Dream A Little Dream of Me
Title: Dream A Little Dream of Me (3/3)
Author: his_angel16
Pairing: YuWook, YuMin
Genre: Romance, angst
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Yuchun and Ryeowook were best friends in their childhood. Now that they’ve grown up away from each other, how have they turned out and where do they stand in terms of relationships?
Ryeowook awoke to the sound of someone knocking lightly on the door. He rolled over, hoping one of his parents would get it, but when the knocking persisted, he grumbled as he threw the blankets off and went downstairs. He opened the front door, rubbing his eye with the back of his hand as he looked up into three strangers’ faces.
“Can I help you?” he asked. He noticed the three share a look with each other before one turned back toward him.
“Are you Kim Ryeowook?” he asked, smiling when Ryeowook nodded. “Good. Come with us.” He grabbed Ryeowook’s wrist, pulling him out the front door. One of the other two closed the door behind them, and the third one opened a car door before climbing inside. The first one shoved Ryeowook in next to him before the one third climbed in after him.
“Why are you kidnapping me?”
The first got in behind the wheel, looking back at him in the rearview mirror. “We’re doing it as a favor to someone."
”Someone asked you to kidnap me?” Ryeowook scoffed, crossing his arms. “That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Let me out, I’m going back inside.”
“We can’t do that,” the third said, gazing out the window. “We were asked to get rid of you and that’s what we’ll do. At least until the wedding is over.”
“Wedding? What wedding?”
He looked at Ryeowook, his face and voice serious. “Max and Micky’s wedding.”
Ryeowook thought for a moment, trying to figure out who Max was before it hit him. Changmin is trying to get rid of me, he thought. But, we had an agreement that the rejected one would leave. So why is he doing this now?
“Look, I’m not entirely sure what is going on here, but there is no reason to kidnap me. Besides, you’ll all be in a lot of trouble for doing this.” Ryeowook looked out the window as they passed a sign, signaling that they were leaving the city limits. “Um…where are you taking me exactly?”
The second one smiled, looking over at Ryeowook before returning to looking out his window. “We’re taking you to a cottage of ours. It was signed over to Yunho when his parents died in a tragic accident on a cruise. They left lonely Yunho everything.”
“Junsu, don’t talk about my parents like that. We all know that they were murdered and it wasn’t an accident. It was Mrs. Park’s fault and you know it.”
“Can’t you just let Micky off the hook? It’s not his fault he had a crazy bitch for a mom. Maybe that’s why he’s so weird.”
“Su, be careful about what you say. Yuchun won’t be happy that you called his mom a crazy bitch.”
Yunho glared at Junsu and Jaejoong in the mirror. “What is with you two and your foul language today?” He glanced at Ryeowook’s reflection, an apologetic look in his eyes. “I apologize for those two. They mean well, but sometimes they slip and a curse word spills from their mouth. And I apologize for kidnapping you, but we can’t let you be near them for this weekend.”
“Why not for the weekend?” Ryeowook couldn’t understand Yunho. He was kidnapping him, but he apologized for it and even apologized for his friends. He didn’t know why, but he thought that if it was on different terms, he’d have liked Yunho a lot.
“After the weekend,” Jaejoong began, smiling at Ryeowook. “Changmin and Yuchun will be married. Changmin asked us to help them elope.”
Ryeowook looked down, his heart beating almost painfully loud. He didn’t want to think about it. He didn’t know why, but he knew Changmin hated him. He had to in order to pull something like this. He kept his eyes down, refusing to show how hurt he really was. He didn’t want these three strangers feeling pity for him, regardless of what happened. He blinked a few times, closing his eyes in frustration when he felt a tear slip down his cheek. He went to brush it away before anyone could see, but he felt a hand wipe it away for him.
“We didn’t mean to make you cry,” Junsu said, the guilt coloring his voice. He frowned before looking at Yunho. “Yunho, we made him cry!” He threw his arms around Ryeowook, startling him. “We’re sorry! We didn’t mean to make you cry, it’s just that Changmin really, really, really likes Yuchun. He wants to marry him and said you were trying to get in his way, so Changmin called us.”
Yunho stopped the car once they were parked in front of an older looking cottage in the middle of nowhere. It was situated on top of a hill far away from any sign of civilization. It’s location made Ryeowook frown. He knew he’d never be able to figure out his way back and he didn’t even know which direction they left the city. He followed Yunho, Junsu, and Jaejoong into the home, frowning again at it’s interior. Layers of dust coated everything, sheets were draped over the furniture and there wasn’t anything in the cupboards or refrigerator.
“We’ll have to leave in shifts unless we tie him up somewhere,” Yunho explained.
“But we’re all supposed to meet with Changmin and Yuchun in a couple of hours. We have no choice but to tie him up somewhere,” Junsu said, frowning.
Yunho sighed, grabbing Ryeowook by the arm and leading him upstairs to the bathroom. There was a steel towel rack hanging on the wall by the toilet. He puller out a shiny pair of handcuffs and cuffed Ryeowook to the towel rack. “Stay put. At least this way if you need to pee you can without doing so all over my floor. We’ll be back with food in a couple of hours.”
Yuchun awoke to being the only one in the room. He frowned when he reached out and the space next to him was cold. It meant that Changmin had been up for a good while. He sat up, seeing that Ryeowook’s bed was left empty as well, the blankets scattered messily in a heap. He frowned, finding it strange that Ryeowook would leave his bed in such a state. He got up and went downstairs, hearing familiar laughter echoing in the nearly empty house. He walked into the living room, his eyes widening when he saw Changmin laughing with Jaejoong, Junsu, and Yunho at some comedy on the television.
“Not that I’m not ecstatic that they’re here, but what are they doing here?” Yuchun asked, going to sit beside Changmin.
“They came to help us with something,” Changmin replied, turning and giving Yuchun a kiss. “You know how we were talking the other day, back when we were still in England, about how nice it would be to get married?”
Yuchun blinked and tried to think back to that night they had walked on the beach near their home, nodding once. “I said that we’d hold off a while and see how we felt a little later. Why?”
“I know that I won’t feel any differently than I do now and since you don’t have someone else you like, we should get married this weekend! Jaejoong hyung, Junsu hyung, and Yunho hyung even flew from England to help us elope and get married!”
“That’s why they’re here?” Yuchun looked at each of them before he crossed his arms. “Fine, but Ryeowook should be there, too.”
Changmin’s face fell. “What? Why does he need to be there? Yunho can be our best man, Jaejoong can be the maid of honor, and Junsu can be the ring bearer. Why do we need more than that?”
Yuchun frowned. “Either Ryeowook is there or I won’t marry you.”
Changmin bit his lip before he sighed and nodded. “He can be there, too. It’ll be good for him actually.” Yuchun nodded and left the room, going back upstairs. Changmin turned to Yunho, anger lacing his voice. “See! His stupid childhood friend is always around us! For whatever reason, Micky thinks he’s important.”
“Maybe Micky likes him?” Junsu asked, receiving a smack to the cheek from Changmin.
“Don’t say something so stupid. Why the hell would he like Ryeowook over me?”
Junsu rubbed his cheek, glaring as Changmin followed Yuchun upstairs. “I can give him one good reason…that kid probably isn’t abusive like Max is…”
“Su, stop it. We don’t need to be fighting amongst ourselves,” Jaejoong said. “I’m going back to the cottage to get some sleep. I’ll tell the kid that Yuchun wants him at the wedding or the deal is off. I’ll get him some food, too. Call me when you want to come back and I’ll come get you.”
An hour later, Jaejoong pulled to a stop in front of Yunho’s cottage, climbing out with a few grocery bags in his hands. He opened the front door and went to the kitchen, setting the bags down and going upstairs. He knocked on the bathroom door before entering, finding Ryeowook sitting there, staring at the wall. He sighed before fishing the key from his pocket. He unlocked the cuff around the other’s wrist, causing him to slump forward a little.
“Yah, snap out of whatever daze you’re in,” Jaejoong said, shaking Ryeowook slightly.
Ryeowook looked up at him, his eyes holding a glassy sheen with tears streaming silently down his face. He hugged Jaejoong tightly, causing him to stumble. “I love him,” Ryeowook murmured. “I’m in love with Yuchun and Changmin’s out to get me for it. We made a bet that if Yuchun accepted my feelings, Changmin would leave and I would be able to be with him, but for whatever reason, Changmin is going back on his word.”
Jaejoong blinked, trying to absorb everything. “Changmin is going back on his word? Tell me the details of the bet.”
Ryeowook sighed, trying to catch his breath a little before he started talking again. “He and I agreed that the one rejected would leave the country if I confessed before midnight on Sunday. And I confessed last night…”
Jaejoong looked down at Ryeowook, a frown pulling his eyebrows together. “And how did Yuchun react?”
“Yuchun said that he felt the same as I did.”
Jaejoong looked at his reflection in the mirror, his eyes hardening before he suddenly got an idea. He turned back to Ryeowook and held him at arm’s length. “Changmin wants to marry Yuchun before the weekend is over, right? He feels threatened by you. Junsu and Yunho wouldn’t go through with his plan if they knew Yuchun likes you. We really aren’t bad people, it’s just we feel the need to protect Changmin since he’s the youngest. But Yuchun said he wants you at the wedding.”
“Yuchun…wants me there?”
Jaejoong nodded. “Here’s what we do. I’ll get together with Yuchun secretly and have it set up that he marries you instead. Changmin will hate me for it for a while, but if Yuchun really likes you that much, he needs to be with you, not Changmin. Changmin has been wrong for him. It’s sad, but true. I love Changmin to death, but he has some issues he needs to sort out.”
Ryeowook blinked blankly at Jaejoong. “you’re going to help me? But, why? I mean, I’m thankful that you are, but I’m not sure why you are.”
“It’s because I can see how you feel about Yuchun is strong. Changmin doesn’t love Yuchun as much as you. Him proving this stunt and having us kidnap you to keep you from being together and springing this marriage thing on Yuchun proves it. You didn’t even fight against us when we kidnapped you. You not doing anything proves that you love him more. Because when you truly love someone, you learn to let them go if that’s what they want even if it hurts.”
“I had to let him go once. It hurt like hell and now that he’s back, I thought I would be okay if I had to let him go again…but truthfully, it would nearly kill me if I had to watch him walk away again.”
Jaejoong nodded, dropping his arms. “I’ll get together with Yuchun later and get this figured out. We’ll just keep it between the two of us. Keep your deal with Changmin between us, too. If Junsu or Yunho found out, they’d confront Changmin about it. That wouldn’t be a good thing considering we’re the only ones that know about it.”
“Yuchun knows it, too, but he wouldn’t tell Changmin. Him telling Changmin would get him in trouble, too. He’s smarter than that. For now, if Yuchun asks about my whereabouts, tell him I’m at a friend’s place for a little while. I don’t want him hating you guys.”
“How could Changmin hate you? You’re too nice to everyone. Especially to him after everything that’s happened between the two of you in the last few days. Tomorrow is Sunday, so they’re going to be leaving early tomorrow. I’ll sneak away from them and come get you. I’ll get a rental car and say I need to go somewhere before showing up with you.”
Ryeowook nodded. “Thank you for helping me. Under normal circumstances, we’d have been good friends.”
“When this is all over, let’s meet and get to know each other. You’re too good of a person for people to not like.” Jaejoong heard the door open downstairs and he quickly wiped the remaining tears from Ryeowook’s face. “Have faith in me, okay?” He turned and gripped the other’s elbow and dragged him down the stairs.
“Jaejoong, is he causing trouble?” Changmin asked, walking in the front door. Ryeowook glared at him, causing Changmin to frown. “It looks like he still has a bit of spirit left in him.” He crossed the room and slapped Ryeowook in the face before fisting his hand in the elder’s hair and forcing him to look at him. “After tomorrow, Yuchun will forever be mine. And you’ll disappear from our lives, Ryeowook hyung.”
Jaejoong glared at Changmin’s back as he disappeared into the kitchen. Yunho and Junsu both caught the look, but didn’t ask questions as they followed after Changmin. Jaejoong took Ryeowook outside for some fresh air, sitting next to him and looking out over the rolling hills. He glanced over and frowned at Ryeowook rubbing his cheek. The front door opened, closing with a loud bang as it slammed, Yunho and Junsu coming out and sitting on the porch steps with the two of them.
“Here,” Yunho said, holding out a pack of ice toward Ryeowook. He took it and held it to his cheek, feeling as if he had somehow won over Changmin and Yuchun’s friends unintentionally. He frowned, feeling a little sad for Changmin. “Changmin doesn’t mean to be so cruel. He just…never had someone to depend on so he’s possessive of Yuchun.”
“I was like that when I was little. Yuchun was the only friend I had so I felt as though he abandoned me when he had to move. I knew it wasn’t his fault, but it didn’t ease the pain. I loved him a lot…” Ryeowook smiled before he looked at Yunho, Jaejoong shaking his head in a silent plea for him to keep his mouth shut. “I still do.”
“I know. Changmin felt you were making a move on Yuchun so he called us in as backup, but you aren’t a threat. He’s paranoid for no reason.”
“No, he isn’t.”
“Ryeowook, shut up before things erupt,” Jaejoong warned, keeping his eyes locked on the hills. He felt Junsu and Yunho staring at him before their eyes shifted to Ryeowook, both questioning him silently.
“I love Yuchun a lot, but I wouldn’t blatantly try to snatch him away. Changmin made me a bet, so that’s why I haven’t backed down yet. I would have been intimidated if it was about anyone else, but since it’s Yuchun, I can’t lose. Yuchun is all I had for a while and he’s the only one who can fully understand me. Yuchun is the only one who has ever held my heart and even if he marries Changmin, he’ll still hold it.”
“I knew it,” Changmin growled from the doorway, his eyes dangerously close to resembling that of a madman. “You bitch. You can’t just leave quietly, can you?”
Jaejoong, Junsu, and Yunho turned to face Changmin as he raced toward Ryeowook, tackling him off of the steps. They hit the ground, hard, before Changmin rolled over and pinned Ryeowook to the ground. The defiant glare Ryeowook shot up at him made him want to run away. It was only a matter of time before the elder snapped and Changmin felt that it was close to that time. Ryeowook pushed against him, the two rolling down a hill.
Yunho’s eyes widened. “If I remember correctly, isn’t there a river that runs through these hills?”
Jaejoong was the first to jump up and race after the two rolling away, Yunho following on his heels and Junsu only a few paces behind him. They reached the top of a hill, panting as they watched Changmin and Ryeowook disappear beneath the surface of the river. Yunho rushed down the hill, diving headfirst into the chilly water. Jaejoong and Junsu watched from the top of the hill, holding their breaths as Yunho resurfaced with a nearly unconscious Changmin and swam him to the edge.
“Where’s the kid?” Junsu shouted at Yunho, he and Jaejoong walking down the hill to check on Changmin.
Yunho looked up at them, water running down his face. “I couldn’t find him. I’m going back in.” He inhaled a large breath, turning and disappearing into the water again.
“I’m calling Yuchun,” Jaejoong said, pulling out his phone. Yuchun answered on the second ring. “Yuchun, does that Ryeowook kid know how to swim? He doesn’t?” He bit his lip before he answered Yuchun’s question. “Changmin attacked him and they went headfirst into a river. Yunho is looking for him now, but Changmin is safe.”
“What did Yuchun say?” Junsu asked as Jaejoong hung up.
“He’s on his way over here. I’m going to help Yunho look for him.” Jaejoong jumped into the river, disappearing much like Yunho had beneath the surface.
“Serves him right,” Changmin murmured, coughing up water.
Junsu glared at him. “It isn’t a crime to love someone. You’re just threatened by the fact that Yuchun might like Ryeowook back. If he does, then let them be together. After we find Ryeowook, the three of us are taking you back to England with us. You’ll be better off once you aren’t around the two of them. You’ll fall in love with someone else.”
“I don’t want to love anyone else. I want to love Yuchun and only him.”
“We’re going to swim down the river a little ways and see if we can find him!” Yunho shouted from the water. He and Jaejoong swam off, following the current. They continued their search, Yuchun arriving shortly after. He spotted Junsu and went to ask him if they had found Ryeowook yet, Changmin smiling at seeing him.
“Micky, you came to see me?” he asked, frowning when Yuchun ignored him, walking passed him to Junsu.
“Have you found him yet?” Yuchun asked, Junsu shaking his head. Yuchun sighed, turning and starting to walk along the riverbank, searching the water for any signs of Ryeowook. He turned and sighed in relief as Yunho and Jaejoong were walking back toward them, an unconscious Ryeowook on Yunho’s back.
“We found him,” Yunho panted, stopping in front of Yuchun. He knelt and allowed Yuchun to pull Ryeowook from his back and into his arms.
“Ryeowook, can you hear me?” Yuchun whispered, shaking the younger slightly. “Wook, open your eyes.” He stared at Ryeowook, silently begging for him to wake up. He was just about to give up when he noticed the younger’s eyes flutter open. Ryeowook turned away from him, coughing up the water that had nearly killed him.
“Yuchun, we’ll be taking Changmin back to England with us,” Junsu informed him. “We know that you love Ryeowook as much as he loves you. If you don’t mind, we’ll be leaving now.”
“We’re sorry that we came in the first place,” Yunho said, clapping Yuchun on the shoulder. “We came because Changmin said Ryeowook was trying to steal you from him, but it turns out that you were Ryeowook’s to begin with.”
“We’ll keep in touch with you,” Jaejoong added. “We’ll want updates on your love life, too, so you’d better take care of Ryeowook. Or you’ll have the three of us to answer to.” Jaejoong walked over to where Changmin stood, his eyes holding a dazed appearance. “Come on, Changmin, lets go home. Your parents are going to be back in England next week.”
Changmin looked at Jaejoong. “They’re coming home?”
Jaejoong nodded. “We called them before we left saying that they needed to come back. So, they’re cutting their cruise short and coming home to look after you.”
Yunho waved goodbye as he, Junsu, and Jaejoong walked with Changmin back up the hill. They left Ryeowook and Yuchun sitting on the riverbank in silence, hoping that they’d be able to have some time to themselves before going back to Ryeowook’s house. They sat in silence, watching as the sun began to set.
“Wook, I’m sorry about Changmin,” Yuchun started, reaching over and taking his hand. “I should have told you a long time ago that I liked you. I was just afraid that you had never liked me the same way and when we grew up, I though you’d have found someone better than me.”
Ryeowook smiled, turning his head to look at Yuchun better. “Chun, there is no one better than you for me. I’ve loved you since we met. For twelve years these feelings have been here and they’ll still be here in another twelve. They won’t go away and they won’t ever lessen. I love you, Park Yuchun, and nothing you or anyone else can say or do will ever change that.”
Yuchun smiled before he gave Ryeowook a quick kiss. “I love you, too, Ryeowook. Come on. Let’s go home.” Yuchun stood, pulling Ryeowook to his feet. They both smiled as they started up the hill. It was quiet on the way to Ryeowook’s house. Mr. Park was sitting on the front porch with Mr. Kim, chatting like they did years ago. When they saw their sons, they gave each other a knowing look before they went back to talking about nothing in particular.
“Mr. Kim, cane I ask you something?” Yuchun asked, stopping with Ryeowook at the bottom of the porch stairs. When he nodded, Yuchun smiled, wrapping his arm around Ryeowook’s waist and pulling him close. “You don’t mind if I marry Wook, do you?”
“Mind? Why would I mind?” Mr. Kim replied, standing up. “I’ve been waiting for you to ask me that ever since you came back to Korea! Go ahead and marry him. You’ve been family all this time anyway. You might as well make it official.” He held his hand out to Yuchun, the other shaking it once. “Welcome to the family, son.”
Yuchun smiled up at his soon-to-be father-in-law. “It’s good to be a part of this family.” He turned and smiled at Ryeowook, seeing a smile on the younger’s face that he hadn’t seen in a long time. “You will marry me, won’t you, Ryeowook?”
“I’ll marry you,” Ryeowook replied, cupping Yuchun’s face with both of his hands and pulling him forward for a kiss. “If you asked me a million times, the answer would always be yes.”
Yuchun smiled. “Then I’ll ask you more than a million times a day if you’ll marry me.” He leaned in again, capturing Ryeowook’s lips in a kiss.
Author: his_angel16
Pairing: YuWook, YuMin
Genre: Romance, angst
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Yuchun and Ryeowook were best friends in their childhood. Now that they’ve grown up away from each other, how have they turned out and where do they stand in terms of relationships?
Ryeowook awoke to the sound of someone knocking lightly on the door. He rolled over, hoping one of his parents would get it, but when the knocking persisted, he grumbled as he threw the blankets off and went downstairs. He opened the front door, rubbing his eye with the back of his hand as he looked up into three strangers’ faces.
“Can I help you?” he asked. He noticed the three share a look with each other before one turned back toward him.
“Are you Kim Ryeowook?” he asked, smiling when Ryeowook nodded. “Good. Come with us.” He grabbed Ryeowook’s wrist, pulling him out the front door. One of the other two closed the door behind them, and the third one opened a car door before climbing inside. The first one shoved Ryeowook in next to him before the one third climbed in after him.
“Why are you kidnapping me?”
The first got in behind the wheel, looking back at him in the rearview mirror. “We’re doing it as a favor to someone."
”Someone asked you to kidnap me?” Ryeowook scoffed, crossing his arms. “That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Let me out, I’m going back inside.”
“We can’t do that,” the third said, gazing out the window. “We were asked to get rid of you and that’s what we’ll do. At least until the wedding is over.”
“Wedding? What wedding?”
He looked at Ryeowook, his face and voice serious. “Max and Micky’s wedding.”
Ryeowook thought for a moment, trying to figure out who Max was before it hit him. Changmin is trying to get rid of me, he thought. But, we had an agreement that the rejected one would leave. So why is he doing this now?
“Look, I’m not entirely sure what is going on here, but there is no reason to kidnap me. Besides, you’ll all be in a lot of trouble for doing this.” Ryeowook looked out the window as they passed a sign, signaling that they were leaving the city limits. “Um…where are you taking me exactly?”
The second one smiled, looking over at Ryeowook before returning to looking out his window. “We’re taking you to a cottage of ours. It was signed over to Yunho when his parents died in a tragic accident on a cruise. They left lonely Yunho everything.”
“Junsu, don’t talk about my parents like that. We all know that they were murdered and it wasn’t an accident. It was Mrs. Park’s fault and you know it.”
“Can’t you just let Micky off the hook? It’s not his fault he had a crazy bitch for a mom. Maybe that’s why he’s so weird.”
“Su, be careful about what you say. Yuchun won’t be happy that you called his mom a crazy bitch.”
Yunho glared at Junsu and Jaejoong in the mirror. “What is with you two and your foul language today?” He glanced at Ryeowook’s reflection, an apologetic look in his eyes. “I apologize for those two. They mean well, but sometimes they slip and a curse word spills from their mouth. And I apologize for kidnapping you, but we can’t let you be near them for this weekend.”
“Why not for the weekend?” Ryeowook couldn’t understand Yunho. He was kidnapping him, but he apologized for it and even apologized for his friends. He didn’t know why, but he thought that if it was on different terms, he’d have liked Yunho a lot.
“After the weekend,” Jaejoong began, smiling at Ryeowook. “Changmin and Yuchun will be married. Changmin asked us to help them elope.”
Ryeowook looked down, his heart beating almost painfully loud. He didn’t want to think about it. He didn’t know why, but he knew Changmin hated him. He had to in order to pull something like this. He kept his eyes down, refusing to show how hurt he really was. He didn’t want these three strangers feeling pity for him, regardless of what happened. He blinked a few times, closing his eyes in frustration when he felt a tear slip down his cheek. He went to brush it away before anyone could see, but he felt a hand wipe it away for him.
“We didn’t mean to make you cry,” Junsu said, the guilt coloring his voice. He frowned before looking at Yunho. “Yunho, we made him cry!” He threw his arms around Ryeowook, startling him. “We’re sorry! We didn’t mean to make you cry, it’s just that Changmin really, really, really likes Yuchun. He wants to marry him and said you were trying to get in his way, so Changmin called us.”
Yunho stopped the car once they were parked in front of an older looking cottage in the middle of nowhere. It was situated on top of a hill far away from any sign of civilization. It’s location made Ryeowook frown. He knew he’d never be able to figure out his way back and he didn’t even know which direction they left the city. He followed Yunho, Junsu, and Jaejoong into the home, frowning again at it’s interior. Layers of dust coated everything, sheets were draped over the furniture and there wasn’t anything in the cupboards or refrigerator.
“We’ll have to leave in shifts unless we tie him up somewhere,” Yunho explained.
“But we’re all supposed to meet with Changmin and Yuchun in a couple of hours. We have no choice but to tie him up somewhere,” Junsu said, frowning.
Yunho sighed, grabbing Ryeowook by the arm and leading him upstairs to the bathroom. There was a steel towel rack hanging on the wall by the toilet. He puller out a shiny pair of handcuffs and cuffed Ryeowook to the towel rack. “Stay put. At least this way if you need to pee you can without doing so all over my floor. We’ll be back with food in a couple of hours.”
Yuchun awoke to being the only one in the room. He frowned when he reached out and the space next to him was cold. It meant that Changmin had been up for a good while. He sat up, seeing that Ryeowook’s bed was left empty as well, the blankets scattered messily in a heap. He frowned, finding it strange that Ryeowook would leave his bed in such a state. He got up and went downstairs, hearing familiar laughter echoing in the nearly empty house. He walked into the living room, his eyes widening when he saw Changmin laughing with Jaejoong, Junsu, and Yunho at some comedy on the television.
“Not that I’m not ecstatic that they’re here, but what are they doing here?” Yuchun asked, going to sit beside Changmin.
“They came to help us with something,” Changmin replied, turning and giving Yuchun a kiss. “You know how we were talking the other day, back when we were still in England, about how nice it would be to get married?”
Yuchun blinked and tried to think back to that night they had walked on the beach near their home, nodding once. “I said that we’d hold off a while and see how we felt a little later. Why?”
“I know that I won’t feel any differently than I do now and since you don’t have someone else you like, we should get married this weekend! Jaejoong hyung, Junsu hyung, and Yunho hyung even flew from England to help us elope and get married!”
“That’s why they’re here?” Yuchun looked at each of them before he crossed his arms. “Fine, but Ryeowook should be there, too.”
Changmin’s face fell. “What? Why does he need to be there? Yunho can be our best man, Jaejoong can be the maid of honor, and Junsu can be the ring bearer. Why do we need more than that?”
Yuchun frowned. “Either Ryeowook is there or I won’t marry you.”
Changmin bit his lip before he sighed and nodded. “He can be there, too. It’ll be good for him actually.” Yuchun nodded and left the room, going back upstairs. Changmin turned to Yunho, anger lacing his voice. “See! His stupid childhood friend is always around us! For whatever reason, Micky thinks he’s important.”
“Maybe Micky likes him?” Junsu asked, receiving a smack to the cheek from Changmin.
“Don’t say something so stupid. Why the hell would he like Ryeowook over me?”
Junsu rubbed his cheek, glaring as Changmin followed Yuchun upstairs. “I can give him one good reason…that kid probably isn’t abusive like Max is…”
“Su, stop it. We don’t need to be fighting amongst ourselves,” Jaejoong said. “I’m going back to the cottage to get some sleep. I’ll tell the kid that Yuchun wants him at the wedding or the deal is off. I’ll get him some food, too. Call me when you want to come back and I’ll come get you.”
An hour later, Jaejoong pulled to a stop in front of Yunho’s cottage, climbing out with a few grocery bags in his hands. He opened the front door and went to the kitchen, setting the bags down and going upstairs. He knocked on the bathroom door before entering, finding Ryeowook sitting there, staring at the wall. He sighed before fishing the key from his pocket. He unlocked the cuff around the other’s wrist, causing him to slump forward a little.
“Yah, snap out of whatever daze you’re in,” Jaejoong said, shaking Ryeowook slightly.
Ryeowook looked up at him, his eyes holding a glassy sheen with tears streaming silently down his face. He hugged Jaejoong tightly, causing him to stumble. “I love him,” Ryeowook murmured. “I’m in love with Yuchun and Changmin’s out to get me for it. We made a bet that if Yuchun accepted my feelings, Changmin would leave and I would be able to be with him, but for whatever reason, Changmin is going back on his word.”
Jaejoong blinked, trying to absorb everything. “Changmin is going back on his word? Tell me the details of the bet.”
Ryeowook sighed, trying to catch his breath a little before he started talking again. “He and I agreed that the one rejected would leave the country if I confessed before midnight on Sunday. And I confessed last night…”
Jaejoong looked down at Ryeowook, a frown pulling his eyebrows together. “And how did Yuchun react?”
“Yuchun said that he felt the same as I did.”
Jaejoong looked at his reflection in the mirror, his eyes hardening before he suddenly got an idea. He turned back to Ryeowook and held him at arm’s length. “Changmin wants to marry Yuchun before the weekend is over, right? He feels threatened by you. Junsu and Yunho wouldn’t go through with his plan if they knew Yuchun likes you. We really aren’t bad people, it’s just we feel the need to protect Changmin since he’s the youngest. But Yuchun said he wants you at the wedding.”
“Yuchun…wants me there?”
Jaejoong nodded. “Here’s what we do. I’ll get together with Yuchun secretly and have it set up that he marries you instead. Changmin will hate me for it for a while, but if Yuchun really likes you that much, he needs to be with you, not Changmin. Changmin has been wrong for him. It’s sad, but true. I love Changmin to death, but he has some issues he needs to sort out.”
Ryeowook blinked blankly at Jaejoong. “you’re going to help me? But, why? I mean, I’m thankful that you are, but I’m not sure why you are.”
“It’s because I can see how you feel about Yuchun is strong. Changmin doesn’t love Yuchun as much as you. Him proving this stunt and having us kidnap you to keep you from being together and springing this marriage thing on Yuchun proves it. You didn’t even fight against us when we kidnapped you. You not doing anything proves that you love him more. Because when you truly love someone, you learn to let them go if that’s what they want even if it hurts.”
“I had to let him go once. It hurt like hell and now that he’s back, I thought I would be okay if I had to let him go again…but truthfully, it would nearly kill me if I had to watch him walk away again.”
Jaejoong nodded, dropping his arms. “I’ll get together with Yuchun later and get this figured out. We’ll just keep it between the two of us. Keep your deal with Changmin between us, too. If Junsu or Yunho found out, they’d confront Changmin about it. That wouldn’t be a good thing considering we’re the only ones that know about it.”
“Yuchun knows it, too, but he wouldn’t tell Changmin. Him telling Changmin would get him in trouble, too. He’s smarter than that. For now, if Yuchun asks about my whereabouts, tell him I’m at a friend’s place for a little while. I don’t want him hating you guys.”
“How could Changmin hate you? You’re too nice to everyone. Especially to him after everything that’s happened between the two of you in the last few days. Tomorrow is Sunday, so they’re going to be leaving early tomorrow. I’ll sneak away from them and come get you. I’ll get a rental car and say I need to go somewhere before showing up with you.”
Ryeowook nodded. “Thank you for helping me. Under normal circumstances, we’d have been good friends.”
“When this is all over, let’s meet and get to know each other. You’re too good of a person for people to not like.” Jaejoong heard the door open downstairs and he quickly wiped the remaining tears from Ryeowook’s face. “Have faith in me, okay?” He turned and gripped the other’s elbow and dragged him down the stairs.
“Jaejoong, is he causing trouble?” Changmin asked, walking in the front door. Ryeowook glared at him, causing Changmin to frown. “It looks like he still has a bit of spirit left in him.” He crossed the room and slapped Ryeowook in the face before fisting his hand in the elder’s hair and forcing him to look at him. “After tomorrow, Yuchun will forever be mine. And you’ll disappear from our lives, Ryeowook hyung.”
Jaejoong glared at Changmin’s back as he disappeared into the kitchen. Yunho and Junsu both caught the look, but didn’t ask questions as they followed after Changmin. Jaejoong took Ryeowook outside for some fresh air, sitting next to him and looking out over the rolling hills. He glanced over and frowned at Ryeowook rubbing his cheek. The front door opened, closing with a loud bang as it slammed, Yunho and Junsu coming out and sitting on the porch steps with the two of them.
“Here,” Yunho said, holding out a pack of ice toward Ryeowook. He took it and held it to his cheek, feeling as if he had somehow won over Changmin and Yuchun’s friends unintentionally. He frowned, feeling a little sad for Changmin. “Changmin doesn’t mean to be so cruel. He just…never had someone to depend on so he’s possessive of Yuchun.”
“I was like that when I was little. Yuchun was the only friend I had so I felt as though he abandoned me when he had to move. I knew it wasn’t his fault, but it didn’t ease the pain. I loved him a lot…” Ryeowook smiled before he looked at Yunho, Jaejoong shaking his head in a silent plea for him to keep his mouth shut. “I still do.”
“I know. Changmin felt you were making a move on Yuchun so he called us in as backup, but you aren’t a threat. He’s paranoid for no reason.”
“No, he isn’t.”
“Ryeowook, shut up before things erupt,” Jaejoong warned, keeping his eyes locked on the hills. He felt Junsu and Yunho staring at him before their eyes shifted to Ryeowook, both questioning him silently.
“I love Yuchun a lot, but I wouldn’t blatantly try to snatch him away. Changmin made me a bet, so that’s why I haven’t backed down yet. I would have been intimidated if it was about anyone else, but since it’s Yuchun, I can’t lose. Yuchun is all I had for a while and he’s the only one who can fully understand me. Yuchun is the only one who has ever held my heart and even if he marries Changmin, he’ll still hold it.”
“I knew it,” Changmin growled from the doorway, his eyes dangerously close to resembling that of a madman. “You bitch. You can’t just leave quietly, can you?”
Jaejoong, Junsu, and Yunho turned to face Changmin as he raced toward Ryeowook, tackling him off of the steps. They hit the ground, hard, before Changmin rolled over and pinned Ryeowook to the ground. The defiant glare Ryeowook shot up at him made him want to run away. It was only a matter of time before the elder snapped and Changmin felt that it was close to that time. Ryeowook pushed against him, the two rolling down a hill.
Yunho’s eyes widened. “If I remember correctly, isn’t there a river that runs through these hills?”
Jaejoong was the first to jump up and race after the two rolling away, Yunho following on his heels and Junsu only a few paces behind him. They reached the top of a hill, panting as they watched Changmin and Ryeowook disappear beneath the surface of the river. Yunho rushed down the hill, diving headfirst into the chilly water. Jaejoong and Junsu watched from the top of the hill, holding their breaths as Yunho resurfaced with a nearly unconscious Changmin and swam him to the edge.
“Where’s the kid?” Junsu shouted at Yunho, he and Jaejoong walking down the hill to check on Changmin.
Yunho looked up at them, water running down his face. “I couldn’t find him. I’m going back in.” He inhaled a large breath, turning and disappearing into the water again.
“I’m calling Yuchun,” Jaejoong said, pulling out his phone. Yuchun answered on the second ring. “Yuchun, does that Ryeowook kid know how to swim? He doesn’t?” He bit his lip before he answered Yuchun’s question. “Changmin attacked him and they went headfirst into a river. Yunho is looking for him now, but Changmin is safe.”
“What did Yuchun say?” Junsu asked as Jaejoong hung up.
“He’s on his way over here. I’m going to help Yunho look for him.” Jaejoong jumped into the river, disappearing much like Yunho had beneath the surface.
“Serves him right,” Changmin murmured, coughing up water.
Junsu glared at him. “It isn’t a crime to love someone. You’re just threatened by the fact that Yuchun might like Ryeowook back. If he does, then let them be together. After we find Ryeowook, the three of us are taking you back to England with us. You’ll be better off once you aren’t around the two of them. You’ll fall in love with someone else.”
“I don’t want to love anyone else. I want to love Yuchun and only him.”
“We’re going to swim down the river a little ways and see if we can find him!” Yunho shouted from the water. He and Jaejoong swam off, following the current. They continued their search, Yuchun arriving shortly after. He spotted Junsu and went to ask him if they had found Ryeowook yet, Changmin smiling at seeing him.
“Micky, you came to see me?” he asked, frowning when Yuchun ignored him, walking passed him to Junsu.
“Have you found him yet?” Yuchun asked, Junsu shaking his head. Yuchun sighed, turning and starting to walk along the riverbank, searching the water for any signs of Ryeowook. He turned and sighed in relief as Yunho and Jaejoong were walking back toward them, an unconscious Ryeowook on Yunho’s back.
“We found him,” Yunho panted, stopping in front of Yuchun. He knelt and allowed Yuchun to pull Ryeowook from his back and into his arms.
“Ryeowook, can you hear me?” Yuchun whispered, shaking the younger slightly. “Wook, open your eyes.” He stared at Ryeowook, silently begging for him to wake up. He was just about to give up when he noticed the younger’s eyes flutter open. Ryeowook turned away from him, coughing up the water that had nearly killed him.
“Yuchun, we’ll be taking Changmin back to England with us,” Junsu informed him. “We know that you love Ryeowook as much as he loves you. If you don’t mind, we’ll be leaving now.”
“We’re sorry that we came in the first place,” Yunho said, clapping Yuchun on the shoulder. “We came because Changmin said Ryeowook was trying to steal you from him, but it turns out that you were Ryeowook’s to begin with.”
“We’ll keep in touch with you,” Jaejoong added. “We’ll want updates on your love life, too, so you’d better take care of Ryeowook. Or you’ll have the three of us to answer to.” Jaejoong walked over to where Changmin stood, his eyes holding a dazed appearance. “Come on, Changmin, lets go home. Your parents are going to be back in England next week.”
Changmin looked at Jaejoong. “They’re coming home?”
Jaejoong nodded. “We called them before we left saying that they needed to come back. So, they’re cutting their cruise short and coming home to look after you.”
Yunho waved goodbye as he, Junsu, and Jaejoong walked with Changmin back up the hill. They left Ryeowook and Yuchun sitting on the riverbank in silence, hoping that they’d be able to have some time to themselves before going back to Ryeowook’s house. They sat in silence, watching as the sun began to set.
“Wook, I’m sorry about Changmin,” Yuchun started, reaching over and taking his hand. “I should have told you a long time ago that I liked you. I was just afraid that you had never liked me the same way and when we grew up, I though you’d have found someone better than me.”
Ryeowook smiled, turning his head to look at Yuchun better. “Chun, there is no one better than you for me. I’ve loved you since we met. For twelve years these feelings have been here and they’ll still be here in another twelve. They won’t go away and they won’t ever lessen. I love you, Park Yuchun, and nothing you or anyone else can say or do will ever change that.”
Yuchun smiled before he gave Ryeowook a quick kiss. “I love you, too, Ryeowook. Come on. Let’s go home.” Yuchun stood, pulling Ryeowook to his feet. They both smiled as they started up the hill. It was quiet on the way to Ryeowook’s house. Mr. Park was sitting on the front porch with Mr. Kim, chatting like they did years ago. When they saw their sons, they gave each other a knowing look before they went back to talking about nothing in particular.
“Mr. Kim, cane I ask you something?” Yuchun asked, stopping with Ryeowook at the bottom of the porch stairs. When he nodded, Yuchun smiled, wrapping his arm around Ryeowook’s waist and pulling him close. “You don’t mind if I marry Wook, do you?”
“Mind? Why would I mind?” Mr. Kim replied, standing up. “I’ve been waiting for you to ask me that ever since you came back to Korea! Go ahead and marry him. You’ve been family all this time anyway. You might as well make it official.” He held his hand out to Yuchun, the other shaking it once. “Welcome to the family, son.”
Yuchun smiled up at his soon-to-be father-in-law. “It’s good to be a part of this family.” He turned and smiled at Ryeowook, seeing a smile on the younger’s face that he hadn’t seen in a long time. “You will marry me, won’t you, Ryeowook?”
“I’ll marry you,” Ryeowook replied, cupping Yuchun’s face with both of his hands and pulling him forward for a kiss. “If you asked me a million times, the answer would always be yes.”
Yuchun smiled. “Then I’ll ask you more than a million times a day if you’ll marry me.” He leaned in again, capturing Ryeowook’s lips in a kiss.