Beauty and the Beast | Chapter 6/?
Beauty and the Beast
Author: love_cassiopeia
Summary: Jung Yunho - a gifted and successful actor. Kim Jaejoong - Yunho's biggest fan. After receiving the task to interview Yunho for his journalism assignment, Jaejoong realizes that his favourite actor just might transform him from a "fan" into something much more.
Rated: PG-13 ~ NC-17
Disclaimer: I don’t own the five members, I’m simply borrowing them.
Warning(s): NC-17 material, language
Genre: Romance/Comedy
Pairing(s): YunJae
Chapter 6: Crazy Love
6.
Crazy Love
Lobby, Hotel de Crillon. 10:45 PM Paris, France
“Where the hell have you guys been?”
The two of us shamefully arched our heads, feeling like young children being scolded once again by our austere parents. Our hair and apparel were completely wet, drenched from the pouring rain storm we endured earlier tonight.
Changmin paced about the hotel lobby in frustration. “I was worried sick about the two of you!”
I sighed, glancing over at the imbecile beside me who had urged me into this whole mess. It was his idea of sneaking out in the first place, so why on earth did I feel so guilty?
Changmin eyed the two of us in exasperation. “Whose idea was this?” He asked, his aggressive voice ringing throughout the hotel lobby.
I didn’t want to tell him the truth-that it was Yunho’s fault; that it was his motives of sneaking the two of us out of the restaurant. If I leaked such information, Yunho would terribly punished, and there was no way on earth that I would possibly cause him more trouble during his filming.
So I stepped up courageously, and offered Changmin an explanation.
“Changmin-sshi, I’m sorry… it was my fault. It was me who-“
“Stop.” Yunho impulsively cut me off, his hand directing me to halt. “The truth is… it’s not Jaejoong’s fault, it’s mine.”
I stared at him blankly, terribly provoked that he had taken the blame onto himself. There was no telling what could happen to him now that he’s made the truth completely apparent.
The tall yet youthful manager glimpsed at me in sympathy, then exchanged his look for another as he stared irately at Yunho. “What the hell were you thinking?” He asked, completely forgetting my presence as he lectured the actor. “We’re here in Paris for a reason! We’re not here to go sightseeing! I thought you understood that concept already!”
The gifted actor, still soaked with water, glared at his manager with skepticism.
“It was my natural desire to see the city.” He proclaimed, showcasing just how thick his skin was. “How do you expect me to be caged up in this city without ever really seeing it for what it is?”
Changmin exhaled, and continued pacing about the room. “You said yourself that you wanted to come here to focus on work, to escape the rumors in Seoul! So why do you suddenly become so disrespectful and rebellious?”
I stepped back, my intentions of entangling myself into the intense argument completely gone.
Yunho refused to speak after Changmin’s harsh words. The actor positioned his vision elsewhere, refusing to look his manager in the eye. The Jung Yunho treatment, I called that.
The taller male began once again as silence stretched between the two of them. “How do you expect me to explain all this to the staff? It’s disrespectful to the whole movie committee! I was completely humiliated when you left without notice, don’t you understand that?”
Yunho rolled his eyes idly. “Listen to yourself, Changmin! Are you their manager or my manager?” He asked, his eyes filled with fury. “And… it’s just a staff dinner! It doesn’t put an end to your entire life if one person disappears!”
“That person being Korea’s most treasured actor!”
Yunho snorted, placing a fake smile onto his velvety lips. “Well, I’m sick of being Korea’s most treasured actor!” He roared sourly.
Within a moment’s notice, the tall and striking male walked away from Changmin, hoping to return back to his hotel room as he approached the elevator.
I watched in awe as he strolled away, his angry figure getting smaller and smaller as he departed the opulent hotel lobby.
From the corner of my eye, I could see Changmin sighing, sinking into a leather sofa as he repetitively rubbed his temples.
“Changmin…” My body neared the manager’s, hoping it would provide him with a bit of comfort as he dealt with the ample stress. “Don’t think of Yunho in that way. He’s young, that’s all. Don’t expect him to complete every task you give him perfectly.”
He smirked, gratified for my presence. “I know.” He responded forlornly. “It’s just… I’ve never seen him act like such a child in all the years I’ve been working with him. He’s always been so serious and solemn…”
Changmin’s words traumatized me, making hasty words flutter from my mouth. “Is that because he’s in lack of a serious relationship?” I asked peculiarly. “He needs one terribly, and yet he doesn’t have a bit of courage to admit it, so that’s why he’s been trying to ignore all indications of love by working non-stop.”
The manager’s eyes carried disbelief as they met mine. “How do you know about all this?”
I shrugged. “He just told me himself.” I spoke the truth, not knowing what it would do or where it would bring me.
“That’s funny.” Changmin responded. “It took me years to figure that out, and yet for you it only took a day-or a few hours to be exact.”
I chuckled. “I am here to write an article about him, remember?”
He nodded, still astonished. “You’re a sharp guy.” He praised, flattering me completely. “You’d make a wonderful journalist one day, Jaejoong.”
“Thank you.” I was appreciative of his words. To have someone tell me that my talent was at its best made me feel like I was invincible, especially if it was someone like Changmin.
The manager refused to smile, still glancing off into the distance with utter melancholy. I wanted to console him, and yet, I had no idea just what to say to him.
“Yunho must despise me now.” The brunet spoke pensively. “I’m a horrible manager, saying such insensitive things to him.”
I scoffed. “You?” I asked in doubt. “No way. You’re always so sharp and on top of things, no one would fit the position of a manager better.”
“But that’s just the thing.” He contradicted. “I’ve worked him so hard for the past three years, and there was barely any time which I could offer him for himself. But when my suggestion comes, he’s always denying it, saying that he wants to work instead of taking the time to enjoy himself. And now, in the middle of our crucial filming, he fervently sneaks out with you and ignores all hints of work!”
I grinned, noticing how much power I had to make the actor commit to such erratic deeds. It could’ve been a moment of triumph for me, but I was forced to fake melancholy as Changmin spoke momentously to me.
I placed a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, Yunho is young, there’s no doubt that he’ll do stupid things.” I clarified. “He needs to learn what love is, and I’m sure that a great woman in the future will show him.” My chest tightened a bit as I finished speaking, realizing just how impossible it was for me to be that woman.
Changmin met his hands with mine. “Thank you so much, Jaejoong-sshi.” He murmured. “I’m sure he’ll find her someday.”
I scrutinized Changmin’s features, flashing a bright smile as my eyes met his. The touch that met at my fingertips was warm, causing me to feel at ease. The spark in his eyes ignited as I stared deeply into his irises, completely lost within them.
That mischievous glint in his eyes carried hospitality-or maybe a bit of something more. Was it love I saw in his eyes… or was I simply hallucinating?
Twenty-second floor, Hotel de Crillon. 11:15 PM Paris, France
After the outlandish conversation I shared with Changmin, I took the elevator to the twenty-second floor, hoping to make my way back to the suite in order to obtain a bit of rest for myself. It had been a long day for me, and I was dying to drop onto the mattress and fall into a deep slumber immediately.
However, as I advanced towards my suite, I couldn’t help but recall my profound discussion with Changmin in the lobby. The manager seemed so caring, so civilized, and so mature (completely unlike Yunho). It was hard for me to remind myself that he was only Yunho’s manager-nothing more.
In no mood to say a single word to the bastard who appeared behind the suite’s door, I inserted the key and entered the room hastily, putting no interest in how rude I was being. However, as I unlocked the door and glanced into the hotel room, the sight before my very eyes nearly undid me.
Yunho, the great actor himself, was fiercely throwing his clothing into a suitcase, almost as if he was planning to depart Paris.
“What on earth are you doing?” I yelled, unaware of my loud voice echoing throughout the room. “Why the hell are you packing-you’re not planning to leave, are you?”
He stared up at me furiously, putting his mindless packing to a stop.
“First of all, you are not my mother.” He spoke sourly, disregarding my emotions completely. “Second, I want to leave Paris immediately, and enjoy a bit of time for myself away from all this.” He emphasized the word ‘this’ strongly, making me realize why he became such a wonderful actor in the first place. “And third, log onto your laptop and search for the first plane ticket out of Paris. We’re leaving now.”
My mind completely shut down as he finished, absolutely dumbfounded by his incoherent words. He was a renowned actor, was he not? So why in the world was he acting like a first class idiot?
“No way.” I found the energy to stop him, holding the suitcase away from his reach. “Changmin will feel mortified! You can’t bear to do this to him!”
He chuckled, glancing at me in incredulity. “So Changmin really influenced you that much, huh?” He asked, more a statement than a question. “Can’t you see the way Changmin looks at you? He likes you, that’s he’s deciding to keep you here. He’s taking advantage of you, Jaejoong!” He warned, complete anger in his eyes. “It’s not every day that a feminine-looking guy walks right into his life! He’s only using you for his own amusement, don’t you know that?”
His words sent a chill up my spine, causing me to apprehend just how far Changmin had gotten with me. It was true that he had continuously offered me adulation and praise, but little did I know that he was doing it all for a reason.
I was speechless, but found a voice in the back of my throat to speak despite the amount of shock that lingered throughout me. “N-nonetheless, your trip is still clearly irrational and much less stupid!” I shouted impatiently. “And what am I going do, now that you’re gone? I’m going to fail my journalism class because of you!”
He glared at me as if he couldn’t dare to care any less. “Then leave Paris with me! I don’t mind having you accompanying me on my vacation.” He suggested, making my mind clutter with a myriad of thoughts. “Didn’t I tell you to go on the internet and buy a plane ticket?” He asked intolerantly. “Go do it, now!”
Thunderstruck once again, I followed his ridiculous command and searched for my laptop hidden away at the bottom of the suitcase. I brought such a thing to Paris only for journalism purposes, not for escape plans!
With no idea what I was getting myself into, I attached my Sony laptop to a wire and recklessly connected onto the hotel’s internet. I immediately went to France’s international airlines website and clicked on the word Korean to transform the page into something I could understand. Within no time at all, I was looking for a flight out of Paris which would take us away from the metropolis as fast as possible.
I felt crazy, helping a famous award-winning actor escape from what he did best: acting. And yet his offer to bring me along left me no choice but to agree. I hadn’t broken the rules in quite a while, and doing so didn’t make me feel entirely atrocious.
“The first plane out of Paris is headed to Seoul.” I announced, reporting my observations to the actor.
“Oh no.” He replied from behind his luggage. “There’s no way I’m going back there. Look for another one.” He demanded.
I followed his orders. “The one after that flies to an island called Bora Bora*.” I read, trying my best to pronounce the alien term. “What about that?”
“Perfect.” He responded, zipping up his luggage and flashing me a grin. “When’s the flight?”
“It departs Paris at five o’ clock in the morning.” I answered according to the website. “That’s a bit early, isn’t it?”
“Buy two tickets under my name.” He ignored my question completely and tossed me his credit card. I grimaced at him in shock, outright astounded by what he wanted me to do.
“H-hold on!” I warned as I held his credit card in my trembling hands. “How can you do this? You don’t even know where Bora Bora is!”
He gave me a slight eye roll, notifying me of his complete insouciance. “I just want to leave, okay?” He stated impatiently. “I don’t care where to or whom with… just as long as it’s not Seoul or with the film staff!”
“You’re insane!” I affirmed loudly, completely aware of the consequences I would receive if I helped such an important man escape.
“I know I am. Now go buy the tickets!”
Not knowing what on earth to do, I entered Yunho’s credit card number onto the screen and paid for the two tickets. I couldn’t tolerate the thought of him leaving me in Paris, alone. I would be lonely, guilty, and even inspected by the staff for the rest of my stay! In order to finish up my journalism assignment, I had to agree to his request despite how much trouble it would cause me in the future. What could I say? Either way, I was going to get busted.
My brain felt as if it was ready to burst by the time I finished buying the plane tickets. I was just beginning to feel irritated from the long plane rides, and here fate was throwing me into another one. I turned around to glance at Yunho and at his frustrated expression. Was I to accompany this temperamental beast in his much-needed vacation? If so, how?
Just what have I gotten myself into?
His voice startled me as he began speaking. “Jaejoong, I want you to know that I appreciate you for accompanying me on this trip.” He held gratefulness in his eyes-a rare sight. “I’m glad that you understand me. I need this vacation. Without it, I really wouldn’t know how to keep on filming.”
I sighed, wanting to tell him that I couldn’t understand.
“Whatever, just forget about it.” I remarked soullessly. “Go to bed, we only have six hours to rest. I’ll go pack my clothes and I’ll be joining you.”
I covered my mouth, realizing what I had just said. “I mean… I won’t be joining you on the bed, I’ll just be ‘joining you’… meaning that I’ll be sleeping as well.”
Yunho chuckled at my absurd words and took off his shirt as he fell onto the mattress. “Yes, Jaejoong, I know what you mean.” He set an alarm on his cell phone, making sure he would wake up at a proper time the next morning.
I grinned and got the possession of my own suitcase, planning to throw in my necessities silently as Yunho slept.
After I finished, I found that Yunho was sound asleep and serenely breathing. I walked over to the large mattress and located my eyes so they were parallel to his. He was so beautiful when he was asleep, taking on the appearance of a calm and peaceful prince, not a ferocious and relentless beast.
With no hesitation at all, I leaned in and left a gentle kiss on his forehead, hoping it would not awake him from his peaceful slumber. His skin which met at my lips offered me ecstasy, making me want to travel deeper down to envelope his lips in mine. However, I couldn’t; I just couldn’t take away something I couldn’t have.
The resistance of not being able to capture his lips in mine made me realize just how far away from him I really was. No matter how close my lips were to his, I couldn’t help but feel as if I was miles away from him.
And this vacation-this vacation that he intended to go on with me. It just might be the catalyst to bring me an inch closer to him.
Turning off the lamps, I hopped over to an armchair, resting my tired body within it as my eyelids began to droop. The grave events which took place today left my mind unrest and my body fatigued, making me crave sleep terribly. Listening to the soft melody of the rain outside my window, I slowly began to dream, returning to my own world once again.
Down to it all, I was still madly in love with Yunho-no matter how foolish, insane, or illogical he was.
TBC
*For the people who don’t already know, Bora Bora is the place where Dong Bang Shin Ki filmed their ‘Hi ya ya’ MV. It’s a really beautiful island. Look it up sometime, ne?
Chapter six already! I can’t believe I’ve gotten this far already. The idea still seems so young and fresh in my mind, but I can just feel myself weaving YunJae into the plot I’ve got planned for them Muahahaha!
Please comment if you can! Praise along with constructive criticism is always welcome.
~Cindy
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6
.