Age is Just a Number 1/?
Title: Age is Just a Number
Pairing: JaeChun, minor YunJae and JunChun
Genre: Romance
Rating: PG-13 for now
Length: Series
Warning: underage Yoochun
Disclaimer: I own DBSK, when I close my eyes.
Summary: Jaejoong admires a preschool kid on his school.
A/N: I adore this preschooler in my school (I like kids, no, I’m not a pedo); his name is Samuel. He’s super cute, all chubby and cheerful. I usually watch at him from the balcony of my class and he would grin shyly every time I wave and cheered at him. As I watched him, I got the idea that the scene would be perfect for pedo!JaeChun, so here it is~ and this is for matsukisara cos I love her and xsuju_addictx cos I hate her, with a little surprise to come for blocassimere :) Enjoy~~ :D
29.04.11 | Taking Chances - Glee
“Yoochun-ah!”
Yoochun looked up at the guy in the balcony, a stranger. He didn’t know how the guy knew his name, but he must be a senior. The guy waved at him, smiling brightly. Yoochun smiled innocently and waved back. The guy squealed cutely and waved even more. Yoochun stared at him until his teacher, Gyuri, called him and told him to join the others playing soccer.
“Jaejoong! Go back to your class!” Gyuri screamed at the guy in the balcony.
The guy pouted, “I want to watch Yoochun, noona!”
“Yah! Don’t call me noona at school! Stop perving over my students!”
Jaejoong, now Yoochun knows his name, sighed, waved at him once again, before going back to his class. Yoochun stared for a while, before the memory of the beautiful stranger got forgotten over a soccer ball and screams.
Jaejoong was there again the next day, on the balcony of his class, waving frantically at Yoochun. Yoochun waved back innocently as always. It became a routine for Jaejoong to watch over Yoochun during his PE period. Yoochun, by the end of the month, was used to the blonde hair and perfect beauty displayed on the balcony.
That day, Jaejoong wasn’t alone.
“See that boy? The chubby one, with pink cheeks and plump lips! Yoochun-ah, shoot!”
Yoochun kicked the ball and scored. Jaejoong cheered the loudest. Yoochun turned into Jaejoong with a big grin, and Jaejoong raised a thumb at him.
“Cute, right, Yunho? Aish, I want to have a son like him! So adorable!”
Yunho, the guy next to Jaejoong, raised an eyebrow. “Why are you perving over a preschooler?”
“Yah, I’m not perving! I’m admiring! He’s super cute~~~” Jaejoong cooed. “Yoochun-ah! Make another score for hyung!”
Yoochun turned innocently to Jaejoong and grinned, “Okay!”
“He replied!” Jaejoong squealed again. “Go Yoochun! Go! Go! Go!”
Five minutes later, Yoochun scored again. Jaejoong cheered even louder that Gyuri screamed at him, “Kim Jaejoong! Go back to your class!”
“Awh,” Jaejoong pouted as Yunho pulled him away from the balcony railing. “Bye Yoochun! Thank you for the goal!” he waved and blow kisses at the little boy.
Yoochun simply grinned and waved back.
They met was at the corridor two months after Jaejoong first started stalking Yoochun. Yoochun’s class needed to use the multimedia room to watch a movie, and it’s located at the fifth floor, where the high school classes are located. Yoochun was walking, holding hands with Junsu, on a line like they are taught. The two little kids swung their hands and skipped adorably at the back of the line, singing children song from a cartoon.
As soon as he saw Yoochun, Jaejoong grinned and hugged him from behind. Yoochun, seeing it was Jaejoong, giggled and hugged back, letting go of Junsu’s hand. Junsu was startled Jaejoong suddenly grabbed his friend and started crying. Jaejoong panicked and sat at the floor, trying to calm Junsu down. Yoochun took the initiative to climb and sat on Jaejoong’s thigh as Jaejoong patted the crying Junsu, apologizing. Yunho merely watched at the adorable sight and shook his head.
Gyuri heard Junsu’s cry. “Kim Jaejoong! What did you do to my Junsu?”
“Your Junsu?” Jaejoong scoffed. Junsu had calmed down and now both he and Yoochun sat on Jaejoong’s lap. “I didn’t do anything, he was just a little shocked.”
“Exactly why you need to stop bugging my students, dongsaeng.”
“I can’t!” Jaejoong hugged the two kids on his lap. “They’re too cute!”
Gyuri sighed. “Come here,” she took both Junsu and Yoochun’s hand and led them away. Jaejoong whined but let them go as the bell rang, as he had to go back to class.
Yoochun waved at him before going and Jaejoong couldn’t wipe the smile on his face for the rest of the day.
“Who is that?” Changmin said as he sat across Jaejoong on the canteen table, staring at the little angel on Jaejoong’s lap.
“Yoochun-ah, say hello to Changminnie-hyung,” Jaejoong took Yoochun’s hand and offered it to Changmin.
“My name is Yoochun from Sunflower class. I am six years old. Nice to meet you.”
Changmin took the hand Yoochun offered and glanced suspiciously at Jaejoong. “Hello, Yoochun. My name is Changmin.”
“Are you Jaejoong-hyung’s friend?”
“Yes I am. Who is Jaejoong to you?”
“My hyung!” Yoochun grinned and hugged Jaejoong.
Changmin turned to Jaejoong, “Cousin? Nephew?”
“Nah, he’s Gyuri’s student. Isn’t he adorable?”
“Gyuri’s student? Are you kidnapping him?” Changmin spooned a little bit of the rice on his plate and fed it to Yoochun, who gladly took it into his mouth.
Jaejoong grinned sheepishly, “Yeah, sort of.”
“You’re crazy!”
“He’s cute!” Jaejoong hugged Yoochun tighter. “Can’t you see how adorable he is? Can’t you? Are you blind?”
“That’s not the point!” he turned to Yunho. “Do something about that stupid boyfriend of yours!”
Yunho shrugged, “It’s kinda cute seeing him with kids.”
Changmin facepalmed.
“KIM JAEJOONG!” Gyuri’s voice was suddenly heard on the speaker. “PLEASE GO TO TEACHER’S ROOM IMMEDIATELY. AND PLEASE BRING YOOCHUN ALONG. Thank you.”
Jaejoong sighed and picked Yoochun up, “Yoochun-ah, hyung’s in trouble.”
“What trouble?” Yoochun look at the person carrying him in concern.
Jaejoong walked to the teacher’s room. “Gyuri is going to be mad because I took you with me.”
Yoochun pouted.
“Will you tell her you like being with me?”
Yoochun nodded.
Jaejoong smiled and pecked Yoochun on the cheeks, “That’s a good boy!”
By the end of the year, Yoochun stuck with Jaejoong like glue. Jaejoong spoiled him, carry him around and give him cakes he baked himself. Jaejoong also taught him a lot of things in soccer and Yoochun grew to love soccer even more.
Yoochun called Jaejoong “Pretty-hyung.” Jaejoong doesn’t like being called pretty, but Yoochun will always be an exception.
Jaejoong called Yoochun “MickChun,” due to the boy’s little obsession over Mickey Mouse.
Everyone thought Yoochun was Jaejoong’s little brother.
Yoochun went along well with Jaejoong’s friends too. All of them except one, Yunho. Both Jaejoong and Yunho had no idea why Yoochun rejected Yunho every time the guy wanted to get closer. He also seemed to cling to Jaejoong a little more when Yunho was around. Little did they know that, even at a very young age, Yoochun could be a little possessive.
“Jae,” Yunho eyed the little boy Jaejoong was holding. “Why is he here? It’s their nap time.”
“Well, he doesn’t feel like sleeping, so Gyuri let him come along with me. Yoochun, are you sleepy yet?”
Yoochun shook his head but yawned and leaned to Jaejoong’s shoulder.
“Should we get back to class?”
“No! I want to be with pretty-hyung!” Yoochun circled his short arms around Jaejoong’s neck.
Jaejoong chuckled, “Let’s head back before Gyuri kills me.”
Yunho tailed along, “Jae, you’re getting too attached…”
“Uh, so?”
“I kinda feel left out…”
Jaejoong laughed. “I’m sorry,” he said as he leaned to capture Yunho’s lips but Yoochun screamed before he got the chance to kiss Yunho. The two of them were startled. “MickChun, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing~”
“Why did you scream if there was nothing, honey?”
“I feel like it,” Yoochun giggled. He turned to Yunho with a glare and stuck his tongue out.
Yunho raised an eyebrow and finally got it. Yoochun was jealous of him all along.
“Pretty-hyung!” Yoochun stretched his arms open.
“MickChun!” Jaejoong picked Yoochun and swung him around. The two laughed, making Yunho feel even more left out. He just sat with arms crossed, glaring at the two. Sure he loves the sight of Jaejoong with children, it makes him more attractive, but with the fact that Yoochun despised him, the view wasn’t that cute anymore.
Jaejoong noticed the pout. “Honey, what’s wrong?”
“You seem to love him more than me,” Yunho pouted even more.
“Oh, you’re jealous over a preschooler, Yunnie…” Jaejoong smiled understandingly.
Changmin scoffed, “You do spend more time with him then us.”
“Stop making things worse, dongsaeng!”
“Okay, umma~” Changmin teased.
Yunho sighed and slouched further on his chair.
Jaejoong sighed too, “Yunho-hyung is mad. What should I do, MickChun?”
“Kiss!” Yoochun said cutely.
“Give him a kiss?” Jaejoong chuckled. Yunho’s face lit up in interest, Yoochun wasn’t usually on his side.
“No~” Yoochun pecked Jaejoong’s lips, startling everyone. “Give you a kiss~ cause Yunho-hyung makes you upset.”
Jaejoong stared at Yoochun with mouth slightly opened from shock. Yoochun giggled and hugged Jaejoong, leaning his head to Jaejoong’s shoulder. Yunho groaned and stomped off, very annoyed at Yoochun, while Changmin laughed his ass off.
“Smart kid, Jae,” Changmin managed to say between his laugh, “I like him!”
Jaejoong had to graduate; he couldn’t stay in high school forever even if he wanted to. He had to leave Yoochun, not seeing him ever again, as he was moving abroad. He cried for a week after his father decided to send him to US. The hardest part, other than leaving Yunho, was knowing Yoochun might forget him. Yoochun was still young, barely remembering things. Jaejoong knew the chance of being forgotten was very big that he ached inside.
The graduation day had to come. After the ceremony, Jaejoong immediately went to Yoochun’s class. Yoochun was with his mother, taking his report card and talking to Gyuri. Jaejoong approached them and bowed lightly to the mother, asking if he can hold Yoochun. Gyuri explained to Mrs. Park the strange relationship between Jaejoong and Yoochun; she was surprised but smiled nicely and allowed Jaejoong hold Yoochun. Jaejoong took Yoochun from his mother’s arm and hugged him tightly.
“MickChun, do you love me?”
“Yes!” Yoochun replied. “I love Pretty-hyung the most!”
Jaejoong sighed, “But I might not be able to see you again…”
Yoochun pouted, “Why? You don’t love me anymore?”
“Not that, MickChun. I have to go to US to study.”
“Eh? Is it far?”
“Very far…”
“I will go with you!”
“You can’t”
“Why not?”
“You’re not old enough.”
“But I will be able to go when I get older?”
“Yes you can,” Jaejoong kissed Yoochun’s cheek. “Here, promise me something. You will grow up into a handsome, smart, and nice guy. You will take care of your family. You will make hyung proud, and then you can come to US and find me. Promise, MickChun?” Jaejoong offered his pinky finger.
“Promise!” Yoochun took the finger with his pinky and did the pinky-promise shake.
“Good boy,” Jaejoong kissed Yoochun one more time. Even as he made the promise, he didn’t expect Yoochun to remember it. He didn’t expect Yoochun to remember him at all and that hurt.
Yoochun’s mother was touched, and she took out a Polaroid camera to take two pictures of them. One picture was given to Jaejoong, and he told Jaejoong to write his message for Yoochun to keep on the other picture. Jaejoong simply wrote on the back of it, “MickChun, remember your promise! :D Love, Pretty-hyung.”
When Jaejoong reluctantly gave Yoochun back to his mother, Yoochun started crying. Yoochun’s mother was very surprised at how attached his son was to Jaejoong, but Jaejoong had to go. Jaejoong kissed Yoochun for the last time, before turning away and left. Yoochun’s scream pierced through his heart, but he shouldn’t turn back. He had to leave. Jaejoong went home and cried his heart out.
***
“Park Yoochun,” the teacher called. Yoochun stood up and walked to the podium. He was the honorary new student who got the highest score on the high school entrance test and he was supposed to give a speech. He hated being the center of attention, but he couldn’t help it. He promised Jaejoong to be a smart and nice guy, and that made him the center of attention. He wasn’t handsome, or so he thought, but he was good looking enough to make people turn to get a better look at him.
He delivered his speech perfectly anyway, and he could find potential fangirls as he looked around at the audience. He sighed internally, so much for making you proud, Jaejoong hyung. When he was done, everyone applauded. Yoochun smiled, his high school life had officially begun. Just three more years, including trying to get scholarship, and he can go to US and find Jaejoong.
He wasn’t stupid, though. All he knew was Jaejoong went to New York. New York isn’t small, but being in there can at least shorten the distance between him and Jaejoong.
He wondered if Jaejoong remembers him.
Yoochun never forget his promise. To his mother’s surprise, Yoochun worked harder at school and became an obedient child. Mrs. Park was of course proud, but it also worried her that the chance Yoochun of meeting Jaejoong again was very small. She thought it was a current obsession, but Yoochun grew attached to it.
When Yoochun was twelve, six years after Jaejoong left, he asked his mother if he could go to university in US when he was older. Mrs. Park knew right away Yoochun hadn’t forgotten Jaejoong. She simply smiled and said he could, if he could get a scholarship because studying abroad would be expensive. Yoochun smiled and nodded, and started practicing his English more than ever. Mrs. Park simply hoped Yoochun would get over Jaejoong someday.
Then Yoochun turned sixteen. It had been nine years since he last seen Jaejoong. He didn’t remember much, but he kept his promise and hoped Jaejoong remembers him. The only thing he has that reminds him of Jaejoong all the time was their picture, with the handwriting he had memorized over the years. He put it on his wallet and brought it everywhere he went.
Yoochun walked back from the podium and sat next to Junsu. His best friend smiled at him, “Great speech.”
Yoochun sighed, “It sucks. I just made it last night.”
Junsu scoffed, “Perfectionist.”
“Shut up,” he punched Junsu’s shoulder playfully. The welcoming ceremony was finally over and the two walked into their assigned class. Yoochun could feel a lot of eyes following him, but he was hoping they were following Junsu as well. His best friend is also the famous high school soccer star, walking with Junsu draws a lot of attention. Why does he always have to be under the spotlight?
“You look excited,” Junsu grinned as he saw the glow in Yoochun’s face.
“I am,” Yoochun grinned back.
“Still not over him, I see…” Junsu said without turning to Yoochun.
“I guess I never will… Why do you dislike him so much?” Yoochun realized the change of tone in Junsu’s usually cheerful voice.
“He made me cry, if you’d remember,” Junsu pouted.
Yoochun laughed, “Oh, come on! He didn’t mean it!”
Junsu smiled wryly, “You do realize the chance of meeting him is…really small…right?”
Yoochun patted his best friend’s shoulder, “Of course I do. Don’t worry about me, Suie.”
Junsu shrugged, “Up to you. Soccer?”
“Sure.”
Yoochun stared at the ceiling in his dark room. He couldn’t sleep, and he contemplated on waking Junsu up but his best friend would probably kill him the next day. He was too excited to close his eyes, Jaejoong is getting so much closer and he couldn’t wait to see his hyung. Then “what ifs” started to invade his mind.
What if he doesn’t remember Yoochun?
What if Yoochun passed him by and didn’t recognize him?
What if he doesn’t want to see Yoochun?
What would Yoochun say when they finally meet?
What would he say to Yoochun when they finally meet?
Yoochun sighed and rolled to his side, facing the window next to his bed. Dim light penetrated through the thin curtain. What would he do when he finds Jaejoong? Would he make a fool of himself? Would he fall speechless? Would he…
“What is it that made you so attached to him?” he remembered Junsu’s question when they were a lot younger. His wants to meet Jaejoong turned into a need, into and obsession. What it was, Yoochun had no idea. All he knew was he needed to find Jaejoong, need to hear his voice, feel his arms around Yoochun’s little body. He grew up, he realized. Would Jaejoong love him less if he sees Yoochun had changed?
Junsu said Jaejoong was probably Yoochun’s first love. Yoochun shook his head, unsure. What is love anyway? Is it even possible for Yoochun to feel that kind of love at a very young age?
He sighed and shut his eyes, counting sheep until he finally fell asleep.
Mr. Park called his eldest son into his study. Yoochun had a bad feeling about it, but he came anyway. “Yoochun,” his father started. “Your mother said you wanted to study in US?”
Yoochun nodded eagerly.
“To be honest, US would be a perfect place to learn business. However, your brother is still very young. I want to retire soon. I want you to take over my business soon after you graduate high school, Yoochun-ah. I don’t think going to university is necessary.”
“What? You can’t…”
“Yoochun, I’m not exactly young. You’re the only one I can trust. Waiting a few years for you to come back from the US, if you ever come back, would not be a good idea. Who would take care of my company?”
“Father…”
“I’m sorry, Yoochun. I believe you should start preparing yourself. There will be a lot of business parties you need to attend from now on. You need to start spreading your connection. I want people to know my apprentice.”
“Don’t I have a say in this?”
“I’m afraid not,” Mr. Park sighed.
“That’s unfair!” Yoochun screamed and stormed out of the room.
Mrs. Park watched as Yoochun ran upstairs and heard the door slammed. Mr. Park walked out of the study and threw himself to the couch next to his wife. “Give him time,” she said as she kissed her husband. “It’s just…his dream.”
“I know. He’ll get use to it,” Mr. Park sighed and leaned to his wife. “I hope he will.”
Yoochun cried himself to sleep. The last flicker of hope he had of finding Jaejoong died along his father’s words earlier. The last thought on his mind was that he had given up. Jaejoong was definitely impossible to find, that it was better to leave Jaejoong as the ghost of his past and accept the fact that he wouldn’t be a part of Yoochun’s future.
He went to school with swollen eyes. “I won’t go to US,” he said bitterly to Junsu when his best friend asked him why his eyes were swollen. “I won’t go to US and I would never find Jaejoong. It’s over, Su. It’s over.”
Junsu pulled Yoochun into a hug and whispered soothing words to calm him down. Yoochun started to sob again and luckily they were alone on the rooftop of the school building. Junsu’s heart hurt for Yoochun. They had grown up together and Yoochun had tried so hard to be perfect just to keep his promise to Jaejoong. Jaejoong couldn’t even guarantee he remembers Yoochun, yet Yoochun kept his promise as if Jaejoong cared.
“Maybe,” Junsu cleared his throat, “You’re better off with someone else… Someone who had always been there since the beginning.”
Yoochun looked up to Junsu with his teary eyes. “You’re lame…”
“Sorry for trying to cheer you up!” Junsu pouted.
Yoochun chuckled and buried his face on Junsu’s neck. “Thank you, Suie.” Junsu tightened his arms around Yoochun and patted his head. “You know, maybe you’re right.”
“Eh?”
Yoochun pecked Junsu’s lips. “I think you’re right. I’m better off with you.”
Junsu crooked an eyebrow and chuckled, before leaning down to capture Yoochun’s lips once again.
***
Yoochun hated parties, especially business parties, but he knew he had no say in the matter. His fathers wish had always been a command to him, he didn’t even try to rebut anymore that he had given up on finding Jaejoong. The good thing about it was his father allows Junsu to come along, but his boyfriend seemed to enjoy business talks and ignored Yoochun at the end. Like that night, he stared at the champagne glass in his hand as Junsu talked to some old people he forgotten the name of beside him.
Yoochun sighed, how in earth would he survive business world? Sure he is good, but it doesn’t necessarily mean he likes it. Honestly, he would rather be a soccer player or a writer, but he knew someone had to take over his father’s company and that wouldn’t be his five years younger brother.
He looked around to find an escape, but couldn’t find any. Both his father and Junsu seemed to enjoy the party a little too much. Yoochun put his glass down and decided to go out for fresh air. He went to the parking lot and lit up a cigarette. The silence was nice, until he heard footsteps. He didn’t bother turning around as he felt someone leaned to the wall behind him.
Yoochun finished his cigarette and pulled out his phone to text Junsu, asking if he was ready to go home, when the stranger behind him said, “Aren’t you a little too young for cigarette?”
Yoochun chuckled, “Am I?” He turned around and almost dropped his phone, but his reflex was fast enough to get a grip of the small device before it hits the floor.
Even in the dark, he could recognize the stranger’s beautiful face. “How old are you?” he asked.
“Six-sixteen…” Yoochun stuttered. The words he was planning to were stuck somewhere between his heart and throat and he was gaping.
The stranger smiled, “Definitely too young. The heir of Park group should take care of himself better.”
Yoochun couldn’t find a word to answer.
“Jaejoong!” a voice called and the stranger turned away.
“Well, I have to go now. See you around,” he smiled.
“Wait!” Yoochun finally find the voice to speak up.
“Bye,” Jaejoong winked before getting on a car, leaving Yoochun frozen in the middle of an empty parking lot.
***
( Part 2)
Pairing: JaeChun, minor YunJae and JunChun
Genre: Romance
Rating: PG-13 for now
Length: Series
Warning: underage Yoochun
Disclaimer: I own DBSK, when I close my eyes.
Summary: Jaejoong admires a preschool kid on his school.
A/N: I adore this preschooler in my school (I like kids, no, I’m not a pedo); his name is Samuel. He’s super cute, all chubby and cheerful. I usually watch at him from the balcony of my class and he would grin shyly every time I wave and cheered at him. As I watched him, I got the idea that the scene would be perfect for pedo!JaeChun, so here it is~ and this is for matsukisara cos I love her and xsuju_addictx cos I hate her, with a little surprise to come for blocassimere :) Enjoy~~ :D
29.04.11 | Taking Chances - Glee
“Yoochun-ah!”
Yoochun looked up at the guy in the balcony, a stranger. He didn’t know how the guy knew his name, but he must be a senior. The guy waved at him, smiling brightly. Yoochun smiled innocently and waved back. The guy squealed cutely and waved even more. Yoochun stared at him until his teacher, Gyuri, called him and told him to join the others playing soccer.
“Jaejoong! Go back to your class!” Gyuri screamed at the guy in the balcony.
The guy pouted, “I want to watch Yoochun, noona!”
“Yah! Don’t call me noona at school! Stop perving over my students!”
Jaejoong, now Yoochun knows his name, sighed, waved at him once again, before going back to his class. Yoochun stared for a while, before the memory of the beautiful stranger got forgotten over a soccer ball and screams.
Jaejoong was there again the next day, on the balcony of his class, waving frantically at Yoochun. Yoochun waved back innocently as always. It became a routine for Jaejoong to watch over Yoochun during his PE period. Yoochun, by the end of the month, was used to the blonde hair and perfect beauty displayed on the balcony.
That day, Jaejoong wasn’t alone.
“See that boy? The chubby one, with pink cheeks and plump lips! Yoochun-ah, shoot!”
Yoochun kicked the ball and scored. Jaejoong cheered the loudest. Yoochun turned into Jaejoong with a big grin, and Jaejoong raised a thumb at him.
“Cute, right, Yunho? Aish, I want to have a son like him! So adorable!”
Yunho, the guy next to Jaejoong, raised an eyebrow. “Why are you perving over a preschooler?”
“Yah, I’m not perving! I’m admiring! He’s super cute~~~” Jaejoong cooed. “Yoochun-ah! Make another score for hyung!”
Yoochun turned innocently to Jaejoong and grinned, “Okay!”
“He replied!” Jaejoong squealed again. “Go Yoochun! Go! Go! Go!”
Five minutes later, Yoochun scored again. Jaejoong cheered even louder that Gyuri screamed at him, “Kim Jaejoong! Go back to your class!”
“Awh,” Jaejoong pouted as Yunho pulled him away from the balcony railing. “Bye Yoochun! Thank you for the goal!” he waved and blow kisses at the little boy.
Yoochun simply grinned and waved back.
They met was at the corridor two months after Jaejoong first started stalking Yoochun. Yoochun’s class needed to use the multimedia room to watch a movie, and it’s located at the fifth floor, where the high school classes are located. Yoochun was walking, holding hands with Junsu, on a line like they are taught. The two little kids swung their hands and skipped adorably at the back of the line, singing children song from a cartoon.
As soon as he saw Yoochun, Jaejoong grinned and hugged him from behind. Yoochun, seeing it was Jaejoong, giggled and hugged back, letting go of Junsu’s hand. Junsu was startled Jaejoong suddenly grabbed his friend and started crying. Jaejoong panicked and sat at the floor, trying to calm Junsu down. Yoochun took the initiative to climb and sat on Jaejoong’s thigh as Jaejoong patted the crying Junsu, apologizing. Yunho merely watched at the adorable sight and shook his head.
Gyuri heard Junsu’s cry. “Kim Jaejoong! What did you do to my Junsu?”
“Your Junsu?” Jaejoong scoffed. Junsu had calmed down and now both he and Yoochun sat on Jaejoong’s lap. “I didn’t do anything, he was just a little shocked.”
“Exactly why you need to stop bugging my students, dongsaeng.”
“I can’t!” Jaejoong hugged the two kids on his lap. “They’re too cute!”
Gyuri sighed. “Come here,” she took both Junsu and Yoochun’s hand and led them away. Jaejoong whined but let them go as the bell rang, as he had to go back to class.
Yoochun waved at him before going and Jaejoong couldn’t wipe the smile on his face for the rest of the day.
“Who is that?” Changmin said as he sat across Jaejoong on the canteen table, staring at the little angel on Jaejoong’s lap.
“Yoochun-ah, say hello to Changminnie-hyung,” Jaejoong took Yoochun’s hand and offered it to Changmin.
“My name is Yoochun from Sunflower class. I am six years old. Nice to meet you.”
Changmin took the hand Yoochun offered and glanced suspiciously at Jaejoong. “Hello, Yoochun. My name is Changmin.”
“Are you Jaejoong-hyung’s friend?”
“Yes I am. Who is Jaejoong to you?”
“My hyung!” Yoochun grinned and hugged Jaejoong.
Changmin turned to Jaejoong, “Cousin? Nephew?”
“Nah, he’s Gyuri’s student. Isn’t he adorable?”
“Gyuri’s student? Are you kidnapping him?” Changmin spooned a little bit of the rice on his plate and fed it to Yoochun, who gladly took it into his mouth.
Jaejoong grinned sheepishly, “Yeah, sort of.”
“You’re crazy!”
“He’s cute!” Jaejoong hugged Yoochun tighter. “Can’t you see how adorable he is? Can’t you? Are you blind?”
“That’s not the point!” he turned to Yunho. “Do something about that stupid boyfriend of yours!”
Yunho shrugged, “It’s kinda cute seeing him with kids.”
Changmin facepalmed.
“KIM JAEJOONG!” Gyuri’s voice was suddenly heard on the speaker. “PLEASE GO TO TEACHER’S ROOM IMMEDIATELY. AND PLEASE BRING YOOCHUN ALONG. Thank you.”
Jaejoong sighed and picked Yoochun up, “Yoochun-ah, hyung’s in trouble.”
“What trouble?” Yoochun look at the person carrying him in concern.
Jaejoong walked to the teacher’s room. “Gyuri is going to be mad because I took you with me.”
Yoochun pouted.
“Will you tell her you like being with me?”
Yoochun nodded.
Jaejoong smiled and pecked Yoochun on the cheeks, “That’s a good boy!”
By the end of the year, Yoochun stuck with Jaejoong like glue. Jaejoong spoiled him, carry him around and give him cakes he baked himself. Jaejoong also taught him a lot of things in soccer and Yoochun grew to love soccer even more.
Yoochun called Jaejoong “Pretty-hyung.” Jaejoong doesn’t like being called pretty, but Yoochun will always be an exception.
Jaejoong called Yoochun “MickChun,” due to the boy’s little obsession over Mickey Mouse.
Everyone thought Yoochun was Jaejoong’s little brother.
Yoochun went along well with Jaejoong’s friends too. All of them except one, Yunho. Both Jaejoong and Yunho had no idea why Yoochun rejected Yunho every time the guy wanted to get closer. He also seemed to cling to Jaejoong a little more when Yunho was around. Little did they know that, even at a very young age, Yoochun could be a little possessive.
“Jae,” Yunho eyed the little boy Jaejoong was holding. “Why is he here? It’s their nap time.”
“Well, he doesn’t feel like sleeping, so Gyuri let him come along with me. Yoochun, are you sleepy yet?”
Yoochun shook his head but yawned and leaned to Jaejoong’s shoulder.
“Should we get back to class?”
“No! I want to be with pretty-hyung!” Yoochun circled his short arms around Jaejoong’s neck.
Jaejoong chuckled, “Let’s head back before Gyuri kills me.”
Yunho tailed along, “Jae, you’re getting too attached…”
“Uh, so?”
“I kinda feel left out…”
Jaejoong laughed. “I’m sorry,” he said as he leaned to capture Yunho’s lips but Yoochun screamed before he got the chance to kiss Yunho. The two of them were startled. “MickChun, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing~”
“Why did you scream if there was nothing, honey?”
“I feel like it,” Yoochun giggled. He turned to Yunho with a glare and stuck his tongue out.
Yunho raised an eyebrow and finally got it. Yoochun was jealous of him all along.
“Pretty-hyung!” Yoochun stretched his arms open.
“MickChun!” Jaejoong picked Yoochun and swung him around. The two laughed, making Yunho feel even more left out. He just sat with arms crossed, glaring at the two. Sure he loves the sight of Jaejoong with children, it makes him more attractive, but with the fact that Yoochun despised him, the view wasn’t that cute anymore.
Jaejoong noticed the pout. “Honey, what’s wrong?”
“You seem to love him more than me,” Yunho pouted even more.
“Oh, you’re jealous over a preschooler, Yunnie…” Jaejoong smiled understandingly.
Changmin scoffed, “You do spend more time with him then us.”
“Stop making things worse, dongsaeng!”
“Okay, umma~” Changmin teased.
Yunho sighed and slouched further on his chair.
Jaejoong sighed too, “Yunho-hyung is mad. What should I do, MickChun?”
“Kiss!” Yoochun said cutely.
“Give him a kiss?” Jaejoong chuckled. Yunho’s face lit up in interest, Yoochun wasn’t usually on his side.
“No~” Yoochun pecked Jaejoong’s lips, startling everyone. “Give you a kiss~ cause Yunho-hyung makes you upset.”
Jaejoong stared at Yoochun with mouth slightly opened from shock. Yoochun giggled and hugged Jaejoong, leaning his head to Jaejoong’s shoulder. Yunho groaned and stomped off, very annoyed at Yoochun, while Changmin laughed his ass off.
“Smart kid, Jae,” Changmin managed to say between his laugh, “I like him!”
Jaejoong had to graduate; he couldn’t stay in high school forever even if he wanted to. He had to leave Yoochun, not seeing him ever again, as he was moving abroad. He cried for a week after his father decided to send him to US. The hardest part, other than leaving Yunho, was knowing Yoochun might forget him. Yoochun was still young, barely remembering things. Jaejoong knew the chance of being forgotten was very big that he ached inside.
The graduation day had to come. After the ceremony, Jaejoong immediately went to Yoochun’s class. Yoochun was with his mother, taking his report card and talking to Gyuri. Jaejoong approached them and bowed lightly to the mother, asking if he can hold Yoochun. Gyuri explained to Mrs. Park the strange relationship between Jaejoong and Yoochun; she was surprised but smiled nicely and allowed Jaejoong hold Yoochun. Jaejoong took Yoochun from his mother’s arm and hugged him tightly.
“MickChun, do you love me?”
“Yes!” Yoochun replied. “I love Pretty-hyung the most!”
Jaejoong sighed, “But I might not be able to see you again…”
Yoochun pouted, “Why? You don’t love me anymore?”
“Not that, MickChun. I have to go to US to study.”
“Eh? Is it far?”
“Very far…”
“I will go with you!”
“You can’t”
“Why not?”
“You’re not old enough.”
“But I will be able to go when I get older?”
“Yes you can,” Jaejoong kissed Yoochun’s cheek. “Here, promise me something. You will grow up into a handsome, smart, and nice guy. You will take care of your family. You will make hyung proud, and then you can come to US and find me. Promise, MickChun?” Jaejoong offered his pinky finger.
“Promise!” Yoochun took the finger with his pinky and did the pinky-promise shake.
“Good boy,” Jaejoong kissed Yoochun one more time. Even as he made the promise, he didn’t expect Yoochun to remember it. He didn’t expect Yoochun to remember him at all and that hurt.
Yoochun’s mother was touched, and she took out a Polaroid camera to take two pictures of them. One picture was given to Jaejoong, and he told Jaejoong to write his message for Yoochun to keep on the other picture. Jaejoong simply wrote on the back of it, “MickChun, remember your promise! :D Love, Pretty-hyung.”
When Jaejoong reluctantly gave Yoochun back to his mother, Yoochun started crying. Yoochun’s mother was very surprised at how attached his son was to Jaejoong, but Jaejoong had to go. Jaejoong kissed Yoochun for the last time, before turning away and left. Yoochun’s scream pierced through his heart, but he shouldn’t turn back. He had to leave. Jaejoong went home and cried his heart out.
***
“Park Yoochun,” the teacher called. Yoochun stood up and walked to the podium. He was the honorary new student who got the highest score on the high school entrance test and he was supposed to give a speech. He hated being the center of attention, but he couldn’t help it. He promised Jaejoong to be a smart and nice guy, and that made him the center of attention. He wasn’t handsome, or so he thought, but he was good looking enough to make people turn to get a better look at him.
He delivered his speech perfectly anyway, and he could find potential fangirls as he looked around at the audience. He sighed internally, so much for making you proud, Jaejoong hyung. When he was done, everyone applauded. Yoochun smiled, his high school life had officially begun. Just three more years, including trying to get scholarship, and he can go to US and find Jaejoong.
He wasn’t stupid, though. All he knew was Jaejoong went to New York. New York isn’t small, but being in there can at least shorten the distance between him and Jaejoong.
He wondered if Jaejoong remembers him.
Yoochun never forget his promise. To his mother’s surprise, Yoochun worked harder at school and became an obedient child. Mrs. Park was of course proud, but it also worried her that the chance Yoochun of meeting Jaejoong again was very small. She thought it was a current obsession, but Yoochun grew attached to it.
When Yoochun was twelve, six years after Jaejoong left, he asked his mother if he could go to university in US when he was older. Mrs. Park knew right away Yoochun hadn’t forgotten Jaejoong. She simply smiled and said he could, if he could get a scholarship because studying abroad would be expensive. Yoochun smiled and nodded, and started practicing his English more than ever. Mrs. Park simply hoped Yoochun would get over Jaejoong someday.
Then Yoochun turned sixteen. It had been nine years since he last seen Jaejoong. He didn’t remember much, but he kept his promise and hoped Jaejoong remembers him. The only thing he has that reminds him of Jaejoong all the time was their picture, with the handwriting he had memorized over the years. He put it on his wallet and brought it everywhere he went.
Yoochun walked back from the podium and sat next to Junsu. His best friend smiled at him, “Great speech.”
Yoochun sighed, “It sucks. I just made it last night.”
Junsu scoffed, “Perfectionist.”
“Shut up,” he punched Junsu’s shoulder playfully. The welcoming ceremony was finally over and the two walked into their assigned class. Yoochun could feel a lot of eyes following him, but he was hoping they were following Junsu as well. His best friend is also the famous high school soccer star, walking with Junsu draws a lot of attention. Why does he always have to be under the spotlight?
“You look excited,” Junsu grinned as he saw the glow in Yoochun’s face.
“I am,” Yoochun grinned back.
“Still not over him, I see…” Junsu said without turning to Yoochun.
“I guess I never will… Why do you dislike him so much?” Yoochun realized the change of tone in Junsu’s usually cheerful voice.
“He made me cry, if you’d remember,” Junsu pouted.
Yoochun laughed, “Oh, come on! He didn’t mean it!”
Junsu smiled wryly, “You do realize the chance of meeting him is…really small…right?”
Yoochun patted his best friend’s shoulder, “Of course I do. Don’t worry about me, Suie.”
Junsu shrugged, “Up to you. Soccer?”
“Sure.”
Yoochun stared at the ceiling in his dark room. He couldn’t sleep, and he contemplated on waking Junsu up but his best friend would probably kill him the next day. He was too excited to close his eyes, Jaejoong is getting so much closer and he couldn’t wait to see his hyung. Then “what ifs” started to invade his mind.
What if he doesn’t remember Yoochun?
What if Yoochun passed him by and didn’t recognize him?
What if he doesn’t want to see Yoochun?
What would Yoochun say when they finally meet?
What would he say to Yoochun when they finally meet?
Yoochun sighed and rolled to his side, facing the window next to his bed. Dim light penetrated through the thin curtain. What would he do when he finds Jaejoong? Would he make a fool of himself? Would he fall speechless? Would he…
“What is it that made you so attached to him?” he remembered Junsu’s question when they were a lot younger. His wants to meet Jaejoong turned into a need, into and obsession. What it was, Yoochun had no idea. All he knew was he needed to find Jaejoong, need to hear his voice, feel his arms around Yoochun’s little body. He grew up, he realized. Would Jaejoong love him less if he sees Yoochun had changed?
Junsu said Jaejoong was probably Yoochun’s first love. Yoochun shook his head, unsure. What is love anyway? Is it even possible for Yoochun to feel that kind of love at a very young age?
He sighed and shut his eyes, counting sheep until he finally fell asleep.
Mr. Park called his eldest son into his study. Yoochun had a bad feeling about it, but he came anyway. “Yoochun,” his father started. “Your mother said you wanted to study in US?”
Yoochun nodded eagerly.
“To be honest, US would be a perfect place to learn business. However, your brother is still very young. I want to retire soon. I want you to take over my business soon after you graduate high school, Yoochun-ah. I don’t think going to university is necessary.”
“What? You can’t…”
“Yoochun, I’m not exactly young. You’re the only one I can trust. Waiting a few years for you to come back from the US, if you ever come back, would not be a good idea. Who would take care of my company?”
“Father…”
“I’m sorry, Yoochun. I believe you should start preparing yourself. There will be a lot of business parties you need to attend from now on. You need to start spreading your connection. I want people to know my apprentice.”
“Don’t I have a say in this?”
“I’m afraid not,” Mr. Park sighed.
“That’s unfair!” Yoochun screamed and stormed out of the room.
Mrs. Park watched as Yoochun ran upstairs and heard the door slammed. Mr. Park walked out of the study and threw himself to the couch next to his wife. “Give him time,” she said as she kissed her husband. “It’s just…his dream.”
“I know. He’ll get use to it,” Mr. Park sighed and leaned to his wife. “I hope he will.”
Yoochun cried himself to sleep. The last flicker of hope he had of finding Jaejoong died along his father’s words earlier. The last thought on his mind was that he had given up. Jaejoong was definitely impossible to find, that it was better to leave Jaejoong as the ghost of his past and accept the fact that he wouldn’t be a part of Yoochun’s future.
He went to school with swollen eyes. “I won’t go to US,” he said bitterly to Junsu when his best friend asked him why his eyes were swollen. “I won’t go to US and I would never find Jaejoong. It’s over, Su. It’s over.”
Junsu pulled Yoochun into a hug and whispered soothing words to calm him down. Yoochun started to sob again and luckily they were alone on the rooftop of the school building. Junsu’s heart hurt for Yoochun. They had grown up together and Yoochun had tried so hard to be perfect just to keep his promise to Jaejoong. Jaejoong couldn’t even guarantee he remembers Yoochun, yet Yoochun kept his promise as if Jaejoong cared.
“Maybe,” Junsu cleared his throat, “You’re better off with someone else… Someone who had always been there since the beginning.”
Yoochun looked up to Junsu with his teary eyes. “You’re lame…”
“Sorry for trying to cheer you up!” Junsu pouted.
Yoochun chuckled and buried his face on Junsu’s neck. “Thank you, Suie.” Junsu tightened his arms around Yoochun and patted his head. “You know, maybe you’re right.”
“Eh?”
Yoochun pecked Junsu’s lips. “I think you’re right. I’m better off with you.”
Junsu crooked an eyebrow and chuckled, before leaning down to capture Yoochun’s lips once again.
***
Yoochun hated parties, especially business parties, but he knew he had no say in the matter. His fathers wish had always been a command to him, he didn’t even try to rebut anymore that he had given up on finding Jaejoong. The good thing about it was his father allows Junsu to come along, but his boyfriend seemed to enjoy business talks and ignored Yoochun at the end. Like that night, he stared at the champagne glass in his hand as Junsu talked to some old people he forgotten the name of beside him.
Yoochun sighed, how in earth would he survive business world? Sure he is good, but it doesn’t necessarily mean he likes it. Honestly, he would rather be a soccer player or a writer, but he knew someone had to take over his father’s company and that wouldn’t be his five years younger brother.
He looked around to find an escape, but couldn’t find any. Both his father and Junsu seemed to enjoy the party a little too much. Yoochun put his glass down and decided to go out for fresh air. He went to the parking lot and lit up a cigarette. The silence was nice, until he heard footsteps. He didn’t bother turning around as he felt someone leaned to the wall behind him.
Yoochun finished his cigarette and pulled out his phone to text Junsu, asking if he was ready to go home, when the stranger behind him said, “Aren’t you a little too young for cigarette?”
Yoochun chuckled, “Am I?” He turned around and almost dropped his phone, but his reflex was fast enough to get a grip of the small device before it hits the floor.
Even in the dark, he could recognize the stranger’s beautiful face. “How old are you?” he asked.
“Six-sixteen…” Yoochun stuttered. The words he was planning to were stuck somewhere between his heart and throat and he was gaping.
The stranger smiled, “Definitely too young. The heir of Park group should take care of himself better.”
Yoochun couldn’t find a word to answer.
“Jaejoong!” a voice called and the stranger turned away.
“Well, I have to go now. See you around,” he smiled.
“Wait!” Yoochun finally find the voice to speak up.
“Bye,” Jaejoong winked before getting on a car, leaving Yoochun frozen in the middle of an empty parking lot.
***
( Part 2)