been upset since you broke off the engagement. She’s been horribly depressed and he’s blaming us. He’s accusing us for his daughter being in this state. She says she will only be happy if you’re back in her life.”
“No way!” I yell as I jump out of my seat, “No way! I’m not marrying her. I don’t love her. I love Minho. I want to be with him, I need to be with him. Not Sulli. Please don’t make me go through this!”
My parents just hang their heads in shame, “UMMA! APPA! PLEASE!”
“Taemin, I’m sorry,” my dad looks at me and the anger is gone, replaced by sadness, “But her father has threatened to destroy the company otherwise. And I can’t let that happen. I can’t let all the hard work your mom and I have put into the company be in vain. I can’t let him ruin it all. I’m sorry Taemin.”
“Appa,” I turn to look at him.
“Taemin, please. I wouldn’t ask you otherwise. Sulli’s appa has changed so much since we started this business together. He’s gotten so much more greedy and cold-hearted. I’m trying my best to keep our company spot free, trying to make sure we grow and improve without having to play dirty like so many other companies out there. He’s even starting to talk with Kim Industries. They’re known to be ruthless in the business world.”
“But Appa,” I begin again.
“Taemin, if there was any other way. You know we would do it, but there isn’t. Not right now at least. We’re still trying to think of a way around all of this,” my mom cuts me off.
“I don’t want to be with Sulli though. I love Minho! What part of that can’t you understand?”
“We understand it all sweetheart. And from what we’ve seen you both love each other very much. If we didn’t have to involve you, we wouldn’t. We just need some time to figure out another plan, until then you just have to-”
“Pretend to be in love with Sulli and break up with Minho?” I finish for her.
“I’m sorry sweetheart,” she gets up from the couch and comes over to give me a hug.
“Don’t make me break up with him umma. Can’t we just pretend to break up and just keep our relationship a secret.”
“Taeminnie,” my dad has joined us and I can feel his arms around me as well.
“Please umma, appa. I can’t be without him. I can’t break up with him. I’ll die.”
“You won’t die sweetie,” my mom strokes my head and kisses my forehead.
“I will umma. I’ll die of a broken heart and I can’t bear to break his heart. I can’t. Please don’t make me do it. I will pretend to be engaged to Sulli again, I’ll even be the doting fiancé in public. Just don’t take him away from me.”
“Sshh,” my mom says and I don’t know when it started, but tears were falling from my eyes. My hands clenched into fists around my dad’s shirt.
“Yeobo,” my mom says to him.
“I know, I know. Give me a second to think.”
“We can’t force him to do it. There has to be another way.”
“I know, we just need the time to figure it out. I’m afraid that if Taemin doesn’t agree to marry Sulli again soon that her appa will make good on his promise. You’ve seen how he is now. Why do you think he was served with divorce papers? He’s not the same guy he was when we were growing up.”
“I know honey. I can’t see our son like this though. I can’t steal his happiness from him.”
“Neither can I. Neither can I.”
I continue to stand there, sandwiched between my parents as they both try to comfort me. I feel like a little kid again. Waking up from a horrible nightmare only to sneak into my parents room for comfort. I feel us moving and realize that we are on the couch again. My mom is cradling me in her arms while my dad rubs my back, both trying to ease my sobs. The thought of leaving Minho was too heart-breaking for me. It scared me how much he’s grown on me. How much I need him and can’t bear even the thought of being without him. He had become my everything in the short time that we’ve been together. And realizing it scared me even more. Thoughts of Minho filled my mind as I continued to cry and before long I fell into an uneasy sleep.
*~*
I punch in the code and let myself into the apartment. After doing so I remember what happened last time that happened. I ended up walking in on them on the couch. Didn’t need a repeat of that. No thank you. So I close my eyes as I step into the apartment.
“Jazzy? Jjong hyung? Are you two decent?” I call out as I wave my arms around in front of me for the wall. When I feel my hand hit it, I bring my other hand to meet it as well and start to shuffle down the hall, using the wall as my guide.
“Minho, what the fuck are you doing?” I hear Jazzy say and I turn towards where her voice is coming from.
“Are you decent?”
“As opposed to being indecent?” she asks a little confused.
“You know what I mean. Remember last time I just let myself in like this?”
“Oh! You just wanna make sure Jjongie and I aren’t having sex. That’s what you mean when you ask if we’re decent.”
“Yeah.”
“What if we’re not?”
“Oh! My bad!” I start to turn and hope that I’m heading back in the direction of the door, but talking to Jazzy kind of distracted me. I forgot which why I was going to head into the apartment, “Sorry Jjong hyung! I’m not trying to cock block.”
“Open your damn eyes babo!” Jazzy says and I feel her slap my arm.
“Ouch!” I open my eyes and rub the spot she hit me, “You don’t need to get violent on me.”
“When you’re being a babo like this? Yeah I do.”
I look around the apartment, “Where’s Jjong hyung?”
“Where do you think?”
“Office again? I thought he said he had today off.”
“That’s what I thought until I got a text from him apologizing because his dad called him into the office.”
“I’m sorry Jazzy.”
“I feel like I’m dating a ghost.”
“Well I’d rather be dating a ghost right now if it makes you feel any better.”
“What are you talking about? What are you doing here anyways? I though you were working on your paper.”
“Taemin’s parents showed up at our door.”
“Oh what a lovely afternoon surprise,” she says sarcastically and I follow her into the kitchen, “Hungry?”
“Lovely my ass and yes I am hungry. Whatcha got?”
“Every upset because of their significant other favorite,” she pulls out a tub of ice cream from the freezer.
“What kind?”
“The usual.”
“Bring it here.”
She goes to the drawer and pulls out two spoons. We retire to the living room and get comfortable on the couch, “So the parentals showed up.”
“Yup. Apparently they knocked on his old apartment door first.”
“Oh no and Key oppa probably answered it huh? Being his usual self.”
“No, worst.”
“Onew oppa with a drumstick in his hand?”
“Yup.”
“Oh,” Jazzy makes a face and turns away, “That’s not too much better than Key answering it.”
“Yeah. I’m just glad that Taemin and I were just studying when they came.”
“Rather than your usual ‘study,’” she makes air quotes around the word, “Sessions. Where you tend to focus more on human anatomy than anything else. Even though neither of you are in that class.”
“We’re just preparing ourselves for next quarter. Thank you very much.”
“That’s quite some preparation you two are doing,” Jazzy starts to laugh and I shove a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth.
“Quit it. This is serious. They weren’t too happy to hear about me being her boyfriend.”
“Well we can’t all have parents like yours Minho.”
“I thought his dad was going to kill me, he looked so angry.”
“Well you’re alive and well right? Everything is in tact right?” she asks and jokes around my looking down at my crotch, “Your little man is still there right?”
“Jazzy!” I playfully shove her head away.
“What? I’m trying to lighten the mood here and help you find the silver lining.”
“Yes I am still one piece. My little man is still there.”
“And there’s the silver lining,” she motions as if underlining her sentence with her hand.
“Some silver lining.”
“Look, they were going to find out sometime right? Granted this probably wasn’t the ideal way for them to find out, but at least you finally have this behind both of you. You’ve both suffered and survived the dreadful ‘meet the parents’ portion of the relationship. Now you just need to get through the whole, ‘get the parents’ to like you portion. And I’m sure his parents will love you just like your parents love him.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Again when am I ever wrong? I swear I’m clairvoyant when it comes to your life.”
“You probably are.”
“Probably,” we continue to shovel ice cream into our mouths in silence before I can’t stand it anymore. I’m too worried about what’s going on in my apartment downstairs to sit in silence. I needed to talk or something to keep my mind off of it.
“So what did you do today?”
“Nothing. Went to class, tutored, came home. I actually just got home not too long ago. Maybe five minutes before you showed up.”
“Huh? But you’re tutoring only lasts two hours. What did you do afterwards?” I look over at her and she’s just holding her spoon in her hand, head down, eyes focusing on the floor. Something wasn’t right.
“Nothing.”
“Jazzy,” I turn her head up so I can see it and I’m surprised when I see that tears are welling up in her eyes. I don’t know if it’s just the pregnancy, but I feel like she’s been crying way too much lately, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing Minho. It’s nothing,” she slaps my hand away, “Finished with the ice cream?”
“Mm,” I answer as I continue to stare at her. She grabs the carton from my hands and walks back to the kitchen. It only takes me a moment to follow her, “Jazzy. What aren’t you telling me? I’m your best friend. You know you can tell me anything.”
“It’s nothing Minho. You have your own stuff to worry about anyways. You don’t need to add my stupid problems to it too,” she waves me off like it’s nothing.
I walk over to her and turn her to face me, “Jazzy tell me what’s going on. You’re hurting. I can see it. And I have a feeling it’s not just because Jjong hyung is never around anymore because his douchebag of a father is working him to the bone at the company.”
“I told you it’s nothing.”
“Bullshit Jazzy! You know ever since I’ve gotten together with Taemin I feel like you’re pushing me away.”
“You’re just imagining things.”
“Jazzy. This is me you’re talking to. No matter how hard you push me, I’m not going anywhere. I still know you better than you know yourself. And I know that something is wrong with you, so just tell me.”
She stays silent and just turns her head away from me. I let out a sigh, “You know I’m just going to keep bugging you until you talk right? So talk.”
“I went to his house this afternoon.”
“Whose?”
“Jjongie’s.”
“What? Why?”
“His mom found me when I was leaving campus after tutoring. The car was parked right at the entrance.”
“And?”
“She told me to get in, so I did.”
“That’s not what I was asking Jazzy. What happened at his house?”
She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly before telling me what happened. I listen intently through the whole story, not wanting to interrupt her. Tears are slowly falling from her eyes as she tells it and I wipe them away, but say nothing. How could she think she had to go through this by herself? Look who’s the real babo now.
*~*
I was just leaving the library after tutoring Nickhun in chemistry. I swear he understood more than he was letting on, but I didn’t mind since I was still getting paid regardless. I was excited to get home because this was going to be the first night Jjongie had off. I planned on making a nice dinner for the both of us and just spending the night wrapped in his arms. A small smile played at my lips as I thought of this.
“Jazzy?” I hear a voice call my name and I snap out of my thoughts just in time to stop myself from running into the black car that’s parked in front of me. I look around and see that the back passenger window is open and Jjongie’s mom is staring at me.
“Mrs. Kim?” I say.
“Yes, please get in.”
“Um, Jjongie’s expecting me any minute now. Can this wait?” I ask as I lean down to the window.
“He’s at the office with his father,” she replies.
“No, he said he has tonight off.”
“He doesn’t. His father just called him in. Please get in the car,” she motions for me to move and I do so she can open the door. She slides over in the backseat to make room for me and I hesitantly get in.
“So he’s working tonight?” I say more to myself than to her and I can’t help the sadness that washes over my entire body.
“Yes.”
“Why are you here Mrs. Kim?”
“I needed to talk to you.”
“About what?”
“About Jonghyun.”
“Oh.”
“But not here. We’ll talk once we get to my home.”
“Okay,” we spend the car ride in silence and I just stare out the window as I rub my stomach. Once we arrive at the house, I quietly follow her through the house until we’re outside again. At least I think we’re outside, but instead we’re in a room where three of the four walls are made entirely of glass. The soft afternoon light spilling into the room and framing the view of their huge backyard. I see a table is set up in the middle of the room and follow her to the table.
“Do you like tea?”
“Um,” I look down at my stomach.
“Oh yes, the baby. Don’t worry, it’s caffeine free.”
“How’d you?”
“His father has been ranting about it since you two left that night. Calling it a catastrophe and the worst thing that could ever happen.”
“Oh,” I bring both my arms around my stomach as if to protect the baby.
“Don’t worry honey. I don’t feel that way. I’m happy about getting a grandchild.”
“Oh?”
“Is that all you can say?”
“I’m sorry. I’m still kind of in shock. Why did you bring me here?”
“I told you in the car. I brought you here to talk about Jonghyun. But first, how is the baby?”
“Healthy. I just went for a check up the other day.”
“Did you get an ultrasound?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have it with you?”
“No, it’s at home. In the baby book we started.”
“Oh well then you will have to bring it some time so I can see them.”
“Okay.”
The servants begin to serve us tea and set various plates of food in front of us as well. I look over at her and she gives me a warm smile before motioning for me to enjoy. I grab a cucumber sandwich and begin to nibble on it.
“Jazzy. Do you love my son?”
I try not to choke on the piece of sandwich in mouth and bring my cup up to take a sip to help it go down easier, “Excuse me.”
“Do you love my son? It’s a quite simple question.”
“Yes, yes I do.”
“Would you do anything for him?”
“Yes.”
“Even if in the end, it hurts both of you?”
I didn’t like where this conversation was headed so I occupied myself by sipping on my tea.
“Jazzy. Please answer my question.”
“Yes, even if in the end we both get hurt, I’d still do anything for him.”
“Then break up with him.”
I start to choke on the tea in my mouth. Did she just say what I think she just said? I continue to cough as the liquid tries to make it’s way down the wrong tube. I feel her lightly patting my back, but my coughing doesn’t subside. If anything it gets worst as tears start to join the mix.
After what seems like forever, my coughing stops and just silent tears remain, “I’m sorry what did you say?”
“Break up with Jonghyun.”
“How can you ask me to do that after asking me if I love him?”
“I want you to break up with him BECAUSE you love him.”
“What?”
“I know Jonghyun’s appa. He’s going to keep pushing and pushing Jonghyun to the bone until he gets what he wants. The only reason why he’s working my poor son so hard is because he wants you to get fed up and break up with him.”
“Well shouldn’t I not break up with him because of it?”
“In normal circumstances yes, but not when it comes to his appa. He’ll push him to the brink of death if he has too.”
“But he’s his son.”
“Yes, but his first child will always be his company.”
“I don’t get it. I should be sticking by Jjongie’s side not leaving it.”
“It will just get worst for both him and you if you let it this go on Jazzy. If pushing Jonghyun isn’t enough, his appa will find a way to push you along with it. I don’t want to see you two get hurt. And I know that you don’t want Jonghyun to get hurt.”
“No I don’t.”
“How is he looking these days? Like a zombie huh?”
“Yeah.”
“And like I said, it’ll only get worst. So please help him by breaking up with him.”
“I don’t know.”
“Jazzy. I know you two love each other dearly and I know that you have a child coming soon as well. If you’re worried about the child, don’t be. I will personally make sure that you and your child don’t have to suffer. I will make sure that you two have everything you need. Just break up with him. Stop his suffering before it gets any worst. And please believe me that this is nothing compared to what his appa is really capable of. Look at his brother, Hyun Joong, he used to be so full of life and happiness. Look at him now. He’s like a robot. I don’t want both of my son’s to end up that way. The longer Jonghyun defies his appa, the worst his punishment will be.”
“I, I don’t know,” I stand up and start to make my way for the door. I didn’t know what to think. My thoughts were a complete mess much like the last time I was at this house. I should really stop coming here.
I’m not watching where I’m going as I wipe my eyes for the hundredth time and I run into something. Well more like someone. I look up and see that it’s Hyun Joong.
“Oppa, sorry,” I say and make to leave, but he doesn’t let me. He holds my arms firmly in his hands and bends down to study my face. He pulls out a handkerchief from his pocket and wipes away the tears that managed to escape while he was looking at me. I’m surprised when he pulls me into a hug and it only takes a moment before the tears are falling again.
“Junsu,” he says, “Bring my car out front so I can take Ms. Song home.”
I’m about to oppose, but he just stares down at me, “How else will you get home?”
“Thank you oppa.”