For You [2/?]
Title: For You
Pairing: Yunho/Jaejoong
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, Drama, Angst
Summary: His life turned around the moment he met Yunho.
Jaejoong held onto the lunch as he looked around for Changmin in the park. He could feel the buzzing of his phone in his pocket but just as he was about to retrieve it from his pocket, he caught sight of Changmin.
“You look good.” Changmin observed as they sat down on a bench.
Jaejoong laughed, “Was I ugly yesterday?” he handed Changmin the prepared lunch before he clasped his hands together and placed them on his lap.
Changmin rolled his eyes at the comment and set the lunch down next to him so that he could hand Jaejoong a paper bag. “There was a sale at a bookstore near my apartment building, so I decided to buy you a few books.”
Jaejoong reached into the bag to look at the books. “My birthday’s over.”
“Well, I thought you might want to brush up on a few design skills.” Changmin replied as he opened the box and took out his chopsticks. “There’s a book there on social skills too, so you might want to read that one first.”
“I’ll take that into consideration.” Jaejoong laughed as he placed the books back inside the bag and set it down onto the ground by his legs. “Are you busy today?” he asked with a side glance at the younger man.
“Not any busier than yesterday.” He said between mouthfuls of food. He paused and turned his head to look back at Jaejoong. “Why?”
“Nothing. I was just asking.”
“Did you finish any drafts yet?” Changmin asked with a worried expression, his chopsticks unmoving as he waited for an answer. When Jaejoong didn’t answer, he sighed and added, “Yoochun and Junsu are still extremely worried about you.”
Jaejoong sighed and brushed his hair restlessly, “I’m fine.”
“Yet you haven’t finished a single draft yet.” His friend replied as he set down the food he’d been eating. “Listen, Jaejoong - I know you don’t want us to coddle you, but you can’t act like the last few months didn’t happen.”
“I know that.”
“When you said you didn’t want to see a therapist anymore, I supported you.”
“I know.” Jaejoong looked away from Changmin and leaned back into the hard wood of the bench. “I know, and I’m grateful to you. You just have to understand, it’s going to take awhile before I settle in again. I have to get used to the fact that I won’t be able to drive for a few months and that I need to work again. I also need to learn to be more patient because my father has been calling me every single day to ask about how work is going.”
“He calls?” Changmin asked with a worried expression. “I thought you two weren’t on good terms.”
“He just wants to make sure I don’t fuck up again.” Jaejoong muttered, his voice sounding more bitter than he had wanted. “I wouldn’t even be working right now if it wasn’t for the strings he pulled to get me a job.”
“You’re not a failure, please keep that in mind.” Changmin said as he reached out and gently touched Jaejoong’s shoulder. “Just…we’re here for you, okay? Don’t make us worry like you did last time, you have to talk to us.”
Jaejoong nodded and smiled at Changmin. “I know.”
The younger man sighed and resumed eating. “The things I do for a nice lunch.” He muttered with a smile, well aware Jaejoong could hear him.
o-o-o
No progress.
Jaejoong stared down at the drafts and resisted the overwhelming urge to throw them all in the waste basket. He sighed and let his face fall into his hands as he tried to stifle his mounting frustrations.
His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he answered it quickly, without glancing at the screen to see who the caller was.
“Are you doing anything right now?”
Jaejoong froze and glanced at the caller’s name on the screen of his phone. He swallowed hard and ran a hand through his hair as he stared down at the unfinished drafts. “No, I’m not.”
“Do you want to do something together?” Yunho asked.
“Something like?”
“I don’t know. What do you want to do? We could catch a movie, or we could just do something simple like get coffee.”
He mulled over the options, “I don’t really -“
“It’ll be fun, I promise. If you want, I’ll just make the decision and you can just find out about what we’re going to do as soon as we meet?” Yunho suggested persistently in a tone that showed he wouldn’t take no for an answer. “We had fun last time, didn’t we?”
“Where will I meet you then?”Jaejoong asked as he left his work table and headed to get a jacket from his closet.
Yunho gave him a meeting place, and Jaejoong assured him he’d meet him. He looked through his closet and took out a jacket, slipping it on as he walked to the front door of his apartment.
It was a good thing that the meeting place Yunho had chosen was close to his apartment building - he would’ve been more likely to refuse if it was across the city because he didn’t really feel like walking so far so late at night.
Jaejoong stood alone on the park bridge as he waited for Yunho. He leaned across the wooden railing and stared down at the dark depths of water below, his reflection ever so slightly seen due to the light coming from the park lights.
“Hello again.”
Jaejoong turned his head and noticed Yunho. “Hi.” He said with much less enthusiasm than the taller man. “Where are we going?”
Yunho handed him a cup of coffee, “I just wanted to go around the park really.” He said with a smile, “I know it’s kind of late so we should just avoid the darker areas, I don’t want to stumble into a couple making out.” He paused and waited for a laugh, but when Jaejoong didn’t, he simply picked up the conversation again. “Are you picky about how you take your coffee? I didn’t really know what to get you but -”
Jaejoong hands gripped the warm cup of coffee tightly and shook his head. “I don’t really mind.” He brought it close to his lips and took a sip, “It’s good.”
As relief washed over Yunho’s face, Jaejoong noted how clear Yunho’s feelings were expressed on his face, each expression written obviously on his handsome features.
“Are you usually awake this late?” Jaejoong asked after a few minutes of silence.
Yunho shrugged, “I guess so. You could say I’ve gotten used to being up late at night. What about you?” “I don’t really sleep much.” Jaejoong mused as he kept his eyes away from Yunho’s face. “I need to get used to working again, and I have a lot of work to catch up on.”
“Don’t overwork yourself.”
“I’ve hardly been working and that’s the problem.” Jaejoong admitted with a frown. “I can’t bring myself to start.”
“It’s always hardest to start.”
“I guess.”
There was another lull in their conversation as they made their way past rose bushes. Jaejoong refused to look at Yunho as he tried to think of something to say. Endless topics ran through his head, but he couldn’t choose which one to voice out.
“You’re so quiet tonight. Is something wrong?”
Jaejoong glanced at Yunho after the comment, “What are we doing?” he asked directly as he stopped walking and faced Yunho.
Yunho stopped walking and looked back at him.
“I wanted to get to know you, so I asked you out.” He answered slowly as he looked for a reaction on Jaejoong’s face. “Admittedly, I am curious as to why Junsu, Yoochun and Changmin are so protective -“
“I was in an accident.”
Yunho stopped talking for a second, and Jaejoong felt uneasy as he felt Yunho’s eyes search for something expectantly. “You didn’t have to tell me if -“
“It’s nothing, really.” Jaejoong replied, hoping that it would make Yunho feel less uneasy. “Just a few minor bruises, I wasn’t hospitalized for a long time.” He paused before he added, “Don’t feel guilty for being curious.”
“Don’t think that’s the only reason I want to get to know you.” Yunho replied quickly as he inched slightly closer. “You’re an interesting person, a little quiet, but I like you. I’ve always been a person to trust instinct, and I feel like I should get to know you better.”
Jaejoong watched him and felt like he had more to say, so he remained quiet and waited for Yunho to pick up where he left off.
A slight blush appeared on Yunho’s cheeks as he looked down at the ground. Jaejoong’s lips quirked upwards at the adorable expression, and he decided quickly that it would be easier for Yunho if he said something.
“I’d like to get to know you too.” Jaejoong replied. He glanced at his watch and nearly cringed at the hour. “Maybe we should meet up at better times though. I don’t think it’s good for either of us to continue meeting so late.”
Yunho smiled. “I think it would be better if we met up during more normal hours too.” He glanced at his watch as well and frowned, “I should drive you home now.”
“You don’t have to drive me home, I live nearby.” Jaejoong replied, “I’ll be fine walking home.”
“Please, let me drive you home.”
Jaejoong opened his mouth to protest but couldn’t bring himself to argue any further. It was ridiculously cold, and the temptation of a car heater was too much for him to go against.
He gave in and replied, “Fine.”
o-o-o
Jaejoong turned his head, “Is this awkward?”
Yunho turned off the car engine and looked at Jaejoong. “I don’t really think so.” He shrugged and unbuckled his seatbelt. “If you think -“
“Let’s have lunch together.” Jaejoong suggested nervously as he unbuckled his seatbelt and did his best to avoid Yunho’s gaze, “I think that’s a good time for us to meet. You can just call me in the…” he glanced at the time, “You can call me in the morning and then we can…figure something out.”
Just as Jaejoong was about to step out of the car, Yunho reached out gently and took hold of his wrist. Jaejoong turned his head and he felt a blush rise to his cheeks.
“Good night Jaejoong.”
“Good night Yunho.”
They stared at each other for a little longer before Yunho let go of Jaejoong’s wrist. Jaejoong left the car and shut the door before he walked inside his building without a single glance back.
The moment he was safely inside his apartment, he leaned against the door and shut his eyes as his heart thumped loudly in his chest. He breathed out slowly and made his way back to his work table.
Jaejoong stared at the drafts for a few minutes and then began to sketch.
< >
Author’s Note: I really hope this chapter is an improvement on the first. I hope it’s well received, and I’d love to hear reactions/suggestions in a comment. ^___^ There’s more insight as to why Jaejoong’s kind of reclusive and difficult (there's still more to find out about the accident though), and there’s some Yunjae progress too. Also, I’ve started another story, so if you have the time, I’d love it if you could read it and leave a comment for it as well. It’s called Distance, and I’m quite proud of the chapter I posted, so I’d love to hear reactions to that as well. A Learning Process is still being written and edited. I can’t guarantee a chapter this week since I’m kind of busier than I was last week, but the chapter’s around 85% ready for posting. Thank you for reading this chapter, and I hope you guys all liked it. ♥
Pairing: Yunho/Jaejoong
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, Drama, Angst
Summary: His life turned around the moment he met Yunho.
Jaejoong held onto the lunch as he looked around for Changmin in the park. He could feel the buzzing of his phone in his pocket but just as he was about to retrieve it from his pocket, he caught sight of Changmin.
“You look good.” Changmin observed as they sat down on a bench.
Jaejoong laughed, “Was I ugly yesterday?” he handed Changmin the prepared lunch before he clasped his hands together and placed them on his lap.
Changmin rolled his eyes at the comment and set the lunch down next to him so that he could hand Jaejoong a paper bag. “There was a sale at a bookstore near my apartment building, so I decided to buy you a few books.”
Jaejoong reached into the bag to look at the books. “My birthday’s over.”
“Well, I thought you might want to brush up on a few design skills.” Changmin replied as he opened the box and took out his chopsticks. “There’s a book there on social skills too, so you might want to read that one first.”
“I’ll take that into consideration.” Jaejoong laughed as he placed the books back inside the bag and set it down onto the ground by his legs. “Are you busy today?” he asked with a side glance at the younger man.
“Not any busier than yesterday.” He said between mouthfuls of food. He paused and turned his head to look back at Jaejoong. “Why?”
“Nothing. I was just asking.”
“Did you finish any drafts yet?” Changmin asked with a worried expression, his chopsticks unmoving as he waited for an answer. When Jaejoong didn’t answer, he sighed and added, “Yoochun and Junsu are still extremely worried about you.”
Jaejoong sighed and brushed his hair restlessly, “I’m fine.”
“Yet you haven’t finished a single draft yet.” His friend replied as he set down the food he’d been eating. “Listen, Jaejoong - I know you don’t want us to coddle you, but you can’t act like the last few months didn’t happen.”
“I know that.”
“When you said you didn’t want to see a therapist anymore, I supported you.”
“I know.” Jaejoong looked away from Changmin and leaned back into the hard wood of the bench. “I know, and I’m grateful to you. You just have to understand, it’s going to take awhile before I settle in again. I have to get used to the fact that I won’t be able to drive for a few months and that I need to work again. I also need to learn to be more patient because my father has been calling me every single day to ask about how work is going.”
“He calls?” Changmin asked with a worried expression. “I thought you two weren’t on good terms.”
“He just wants to make sure I don’t fuck up again.” Jaejoong muttered, his voice sounding more bitter than he had wanted. “I wouldn’t even be working right now if it wasn’t for the strings he pulled to get me a job.”
“You’re not a failure, please keep that in mind.” Changmin said as he reached out and gently touched Jaejoong’s shoulder. “Just…we’re here for you, okay? Don’t make us worry like you did last time, you have to talk to us.”
Jaejoong nodded and smiled at Changmin. “I know.”
The younger man sighed and resumed eating. “The things I do for a nice lunch.” He muttered with a smile, well aware Jaejoong could hear him.
o-o-o
No progress.
Jaejoong stared down at the drafts and resisted the overwhelming urge to throw them all in the waste basket. He sighed and let his face fall into his hands as he tried to stifle his mounting frustrations.
His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he answered it quickly, without glancing at the screen to see who the caller was.
“Are you doing anything right now?”
Jaejoong froze and glanced at the caller’s name on the screen of his phone. He swallowed hard and ran a hand through his hair as he stared down at the unfinished drafts. “No, I’m not.”
“Do you want to do something together?” Yunho asked.
“Something like?”
“I don’t know. What do you want to do? We could catch a movie, or we could just do something simple like get coffee.”
He mulled over the options, “I don’t really -“
“It’ll be fun, I promise. If you want, I’ll just make the decision and you can just find out about what we’re going to do as soon as we meet?” Yunho suggested persistently in a tone that showed he wouldn’t take no for an answer. “We had fun last time, didn’t we?”
“Where will I meet you then?”Jaejoong asked as he left his work table and headed to get a jacket from his closet.
Yunho gave him a meeting place, and Jaejoong assured him he’d meet him. He looked through his closet and took out a jacket, slipping it on as he walked to the front door of his apartment.
It was a good thing that the meeting place Yunho had chosen was close to his apartment building - he would’ve been more likely to refuse if it was across the city because he didn’t really feel like walking so far so late at night.
Jaejoong stood alone on the park bridge as he waited for Yunho. He leaned across the wooden railing and stared down at the dark depths of water below, his reflection ever so slightly seen due to the light coming from the park lights.
“Hello again.”
Jaejoong turned his head and noticed Yunho. “Hi.” He said with much less enthusiasm than the taller man. “Where are we going?”
Yunho handed him a cup of coffee, “I just wanted to go around the park really.” He said with a smile, “I know it’s kind of late so we should just avoid the darker areas, I don’t want to stumble into a couple making out.” He paused and waited for a laugh, but when Jaejoong didn’t, he simply picked up the conversation again. “Are you picky about how you take your coffee? I didn’t really know what to get you but -”
Jaejoong hands gripped the warm cup of coffee tightly and shook his head. “I don’t really mind.” He brought it close to his lips and took a sip, “It’s good.”
As relief washed over Yunho’s face, Jaejoong noted how clear Yunho’s feelings were expressed on his face, each expression written obviously on his handsome features.
“Are you usually awake this late?” Jaejoong asked after a few minutes of silence.
Yunho shrugged, “I guess so. You could say I’ve gotten used to being up late at night. What about you?” “I don’t really sleep much.” Jaejoong mused as he kept his eyes away from Yunho’s face. “I need to get used to working again, and I have a lot of work to catch up on.”
“Don’t overwork yourself.”
“I’ve hardly been working and that’s the problem.” Jaejoong admitted with a frown. “I can’t bring myself to start.”
“It’s always hardest to start.”
“I guess.”
There was another lull in their conversation as they made their way past rose bushes. Jaejoong refused to look at Yunho as he tried to think of something to say. Endless topics ran through his head, but he couldn’t choose which one to voice out.
“You’re so quiet tonight. Is something wrong?”
Jaejoong glanced at Yunho after the comment, “What are we doing?” he asked directly as he stopped walking and faced Yunho.
Yunho stopped walking and looked back at him.
“I wanted to get to know you, so I asked you out.” He answered slowly as he looked for a reaction on Jaejoong’s face. “Admittedly, I am curious as to why Junsu, Yoochun and Changmin are so protective -“
“I was in an accident.”
Yunho stopped talking for a second, and Jaejoong felt uneasy as he felt Yunho’s eyes search for something expectantly. “You didn’t have to tell me if -“
“It’s nothing, really.” Jaejoong replied, hoping that it would make Yunho feel less uneasy. “Just a few minor bruises, I wasn’t hospitalized for a long time.” He paused before he added, “Don’t feel guilty for being curious.”
“Don’t think that’s the only reason I want to get to know you.” Yunho replied quickly as he inched slightly closer. “You’re an interesting person, a little quiet, but I like you. I’ve always been a person to trust instinct, and I feel like I should get to know you better.”
Jaejoong watched him and felt like he had more to say, so he remained quiet and waited for Yunho to pick up where he left off.
A slight blush appeared on Yunho’s cheeks as he looked down at the ground. Jaejoong’s lips quirked upwards at the adorable expression, and he decided quickly that it would be easier for Yunho if he said something.
“I’d like to get to know you too.” Jaejoong replied. He glanced at his watch and nearly cringed at the hour. “Maybe we should meet up at better times though. I don’t think it’s good for either of us to continue meeting so late.”
Yunho smiled. “I think it would be better if we met up during more normal hours too.” He glanced at his watch as well and frowned, “I should drive you home now.”
“You don’t have to drive me home, I live nearby.” Jaejoong replied, “I’ll be fine walking home.”
“Please, let me drive you home.”
Jaejoong opened his mouth to protest but couldn’t bring himself to argue any further. It was ridiculously cold, and the temptation of a car heater was too much for him to go against.
He gave in and replied, “Fine.”
o-o-o
Jaejoong turned his head, “Is this awkward?”
Yunho turned off the car engine and looked at Jaejoong. “I don’t really think so.” He shrugged and unbuckled his seatbelt. “If you think -“
“Let’s have lunch together.” Jaejoong suggested nervously as he unbuckled his seatbelt and did his best to avoid Yunho’s gaze, “I think that’s a good time for us to meet. You can just call me in the…” he glanced at the time, “You can call me in the morning and then we can…figure something out.”
Just as Jaejoong was about to step out of the car, Yunho reached out gently and took hold of his wrist. Jaejoong turned his head and he felt a blush rise to his cheeks.
“Good night Jaejoong.”
“Good night Yunho.”
They stared at each other for a little longer before Yunho let go of Jaejoong’s wrist. Jaejoong left the car and shut the door before he walked inside his building without a single glance back.
The moment he was safely inside his apartment, he leaned against the door and shut his eyes as his heart thumped loudly in his chest. He breathed out slowly and made his way back to his work table.
Jaejoong stared at the drafts for a few minutes and then began to sketch.
< >
Author’s Note: I really hope this chapter is an improvement on the first. I hope it’s well received, and I’d love to hear reactions/suggestions in a comment. ^___^ There’s more insight as to why Jaejoong’s kind of reclusive and difficult (there's still more to find out about the accident though), and there’s some Yunjae progress too. Also, I’ve started another story, so if you have the time, I’d love it if you could read it and leave a comment for it as well. It’s called Distance, and I’m quite proud of the chapter I posted, so I’d love to hear reactions to that as well. A Learning Process is still being written and edited. I can’t guarantee a chapter this week since I’m kind of busier than I was last week, but the chapter’s around 85% ready for posting. Thank you for reading this chapter, and I hope you guys all liked it. ♥