Paper Cuts 19/??
Title: Paper Cranes 19/??(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:As promised a second update. :)
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Taemin! Sulli!” her dad stood up from his chair and my parents soon followed suit, “How are our beautiful children?”
“We’re good Daddy,” Sulli smiles before hugging bother her dad and my parents. I just nod, shake his hand, and hug my parents. I don’t even bother to smile. Why make them think I’m happy when I’m anything but.
“Take a seat, take a seat. We were just about to order,” her dad was in much too good of a mood for my liking and I turn to my dad to see if I can get any answer from him. His face is stone-cold though and when he sees me look at him, he just nods his head before turning away. Looks like I won’t be getting any answers from him. I look to my mom and she’s not even paying attention to me, too engrossed in the menu held between her hands. Taemin decided to give up on the matter for the moment as he took a menu and began to scan it himself. He wasn’t really that hungry though, probably because of two of people sitting at the table with him.
It was about ten minutes later after they had all ordered their food and were sitting in a strange silence that the reason for the dinner came up. You could tell that three of the people didn’t want to talk about it by the way they fidgeted in their seats and fumbled with the napkin on their lap. The other two were smiling brightly as they began to discuss the big day.
“So Sulli wants a spring wedding. She’s thinking that their spring holiday from school will be the perfect time and I couldn’t agree more. Spring is the start of the new beginnings right? Trees and flowers are beginning to bloom again and it would be the perfect symbol for our children. Two of them joining together to begin a new like as one beautiful couple,” her dad explained to us.
Ugh, when did her dad get so poetic and cheesy. I think I just threw up a little in my mouth for the second time today. I see my parents from the corner of my eyes with a similar expression on their face. It was definitely weird to see a man who was pretty rough and touch on daily basis talk about flowers and blooming and spring weddings. But then again, this is what he wanted. He saw nothing but good things coming from the joining of Sulli and I. He believed that it would only make the company that much stronger and powerful. I don’t really understand how that made sense since it was a joining of the owners’ children not one between two different companies. I’ll have to ask my dad about that later.
“Spring? That’s only a few months away,” my mother says.
“Yes, but the sooner they get married, the better,” her father counters.
“What’s the rush though? I don’t understand,” my father asks.
“You know why we’re rushing. Kim Industries is already out there prepping, Jonghyun to be the new face of the company. Rumor has it that he has a record company after him as well. No doubt if that’s true than their stocks will sky-rocket for sure. A young, good-looking idol as the face of the company will surely get them more attention. I’m afraid that we’ve already fallen too far behind them. Choi Inc. is still ahead of us and they have yet to do something to gain more recognition. Although, I do hear their son is quite the athlete and the daughter of the late Song Youngsaeng is quite a beauty. I haven’t seen them before. I’m afraid that they might be waiting for just the right time to get them out into the public and we can’t let them do that. We need to get Sulli and Taemin out there now to get an advantage over the other two.”
My ears perked up after hearing Minho’s family company mentioned. Sulli’s father was right, Minho is quite the athlete and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was being scouted by a few national teams. I wasn’t sure whether or not he would join them though. He always told me he just enjoyed playing the game, whether for the school or just with friends. Plus I couldn’t really see him as a famous soccer player. I saw him doing something more meaningful with his life. His brain would be an awful thing to waste on soccer.
Thinking about Minho had me thinking about earlier today. What happened in the elevator of the hospital and what he said to me afterwards. He was right. We couldn’t be in the same room with each other and not acknowledge the other. It would be too hard. Our bodies were naturally drawn to one another, like magnets. So how were we going to handle class? I mean it was okay before after we had a clean break, but somehow in the elevator we got sucked in again. And there was no clear way out or around what would happen between us if we were around each other. I don’t think I have the strength to hold back anymore and I knew he didn’t either. We were pretty much screwed.
“Taemin,” my father’s voice breaks my thoughts, “We asked you a question.”
“Oh, I’m sorry appa. I must have got lost in my own thoughts,” I smile weakly at them.
“You’re that excited about our wedding too yeobo?” Sulli says sweetly, rather too sweetly, to me as she links our arms. I try not to yank my arm out of her grasp or scowl at her.
“I don’t think excited would describe the way I feel,” I answer. It’s more like disgusted, appalled, mortified, sickened. Yeah, those words so much more suited to describe the way I feel about the wedding, “What was your question anyways?”
“Sulli’s dad asked if you would be okay with a spring wedding,” my dad gave me a knowing stare that pretty much told me that I should say ‘no.’ Not like I wasn’t going to already. Spring was too close and even if I was still in love with Sulli, I would insist we wait until after we graduated.
“I’m not sure. Spring would mean it would happen right in the middle of the school year and I was actually thinking it would be better if we waited until we were done with school to get married. I don’t want either of us to suffer in our classes because of it,” I answer.
“I love how you’re always so worried about my schooling yeobo,” I try not to gag when I hear her all too sweet voice again, “But this wedding will not affect it. If anything it’ll help me out more. The last thing I need is the stress of planning a wedding during our final year in school when I should focus on just school.”
“She has a point son,” I fight the urge to tell her father that I’m not his ‘son’ nor will I ever be his ‘son.’
“I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it. I think waiting until we’re done with school is the best,” I tell them both.
“Yes, that was our original plan too,” my mother adds, “Plus what better way to celebrate their graduation than by holding their wedding? A big party for the start of a whole bunch of new beginnings.”
I smile at my mom and her ability to think on her feet. She definitely made a good point as well. And like she said, it was our original plan to get married after graduation. A mutual decision between all parties. Now was the time for academics, later would be the time for married life and the company.
“Well, the other reason why I am pushing for this spring wedding is because I want them to start working with the company already. I want them to get a feel of what they are going to be running a few years time. It’s best that our employees get used to them now and they can get used to the company as well,” Sulli’s father tells us.
“I think that’s a good idea, but they can work with the company without getting married,” my father counters.
“Yes, but I don’t want our employees to think badly of them.”
“They’re already engaged. I think they would understand why they aren’t married yet. They would probably think it was because of school anyways.”
“But I want them to show a more united front when we introduce them. And what better way to show that than to show that they are married and are one.”
“We don’t need to rush their marriage just because of that. You think too lightly of our workers. They know better.”
“And you think too highly of them. You’ve already brushed aside the fact that their might be a mole within our company. Feeding our information to Kim or Choi.”
“I trust them. We treat our employees well and in turn they stay loyal to us. No need to start pushing suspicions on them because then that might be the cause of them going astray. I don’t want to assume anything until I have solid facts laid out in front of me.”
“You’re too soft my friend.”
“Someone has to be in our partnership. You’ve turned too hard.”
“Now isn’t the time to bicker,” my mom interrupts them, “We’re here to have a nice dinner between our families and plan a joyous occasion. We don’t need talk about work to be brought to the table.”
I actually would’ve preferred for them to keep at the conversation they were in. I didn’t want to talk about marrying Sulli, it made me sick to my stomach and now that the food was arriving, I really had no appetite to eat the food placed in front of me no matter how good it looked. Besides, I couldn’t help but feel that the more we talked about the wedding, the more my chances of being with Minho decreased and I didn’t want to think about that. I needed to remain optimistic about our situation. I needed to keep thinking that we’d find a way out of this and then I can go back to where I belonged. By Choi Minho’s side.
*~*
“Sir, I’m sorry but visiting hours are over,” a nurse tells me as she comes into the room to check on Jazzy.
“Can’t he stay though?” she asks her.
“I’m sorry, it’s against hospital policies.”
“But-”
“It’s okay Jazzy,” I squeeze her hand, “I’ll come and visit you before class in the morning, okay?”
“But I don’t want to be alone in the hospital. You know how I hate it here.”
“I know, but I can’t force the nurse to go against policy. I’ll be back in the morning,” I stand up and push my chair to towards the wall, out of her way just in case she needed to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. I see the nurse watch as I return to Jazzy’s side and give her a kiss on the forehead.
“Minho,” she pouts at me.
“Don’t give me that face Jazzy. You’ll be fine. You need your rest now hm? You and the baby,” I rub her belly and smile at her, “I’ll be back before you know it.”
“Fine.”
“Go to sleep now. It’s late,” I brush the hair out of her face and give her another kiss on the forehead.
“Oh it warms my heart to see a young couple like this. If you want I can go talk to my supervisor and see what I can do,” the nurse tells us.
“No, it’s okay. I don’t want any special treatment. She’s just stubborn. She’ll be fine,” I tell her.
“No I won’t. Please if you could talk to your supervisor, I’ll be eternally grateful,” Jazzy says.
“Jazzy, stop. You’ll be fine,” I look her dead in the eyes, “Ma’am, it’s okay. I’ll be leaving now.”
“Okay, are you sure though?” the nurse asks me one more time.
“I’m sure.”
“Okay,” and with that, she leaves the room.
“Minho!” Jazzy pouts again, “I don’t want to be all alone in the hospital, why did you do that?”
“Because this isn’t like when you had the flu. You’re perfectly okay. They’re just keeping you here for a couple days to monitor you a little more before they release you. The doctor told us earlier that you will probably be able to come home the day after tomorrow. It’s all just precautionary measures now.”
“But still.”
“Stop acting like a baby,” and before I can say more, my phone goes off.
From: My Minnie <3
To: Minho
Can I come over?
“Who is it?”
“Taemin.”
“Oh?”
“He wants to know if he can come over.”
“Why?”
“Didn’t say.”
“Hm, might be important. What happened when you two left to get food anyways? You never told me.”
“We kind of… um…”
“You didn’t!”
“Well…”
“Minho!”
“What?”
“We’re in a hospital!”
“I know.”
“Where’d you do it anyways? In the bathroom?”
“No.”
“Don’t tell me you went into an empty room and got it on.”
“No.”
“Then where?”
“Elevator.”
“Oh, kinky. Did you use the emergency stop button or something?”
“No, power got cut off for a while.”
“Really? I don’t remember the power going out here.”
“Not the whole hospital. Just the elevators. I guess they’re going some electrical work or something.”
“Oh.”
“So you got it on in an elevator.”
“Jazzy.”
“Well at least you know it’s clean.”
“What?”
“Well you know, you have to be careful in public places. You don’t know how clean they are, but since we’re in the hospital. I guess this is the cleanest place to do it.”
“Oh gosh Jazzy,” I roll my eyes at her.
“Whatever, go to your lover boy,” she pushes my stomach.
“You’ll be okay.”
“I know. I just wanted to make you feel bad for leaving me.”
“It didn’t work.”
“I know. Now go.”
I lean down and wrap my arms around her in a tight hug. I feel her arms squeeze my waist and she gives me a kiss on the cheek before breaking our hug.
“Thanks bestie,” she smiles.
“I’ll see you in the morning. Get some rest,” I tell her sternly before grabbing my jacket, blowing her a kiss, and leaving. Once I’m out of the room, I text Taemin back.
From: Minho
To: My Minnie <3
Sure. Leaving the hospital now.
See you in fifteen?
From: My Minnie <3
To: Minho
Okay. Can’t wait to see you.
I already miss you so much. ;)
I smile at the last text before jumping into my car and heading home. I was missing him already too. Just like my text to him says, it took me just about fifteen minutes to arrive back home. And I can’t help the smile that’s on my face when I open my door to find him sitting on the couch, idly flipping through channels on the TV. The faint glow from it the only thing illuminating the room. It was just like when we had first moved in together and I’d come home from practice to see him sitting there, waiting for me.
“Hey,” I whisper as I take a seat behind him, arms automatically finding his waist to pull him close.
“Hey yourself,” he answers.
“How was dinner?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Then what do you want to talk about?”
“Nothing.”
“Hm?”
“I just wanted to spend time with you.”
“You’re lying to me Minnie,” I say into his hair as I kiss the top of his head. He snuggles in closer to me and wraps his arms around my waist.
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes you are.”
“Uh uh.”
“Uh huh.”
“Uh uh.”
“Minnie.”
“I miss you,” he says, looking up at me with his puppy-dog eyes.
“I miss you too. But I still know that you’re lying to me. What do you want to talk about? What happened at dinner?”
He lets out a loud sigh before talking, “We talked about the wedding like Sulli said.”
“And?”
“Her and her dad are pushing for a spring wedding.”
“Okay.”
“This spring.”
“What?!” I pull away just enough to look at his face, but his head is down. Eyes on his lap.
“Yeah.”
“Why the sudden change? I thought it wasn’t going to happen until after graduation.”
“Me too. But it has something to do with us and the company and getting ahead of the game. And Sulli said she didn’t need the stress of planning a wedding during her final year. Blah blah blah.”
“And what did you say?”
“I disagreed of course. I told them I want to wait until after I’m done with my degree. My parents backed me up of course.”
“So that’s good 3 against 2. Odds are in your favor.”
“For now. But her dad is a sneaky bastard.”
“I’m sure he is, if he helped create her. You know what they say, ‘the apply doesn’t fall far from the tree.’”
“True.”
“I guess we should prepare for it though. We need to work harder to find a way for you to get out of this.”
“That’s what my dad told me after dinner. They’re going to do their best to prevent the spring wedding and the wedding in general. It’s just hard when you don’t know what your other is planning and there’s no way to find out.”
“Yeah.”
“And there’s more.”
“More?”
“Yeah.”
“Well then, lay it on me.”
“I have to go to China with my dad for a little bit.”
“When?”
“In two weeks.”
“Why?”
“Business.”
“You don’t know much about the company though.”
“I know, but my Chinese is better than his and he thinks this is the perfect opportunity for me to wet my feet a bit. Graduation will be here before I know it and then I’ll be working for the company.”
“I guess.”
“You’ve been helping your dad out for years now, so I guess you wouldn’t understand.”
“Oh I do because I’ve been helping him for years now. So I know what it’s like to get your first taste of the inner workings of the family business. How long will you be gone?”
“A week.”
“That’s not so bad.”
“But it’s a whole week without seeing you.”
“You can last a week.”
“No I can’t.”
“Yes you can.”
“Oh and Sulli’s dad mentioned your company during dinner too.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, he says it’s bad that we’ve fallen behind you guys.”
“We’re not even competing with you though.”
“I know that. But her dad is being all paranoid now that Jonghyun hyung is going through all that stuff for his family’s company. Oh and apparently there’s a rumor that he’s being scouted by some music label too. Do you know about it?”
“No, I haven’t really talked much to him since Jazzy broke up with him. What does Jjong hyung’s preparation have to do with my family’s company though?”
“Oh, he thinks that your dad is hiding you and Jazzy away until the most opportune moment. The mystery heirs to Choi Inc. The athletic young son of Choi Yoon Kyeom and the beautiful daughter of the late Song Youngsaeng.”
“I still don’t get it.”
“The new faces and generation of the top companies in all of South Korea.”
“Oh. So it’s a beauty contest now?”
“I don’t know. I wasn’t really paying attention.”
“Whatever. My dad doesn’t care about that stuff. He just wants to make sure our company keeps doing well. He doesn’t play those childish games anymore. He never has really.”
“I know, I was just letting you know.”
“Doesn’t that make you a mole then?”
“Funny you should say that,” he laughs.
“Why?”
“Sulli’s dad suspects a mole in the company.”
“Is it you?”
“Maybe.”
“Alright, enough talk about our families. I can’t enjoy your presence otherwise.”
“Okay. How’s Jazzy doing by the way?”
“Good. Doctor says she should be discharged the day after tomorrow. Just keeping her there for now as a precautionary thing. Monitor her a little more just to make sure.”
“That’s good,” he buries his head in my chest and let’s out a yawn.
“Tired?”
“Mm,” he answers.
“Sleeping over?”
“Mm.”
“Want me to carry you?”
“Mm,” I smile and turn off the TV before picking his small frame up off the couch. I carry him bridal-style to the room and gently lay him down on the bed. I take off his button up shirt and jeans.
“Minho, not now. I’m too tired,” he mumbles just as I finish slipping his pants off of him.
“Just because I take off your pants, doesn’t mean I want to do you Minnie. I just figured you’d be more comfortable sleeping in boxer than in skinny jeans.”
“Mm,” I move his head so it’s situated on the pillow better and place another pillow on his side. I pull the blanket up over his body and place a soft kiss on his lips.
“Go to sleep.”
“Aren’t you going to sleep too?”
“In a little bit. I just need to wash off. I ran to the hospital right after practice so didn’t get a chance to shower.”
“Oh, okay,” he buries deeper into the covers and it isn’t long before I hear his breathing steady. I bend over him and place another kiss on his lips before I tip toe out of the room and to the bathroom. I find myself stumbling around in the dark, trying to pull on my pjs twenty minutes later. I end up banging my knee into the dresser and have to bite down on my bottom lip so that the curse words going off in my head don’t actually come out of my mouth.
“Minho,” he mumbles in his sleep.
“I’m sorry babe,” I whisper back, “Go back to sleep.”
“Hurry up.”
“Just let me find a shirt.”
“No. Forget the shirt, just come to bed already,” his arm lifts up the covers as a sign for me to slide in next to him.
“But-”
“Come on, I’ll keep you warm.”
“Minnie, why do I feel like you’re up to no good.”
“I’m not. I just want to cuddle.”
“Well then, let me find a shirt.”
“Bed! Now!”
“Geez, no need to yell,” I make my way over to the bed and climb in next to him. His arm drops down to my waist, followed by the blanket.
“Much better,” I can hear the smile in his voice, as he bring his body closer to mine. I let out a small laugh when one of his legs swings over mines and wraps around it.
“What am I your body pillow now?”
“Uh huh. You’re so fluffy.”
“I am not fluffy.”
“Yes you are. I love to cuddle with you,” I feel his lips make contact with my shoulder and it sends shivers down my spine.
“I know you do,” I slip my arm out from between us and as if he knows what I’m thinking, he lifts his head and shoulders so I can wrap it around him. He moves in closer to my body and I’m suddenly glad that I didn’t put a shirt on. The warmth from his body was enough to drown out any coldness in mine. I bring my arm up to rest behind my head and close my eyes.
“Minho?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“We’re going to get through this right?”
“Right.”
“You’re going to stay by my side right?”
“Right.”
“Promise?”
“Promise,” his lips brush against mine in an innocent kiss before his head finds it’s place on my chest.
“I gave it to you, you know.”
“Huh?”
“I gave it to you.”
“Gave what to me?”
“My heart.”
“What are you talking about Minnie? You’re not making any sense. Go to sleep.”
“You asked me awhile back why I insisted on keeping your heart if I wasn’t willing to give you mine. But I did. After our first kiss, it was yours. Has been ever since. You just never noticed, that I replaced my heart with yours.”
“Oh.”
“I love the way it sounds.”
“What?”
“My heart. Beating inside you.”
“Go to sleep Minnie,” I kiss the crown on his head.
“Okay,” he kisses my chest. Right above where my heart is. Or rather his heart, “Just make sure you take care of it okay?”
“I will, as long as you take care of mine.”
“I’ll protect it with my life.”
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:As promised a second update. :)
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Taemin! Sulli!” her dad stood up from his chair and my parents soon followed suit, “How are our beautiful children?”
“We’re good Daddy,” Sulli smiles before hugging bother her dad and my parents. I just nod, shake his hand, and hug my parents. I don’t even bother to smile. Why make them think I’m happy when I’m anything but.
“Take a seat, take a seat. We were just about to order,” her dad was in much too good of a mood for my liking and I turn to my dad to see if I can get any answer from him. His face is stone-cold though and when he sees me look at him, he just nods his head before turning away. Looks like I won’t be getting any answers from him. I look to my mom and she’s not even paying attention to me, too engrossed in the menu held between her hands. Taemin decided to give up on the matter for the moment as he took a menu and began to scan it himself. He wasn’t really that hungry though, probably because of two of people sitting at the table with him.
It was about ten minutes later after they had all ordered their food and were sitting in a strange silence that the reason for the dinner came up. You could tell that three of the people didn’t want to talk about it by the way they fidgeted in their seats and fumbled with the napkin on their lap. The other two were smiling brightly as they began to discuss the big day.
“So Sulli wants a spring wedding. She’s thinking that their spring holiday from school will be the perfect time and I couldn’t agree more. Spring is the start of the new beginnings right? Trees and flowers are beginning to bloom again and it would be the perfect symbol for our children. Two of them joining together to begin a new like as one beautiful couple,” her dad explained to us.
Ugh, when did her dad get so poetic and cheesy. I think I just threw up a little in my mouth for the second time today. I see my parents from the corner of my eyes with a similar expression on their face. It was definitely weird to see a man who was pretty rough and touch on daily basis talk about flowers and blooming and spring weddings. But then again, this is what he wanted. He saw nothing but good things coming from the joining of Sulli and I. He believed that it would only make the company that much stronger and powerful. I don’t really understand how that made sense since it was a joining of the owners’ children not one between two different companies. I’ll have to ask my dad about that later.
“Spring? That’s only a few months away,” my mother says.
“Yes, but the sooner they get married, the better,” her father counters.
“What’s the rush though? I don’t understand,” my father asks.
“You know why we’re rushing. Kim Industries is already out there prepping, Jonghyun to be the new face of the company. Rumor has it that he has a record company after him as well. No doubt if that’s true than their stocks will sky-rocket for sure. A young, good-looking idol as the face of the company will surely get them more attention. I’m afraid that we’ve already fallen too far behind them. Choi Inc. is still ahead of us and they have yet to do something to gain more recognition. Although, I do hear their son is quite the athlete and the daughter of the late Song Youngsaeng is quite a beauty. I haven’t seen them before. I’m afraid that they might be waiting for just the right time to get them out into the public and we can’t let them do that. We need to get Sulli and Taemin out there now to get an advantage over the other two.”
My ears perked up after hearing Minho’s family company mentioned. Sulli’s father was right, Minho is quite the athlete and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was being scouted by a few national teams. I wasn’t sure whether or not he would join them though. He always told me he just enjoyed playing the game, whether for the school or just with friends. Plus I couldn’t really see him as a famous soccer player. I saw him doing something more meaningful with his life. His brain would be an awful thing to waste on soccer.
Thinking about Minho had me thinking about earlier today. What happened in the elevator of the hospital and what he said to me afterwards. He was right. We couldn’t be in the same room with each other and not acknowledge the other. It would be too hard. Our bodies were naturally drawn to one another, like magnets. So how were we going to handle class? I mean it was okay before after we had a clean break, but somehow in the elevator we got sucked in again. And there was no clear way out or around what would happen between us if we were around each other. I don’t think I have the strength to hold back anymore and I knew he didn’t either. We were pretty much screwed.
“Taemin,” my father’s voice breaks my thoughts, “We asked you a question.”
“Oh, I’m sorry appa. I must have got lost in my own thoughts,” I smile weakly at them.
“You’re that excited about our wedding too yeobo?” Sulli says sweetly, rather too sweetly, to me as she links our arms. I try not to yank my arm out of her grasp or scowl at her.
“I don’t think excited would describe the way I feel,” I answer. It’s more like disgusted, appalled, mortified, sickened. Yeah, those words so much more suited to describe the way I feel about the wedding, “What was your question anyways?”
“Sulli’s dad asked if you would be okay with a spring wedding,” my dad gave me a knowing stare that pretty much told me that I should say ‘no.’ Not like I wasn’t going to already. Spring was too close and even if I was still in love with Sulli, I would insist we wait until after we graduated.
“I’m not sure. Spring would mean it would happen right in the middle of the school year and I was actually thinking it would be better if we waited until we were done with school to get married. I don’t want either of us to suffer in our classes because of it,” I answer.
“I love how you’re always so worried about my schooling yeobo,” I try not to gag when I hear her all too sweet voice again, “But this wedding will not affect it. If anything it’ll help me out more. The last thing I need is the stress of planning a wedding during our final year in school when I should focus on just school.”
“She has a point son,” I fight the urge to tell her father that I’m not his ‘son’ nor will I ever be his ‘son.’
“I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it. I think waiting until we’re done with school is the best,” I tell them both.
“Yes, that was our original plan too,” my mother adds, “Plus what better way to celebrate their graduation than by holding their wedding? A big party for the start of a whole bunch of new beginnings.”
I smile at my mom and her ability to think on her feet. She definitely made a good point as well. And like she said, it was our original plan to get married after graduation. A mutual decision between all parties. Now was the time for academics, later would be the time for married life and the company.
“Well, the other reason why I am pushing for this spring wedding is because I want them to start working with the company already. I want them to get a feel of what they are going to be running a few years time. It’s best that our employees get used to them now and they can get used to the company as well,” Sulli’s father tells us.
“I think that’s a good idea, but they can work with the company without getting married,” my father counters.
“Yes, but I don’t want our employees to think badly of them.”
“They’re already engaged. I think they would understand why they aren’t married yet. They would probably think it was because of school anyways.”
“But I want them to show a more united front when we introduce them. And what better way to show that than to show that they are married and are one.”
“We don’t need to rush their marriage just because of that. You think too lightly of our workers. They know better.”
“And you think too highly of them. You’ve already brushed aside the fact that their might be a mole within our company. Feeding our information to Kim or Choi.”
“I trust them. We treat our employees well and in turn they stay loyal to us. No need to start pushing suspicions on them because then that might be the cause of them going astray. I don’t want to assume anything until I have solid facts laid out in front of me.”
“You’re too soft my friend.”
“Someone has to be in our partnership. You’ve turned too hard.”
“Now isn’t the time to bicker,” my mom interrupts them, “We’re here to have a nice dinner between our families and plan a joyous occasion. We don’t need talk about work to be brought to the table.”
I actually would’ve preferred for them to keep at the conversation they were in. I didn’t want to talk about marrying Sulli, it made me sick to my stomach and now that the food was arriving, I really had no appetite to eat the food placed in front of me no matter how good it looked. Besides, I couldn’t help but feel that the more we talked about the wedding, the more my chances of being with Minho decreased and I didn’t want to think about that. I needed to remain optimistic about our situation. I needed to keep thinking that we’d find a way out of this and then I can go back to where I belonged. By Choi Minho’s side.
*~*
“Sir, I’m sorry but visiting hours are over,” a nurse tells me as she comes into the room to check on Jazzy.
“Can’t he stay though?” she asks her.
“I’m sorry, it’s against hospital policies.”
“But-”
“It’s okay Jazzy,” I squeeze her hand, “I’ll come and visit you before class in the morning, okay?”
“But I don’t want to be alone in the hospital. You know how I hate it here.”
“I know, but I can’t force the nurse to go against policy. I’ll be back in the morning,” I stand up and push my chair to towards the wall, out of her way just in case she needed to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. I see the nurse watch as I return to Jazzy’s side and give her a kiss on the forehead.
“Minho,” she pouts at me.
“Don’t give me that face Jazzy. You’ll be fine. You need your rest now hm? You and the baby,” I rub her belly and smile at her, “I’ll be back before you know it.”
“Fine.”
“Go to sleep now. It’s late,” I brush the hair out of her face and give her another kiss on the forehead.
“Oh it warms my heart to see a young couple like this. If you want I can go talk to my supervisor and see what I can do,” the nurse tells us.
“No, it’s okay. I don’t want any special treatment. She’s just stubborn. She’ll be fine,” I tell her.
“No I won’t. Please if you could talk to your supervisor, I’ll be eternally grateful,” Jazzy says.
“Jazzy, stop. You’ll be fine,” I look her dead in the eyes, “Ma’am, it’s okay. I’ll be leaving now.”
“Okay, are you sure though?” the nurse asks me one more time.
“I’m sure.”
“Okay,” and with that, she leaves the room.
“Minho!” Jazzy pouts again, “I don’t want to be all alone in the hospital, why did you do that?”
“Because this isn’t like when you had the flu. You’re perfectly okay. They’re just keeping you here for a couple days to monitor you a little more before they release you. The doctor told us earlier that you will probably be able to come home the day after tomorrow. It’s all just precautionary measures now.”
“But still.”
“Stop acting like a baby,” and before I can say more, my phone goes off.
From: My Minnie <3
To: Minho
Can I come over?
“Who is it?”
“Taemin.”
“Oh?”
“He wants to know if he can come over.”
“Why?”
“Didn’t say.”
“Hm, might be important. What happened when you two left to get food anyways? You never told me.”
“We kind of… um…”
“You didn’t!”
“Well…”
“Minho!”
“What?”
“We’re in a hospital!”
“I know.”
“Where’d you do it anyways? In the bathroom?”
“No.”
“Don’t tell me you went into an empty room and got it on.”
“No.”
“Then where?”
“Elevator.”
“Oh, kinky. Did you use the emergency stop button or something?”
“No, power got cut off for a while.”
“Really? I don’t remember the power going out here.”
“Not the whole hospital. Just the elevators. I guess they’re going some electrical work or something.”
“Oh.”
“So you got it on in an elevator.”
“Jazzy.”
“Well at least you know it’s clean.”
“What?”
“Well you know, you have to be careful in public places. You don’t know how clean they are, but since we’re in the hospital. I guess this is the cleanest place to do it.”
“Oh gosh Jazzy,” I roll my eyes at her.
“Whatever, go to your lover boy,” she pushes my stomach.
“You’ll be okay.”
“I know. I just wanted to make you feel bad for leaving me.”
“It didn’t work.”
“I know. Now go.”
I lean down and wrap my arms around her in a tight hug. I feel her arms squeeze my waist and she gives me a kiss on the cheek before breaking our hug.
“Thanks bestie,” she smiles.
“I’ll see you in the morning. Get some rest,” I tell her sternly before grabbing my jacket, blowing her a kiss, and leaving. Once I’m out of the room, I text Taemin back.
From: Minho
To: My Minnie <3
Sure. Leaving the hospital now.
See you in fifteen?
From: My Minnie <3
To: Minho
Okay. Can’t wait to see you.
I already miss you so much. ;)
I smile at the last text before jumping into my car and heading home. I was missing him already too. Just like my text to him says, it took me just about fifteen minutes to arrive back home. And I can’t help the smile that’s on my face when I open my door to find him sitting on the couch, idly flipping through channels on the TV. The faint glow from it the only thing illuminating the room. It was just like when we had first moved in together and I’d come home from practice to see him sitting there, waiting for me.
“Hey,” I whisper as I take a seat behind him, arms automatically finding his waist to pull him close.
“Hey yourself,” he answers.
“How was dinner?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Then what do you want to talk about?”
“Nothing.”
“Hm?”
“I just wanted to spend time with you.”
“You’re lying to me Minnie,” I say into his hair as I kiss the top of his head. He snuggles in closer to me and wraps his arms around my waist.
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes you are.”
“Uh uh.”
“Uh huh.”
“Uh uh.”
“Minnie.”
“I miss you,” he says, looking up at me with his puppy-dog eyes.
“I miss you too. But I still know that you’re lying to me. What do you want to talk about? What happened at dinner?”
He lets out a loud sigh before talking, “We talked about the wedding like Sulli said.”
“And?”
“Her and her dad are pushing for a spring wedding.”
“Okay.”
“This spring.”
“What?!” I pull away just enough to look at his face, but his head is down. Eyes on his lap.
“Yeah.”
“Why the sudden change? I thought it wasn’t going to happen until after graduation.”
“Me too. But it has something to do with us and the company and getting ahead of the game. And Sulli said she didn’t need the stress of planning a wedding during her final year. Blah blah blah.”
“And what did you say?”
“I disagreed of course. I told them I want to wait until after I’m done with my degree. My parents backed me up of course.”
“So that’s good 3 against 2. Odds are in your favor.”
“For now. But her dad is a sneaky bastard.”
“I’m sure he is, if he helped create her. You know what they say, ‘the apply doesn’t fall far from the tree.’”
“True.”
“I guess we should prepare for it though. We need to work harder to find a way for you to get out of this.”
“That’s what my dad told me after dinner. They’re going to do their best to prevent the spring wedding and the wedding in general. It’s just hard when you don’t know what your other is planning and there’s no way to find out.”
“Yeah.”
“And there’s more.”
“More?”
“Yeah.”
“Well then, lay it on me.”
“I have to go to China with my dad for a little bit.”
“When?”
“In two weeks.”
“Why?”
“Business.”
“You don’t know much about the company though.”
“I know, but my Chinese is better than his and he thinks this is the perfect opportunity for me to wet my feet a bit. Graduation will be here before I know it and then I’ll be working for the company.”
“I guess.”
“You’ve been helping your dad out for years now, so I guess you wouldn’t understand.”
“Oh I do because I’ve been helping him for years now. So I know what it’s like to get your first taste of the inner workings of the family business. How long will you be gone?”
“A week.”
“That’s not so bad.”
“But it’s a whole week without seeing you.”
“You can last a week.”
“No I can’t.”
“Yes you can.”
“Oh and Sulli’s dad mentioned your company during dinner too.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, he says it’s bad that we’ve fallen behind you guys.”
“We’re not even competing with you though.”
“I know that. But her dad is being all paranoid now that Jonghyun hyung is going through all that stuff for his family’s company. Oh and apparently there’s a rumor that he’s being scouted by some music label too. Do you know about it?”
“No, I haven’t really talked much to him since Jazzy broke up with him. What does Jjong hyung’s preparation have to do with my family’s company though?”
“Oh, he thinks that your dad is hiding you and Jazzy away until the most opportune moment. The mystery heirs to Choi Inc. The athletic young son of Choi Yoon Kyeom and the beautiful daughter of the late Song Youngsaeng.”
“I still don’t get it.”
“The new faces and generation of the top companies in all of South Korea.”
“Oh. So it’s a beauty contest now?”
“I don’t know. I wasn’t really paying attention.”
“Whatever. My dad doesn’t care about that stuff. He just wants to make sure our company keeps doing well. He doesn’t play those childish games anymore. He never has really.”
“I know, I was just letting you know.”
“Doesn’t that make you a mole then?”
“Funny you should say that,” he laughs.
“Why?”
“Sulli’s dad suspects a mole in the company.”
“Is it you?”
“Maybe.”
“Alright, enough talk about our families. I can’t enjoy your presence otherwise.”
“Okay. How’s Jazzy doing by the way?”
“Good. Doctor says she should be discharged the day after tomorrow. Just keeping her there for now as a precautionary thing. Monitor her a little more just to make sure.”
“That’s good,” he buries his head in my chest and let’s out a yawn.
“Tired?”
“Mm,” he answers.
“Sleeping over?”
“Mm.”
“Want me to carry you?”
“Mm,” I smile and turn off the TV before picking his small frame up off the couch. I carry him bridal-style to the room and gently lay him down on the bed. I take off his button up shirt and jeans.
“Minho, not now. I’m too tired,” he mumbles just as I finish slipping his pants off of him.
“Just because I take off your pants, doesn’t mean I want to do you Minnie. I just figured you’d be more comfortable sleeping in boxer than in skinny jeans.”
“Mm,” I move his head so it’s situated on the pillow better and place another pillow on his side. I pull the blanket up over his body and place a soft kiss on his lips.
“Go to sleep.”
“Aren’t you going to sleep too?”
“In a little bit. I just need to wash off. I ran to the hospital right after practice so didn’t get a chance to shower.”
“Oh, okay,” he buries deeper into the covers and it isn’t long before I hear his breathing steady. I bend over him and place another kiss on his lips before I tip toe out of the room and to the bathroom. I find myself stumbling around in the dark, trying to pull on my pjs twenty minutes later. I end up banging my knee into the dresser and have to bite down on my bottom lip so that the curse words going off in my head don’t actually come out of my mouth.
“Minho,” he mumbles in his sleep.
“I’m sorry babe,” I whisper back, “Go back to sleep.”
“Hurry up.”
“Just let me find a shirt.”
“No. Forget the shirt, just come to bed already,” his arm lifts up the covers as a sign for me to slide in next to him.
“But-”
“Come on, I’ll keep you warm.”
“Minnie, why do I feel like you’re up to no good.”
“I’m not. I just want to cuddle.”
“Well then, let me find a shirt.”
“Bed! Now!”
“Geez, no need to yell,” I make my way over to the bed and climb in next to him. His arm drops down to my waist, followed by the blanket.
“Much better,” I can hear the smile in his voice, as he bring his body closer to mine. I let out a small laugh when one of his legs swings over mines and wraps around it.
“What am I your body pillow now?”
“Uh huh. You’re so fluffy.”
“I am not fluffy.”
“Yes you are. I love to cuddle with you,” I feel his lips make contact with my shoulder and it sends shivers down my spine.
“I know you do,” I slip my arm out from between us and as if he knows what I’m thinking, he lifts his head and shoulders so I can wrap it around him. He moves in closer to my body and I’m suddenly glad that I didn’t put a shirt on. The warmth from his body was enough to drown out any coldness in mine. I bring my arm up to rest behind my head and close my eyes.
“Minho?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“We’re going to get through this right?”
“Right.”
“You’re going to stay by my side right?”
“Right.”
“Promise?”
“Promise,” his lips brush against mine in an innocent kiss before his head finds it’s place on my chest.
“I gave it to you, you know.”
“Huh?”
“I gave it to you.”
“Gave what to me?”
“My heart.”
“What are you talking about Minnie? You’re not making any sense. Go to sleep.”
“You asked me awhile back why I insisted on keeping your heart if I wasn’t willing to give you mine. But I did. After our first kiss, it was yours. Has been ever since. You just never noticed, that I replaced my heart with yours.”
“Oh.”
“I love the way it sounds.”
“What?”
“My heart. Beating inside you.”
“Go to sleep Minnie,” I kiss the crown on his head.
“Okay,” he kisses my chest. Right above where my heart is. Or rather his heart, “Just make sure you take care of it okay?”
“I will, as long as you take care of mine.”
“I’ll protect it with my life.”