Vertigo Chapter 5
Changmin marveled at how polite Yunho was, and how the man respected others. He seemed to be a regular at the restaurant, the staffs greeted him warmly, and he greeted them back, bowed to each of them. And Changmin also remembered that he even bowed to Junsu before, the man was clearly much younger than him. So it made Changmin wondered…
“How old are you?”
“How old do I look like?” Yunho replied with a question.
“Are you gonna play this game with me?”
Yunho grinned as he accepted the menu. “What do you want to eat?”
It was an Italian restaurant and Changmin never been to one. He didn’t know what to choose.
Yunho chose a pasta dish with meatball and tomato sauce. “Do you want to try the aglio olio?”
Changmin just nodded. He looked around the restaurant as Yunho discussed the wine with the waitress. It wasn’t that big, but Changmin could see the stairs that headed to the VIP section. There weren’t more than 50 tables there, all round with white tablecloth. They sat in the center, and three tables away from them, two businessmen seated by the window were talking as they smoke after they finished their lunch. There was also a couple sitting on the other side, and a family of four.
“It is said that you can judge whether one is a good restaurant or not by its simple dish. That’s why I recommend you the aglio olio. I want to hear your opinion.” Yunho said quietly after the waitress left. “It’d be full during lunchtime. You won’t get a table without a reservation.”
Changmin looked at the clock. It was a little after two.
“I’ve asked for your mother’s permission to kidnap you after school. So don’t worry.”
Changmin smiled and nodded.
“So… back to the topic…” Yunho started. “What do you think? About the marriage.”
Changmin put down the glass after he drank the water. He was glad he didn’t spurt it out of shock. “Oh,” he cleared his throat. “I thought you’re talking about your age.”
Yunho let out a small laugh. “Then let’s talk about it if you want.”
Changmin would rather to talk about that than the marriage. “30?”
“Higher.”
“40?”
Yunho frowned.
“31?”
“Higher.”
“39?”
Yunho scoffed. “Why can’t you just took the middle number between that 30 and 40 to make it easier?”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
Yunho laughed. He loved how Changmin made him feel young.
“38?”
Yunho just shook his head slowly.
“32?”
“You have to grant me a wish for every wrong answer.” Yunho smirked.
“I know you’re 35.” Changmin said.
Yunho hoped Changmin said the wrong answer so he could get a wish. He was tempted to lie.
“What will you ask for that wish anyway?”
“I’m not telling you.”
Changmin almost protested but the food came and Yunho poured the wine for them both. “I don’t know how wrong it looks, but I’m pouring wine for someone in highschool uniform,”
“It’s not like you’re gonna get me drunk,” Changmin shrugged.
Yunho gave Changmin one of his meatball. “The reason why I haven’t tell my family that I’ve found my mate is, because I want to tell them all at once. Along with the marriage plan, if you agree with it.”
Changmin stopped swirling his spaghetti.
The Alphas were allowed to marry the Omegas once they’ve found each other, which was after 18 years old, after they had their own scent. Alphas body matured once they were 18. They would able to knot their mates. The Omegas would mature at the age of 21, the heat would hit them for a week, once every three months. And during the heat period, when the Alpha plant their seeds in the Omega, the Omega could bear their child.
Yunho didn’t look at Changmin, didn’t want to pressure him. He just ate calmly. “Just tell me. I can’t read your mind. Yet.”
Changmin breathed out slowly. “I don’t know.”
Yunho softened, as if he already predicted that answer. “Then ask me.”
“Why are you in a hurry to marry me?”
“Because I know time flies fast.”
“You must be really old enough to say that…” Changmin mumbled.
“It feels like yesterday I took Soojung to the playgroup. And I remember I scolded Sooyeon for wearing extremely short skirt for highschool. Time does fly fast, Changmin. And yes, I’m getting old.”
“So that’s why you’re in a hurry?” Changmin looked at Yunho’s fingers on the table. “Because… your age?”
“Yes. And no. I know I’m getting old. But I don’t want to marry just because of my age. There’s so much than it for a marriage.” Yunho smiled to Changmin. “I can wait.”
Changmin nodded slowly, grateful of how understanding Yunho was.
“What’s your university of choice?”
“I haven’t thought about that actually.” Changmin hated how he felt so low for Yunho.
Yunho gulped his wine slowly. “You’ll figure out, I believe.”
Changmin hoped so too.
Yunho paid for the bill when Changmin went to the bathroom. They walked out together and true to his words, Yunho didn’t open the door for Changmin anymore.
“But the idea of it… what do you think?” Yunho asked when he started the engine.
“We’re still talking about the marriage?” Changmin almost rolled his eyes.
“I’m not stopping until I get what I want.” Yunho replied.
“I know it’s something we’re going to do. But I still don’t have any picture of it in my mind.” Changmin said.
“So you need some time?”
“Some? Maybe a lot, I don’t know…”
Yunho’s smile was full of understanding. “I’ll help you get through it.”
Changmin nodded and replied that smile. He was anticipating it as well.
As they drove home, Changmin spotted his favorite soondae shop. “Can we stop by that shop for a bit? I wanna buy soondae for my father. He likes it a lot.”
“Sure,” Yunho pulled over. As soon as he stopped the car, Changmin already opened the door, impatiently went to the shop, queued after two high school girls who were ordering.
“Omoni, the soondae, three please, for takeaway,” he ordered the food. “Do you want to try?” he asked Yunho.
“Um…” Yunho was amazed at the variety of food on the stand.
Changmin ordered a bowl for Yunho to try, and they sat on the stools, enjoying their food.
“It’s been a while since I eat something like this,” Yunho said as he watched cars passing by.
“Since when?”
“Hmm… high school?”
Changmin faked a gasp. “It’s like 50 years ago!”
Yunho scoffed at the joke and took over the bowl after Changmin put down his spoon. The food was finished in no time. They got back to the car and went to Changmin’s home, arrived not long after.
“Do you want to come in?” Changmin asked as he took off the seat belt.
Yunho shook his head. “Your parents will be bored of me.”
Changmin smiled. “I bought some fishcake for you earlier. You can just put them in soup, or fried it.” He gave Yunho one of the plastic bag.
“Thank you,”
“I’ll be going, then,” Changmin opened the door.
“Wait, Changmin,” Yunho held Changmin’s hand, but quickly let go of it. “I almost forgot to ask your number.”
“Right,” Changmin forgot about that too. He was distracted by many things. He typed his number in Yunho’s phone, before the older called it so Changmin had his number too.
“See you, then,”
Changmin pushed the door open and got off. “Yunho,” he knew they just introduced each other the day before, so he shouldn’t be so informal to him, and he wondered if he should called Yunho ‘Hyung’ too, but he hadn’t asked that to him, so- gosh, his mind was such a mess. “Yunho-shi,” was what came out from his mouth.
Yunho looked at him.
Changmin bit his lip. “I… thank you. For today.” He said. “I had so much fun.”
“Me too.” Yunho smiled.
“See you,” Changmin closed the door, and watched as Yunho went away.
*
“Father is going home tonight, right?” Soojung asked, she was in the livingroom, opening a big box.
“Right,” Yunho replied. “What is that?”
“A package from Mother and Sooyeon Unnie,” Krystal said. “Oppa, this is yours,” she gave a dark blue box to Yunho. It was a set of ties. “Very pretty,”
“What do you got?”
Soojung got some accessories, and “My first heels!” she squealed.
“This little girl is being a lady now, hmm?” Yunho patted her head.
Their father entered, took off his jacket suit and put his bag on the couch.
“Father! Look, Mother and Unnie sent us presents!” Soojung said cheerfully. “You got this… bag, and tie clip,”
“Really? We should call them, then,” Jung Yanghoon said, smiling to Soojung.
Yunho brought his father a cup of hot tea. “How’s the meeting, Father?”
“I still have to go there again next week. But it’s progressing well.”
Soojung went to her room and came back with her laptop, doing a video call to her sister. “Unnie!”
“Soojung-ah!” Sooyeon faced could be seen from the chat window. She called her mom to join them. “Where’s Yunho Oppa? Oh, Oppa! Annyeong!”
Soojung sat on the carpet, her Oppa and father sat behind her on the couch.
“Sooyeon-ah, thank you for the ties!” Yunho waved to her sister.
“Do you like it, Oppa? I was gonna send you a suit but I forgot to ask for your measurement again. Hi, Father! How are you?”
“I’m good, Sooyeon-ah, where’s your mother?”
“She’s in the bathroom I think,”
“You look very thin, Sooyeon,” Yunho said.
Sooyeon hummed. “I’m working on the Autumn/Winter collection. Oh, Mother! Come here! I got Soojung here,”
Jung Sooae came into view, sat beside Sooyeon. “Hello! How are you guys?”
“Mother! I miss you so much!” Soojung whined as she saw her.
“I miss you too, Soojung. How’s school?”
Soojung played with her hair. “So so.”
“Oh, Yunho? How are you? Did you get the present?”
“Yes, Mother, thank you.” Yunho smiled and cleared his throat. “Listen, I have something to tell you,” he decided to say it now. It was the time, he got all his family gathered, and he told Changmin he’d tell them as soon as possible. “I have found my mate.”
The silence hit them.
Sooyeon and Sooae froze on the monitor. His father and little sister were still.
“Let me get the volume…” Sooyeon pressed a button on her keyboard. “Say again, Oppa?”
“I’ve found my mate.” Yunho said again.
“Who?” Yanghoon asked.
“Wait, you don’t know this yet?” Sooae asked her husband.
“Shim Changmin.” Yunho said.
Sooae blinked. “I’ve never heard that name.”
Soojung gasped and looked back at Yunho. “Changmin- Changmin Sunbae?”
“Yeah… he actually Soojung’s senior.” Yunho rubbed the back of his neck.
Sooae half stated half asked. “He’s still in highschool.”
“Yes. He’s in his last year, actually.” Yunho answered. “And I’m going to marry him.”
“How can you marry someone we don’t know yet?” Sooae asked.
“Sooner or later, Mother, of course I’m going to marry him. He’s a very good kid. Very considerate, and smart too, I know-“
“What do his parents do?” Sooae asked again.
“His father is a lecturer in two universities, Yonsei and Kyunghee. His mother stays at home. He’s an only child.”
“You really gonna marry Changmin Sunbae?” Soojung asked, could let her mind off that marriage thing.
“Yes, but he said he’s not ready yet.”
“Of course he’s not ready, he’s just a student!” Sooae exclaimed.
“Okay, so… I shouldn’t congratulate you yet..?” Sooyeon asked slowly.
“You should, Sooyeon, because I’ve found my mate.”
“Congratulation, Oppa! Finally, you find him!” Sooyeon clapped.
“Thank you, Sooyeon, I hope the rest of you is also happy I finally found my mate,” Yunho said sarcastically.
“I’m happy for you too, Son,” Yanghoon put his hand on Yunho’s shoulder.
“Thank you, Father. And by the way, he’s also an Alpha.” Yunho said, as if it was nothing.
Sooae’s eyes widened and she massaged her temple. “Are you sure-“
“Yes, I am, Mother.”
“You can’t marry him before I meet him, Yunho.” Sooae said.
“Of course.”
*
“I’ve told my family.” Yunho called Changmin before sleep.
Changmin didn’t reply at first. “What did they say?”
“My mother can’t wait to see you.”
“Oh.” Changmin replied flatly. “Should I feel nervous or excited?”
Yunho let out a small laugh. “Both. Well, nervous, actually.”
Changmin hummed. “And Krystal knows too now. It’s gonna be so awkward.”
“Yeah…” Yunho heard his door clicked open, and Soojung was there. He nodded to her, letting her came in. “Gotta go. She’s here.”
“Okay. Bye.”
“Bye.” Yunho disconnected the call and faced his sister. “What’s up?”
Soojung closed the door behind her and climbed to Yunho’s bed. “Are you really gonna marry him?”
Yunho was texting Changmin a goodnight message because he was too shy to say it in front of his sister. “I’ve said it. I’m going to marry someone anyway, someday.”
“You’re right.” Soojung bit her lip. “It’s gonna be so awkward between me and him.”
Yunho hummed. “He said it too.” He replied. “Are you gonna sleep here? I’m turning off the lamp.”
“Turn it off,” Soojung said.
Yunho turned off the lamp and put the blanket over Soojung’s body before settled beside her. “How do you know him?”
“He’s the leader of the photography club.”
“You’re in the photography club?”
“Yeah. I thought I was gonna be the model but actually we all become the photographer.”
Yunho laughed. “So he likes photography?”
“Yes. He helps me a lot. I think it’s quite enjoyable too. We went to places for photo hunting and it was fun.”
“Tell me more about him.”
“He’s very clever. He tutors some students in the club.”
“Yeah, I know…”
“How?”
“I kinda asked around at school.”
“That’s embarrassing.”
“I told them it’s for scholarship shit.”
Soojung laughed.
*
“Has Jung Yunho asked you about the marriage?” his father asked. He was reading his newspapers as he sipped his coffee. They finished dinner not long ago, and his mother was doing laundry.
“Yeah.” Changmin wouldn’t know what to say if his father asked if he wanted to marry Yunho or not.
“You’re well aware that he’s an Alpha, just like you?” his father asked instead.
“…yes,” Changmin replied slowly. His father used the tone like his son was doing something wrong.
“Do you know the consequences?”
Changmin gulped. “No.”
“This is a very rare case, almost none, actually.” His father put down the newspaper on the coffee table.
Changmin wondered if his father did some research about that.
His father took off his glasses and looked at Changmin. “Two Alphas. Yunho is much older than you, and maybe he’s dominant now in the relationship. But as you get older, your Alpha nature will be getting stronger, Changmin. Who will lead? Are you willing to follow, although you are an Alpha yourself? Will Yunho want to follow?”
Changmin could only listen, every words sunk in his brain.
“No Omega in your relationship. It means no heat. And no one is going to bear your child. Are you two gonna be okay with that?”
His mother called, asked one of them to bring her some hangers.
“I do not want to scare you, Changmin. But you’re still young and might not know, or forget about things like this.” His father said.
Changmin just nodded, before got up to get the hangers. He went to his room, and when he was studying for the test tomorrow, his phone rang. Yunho called.
Yunho told his family already. His father, mother, and of course, Krystal too.
Changmin knew it would be awkward between Krystal and him, but the thing that matter was, what would Yunho’s parents think of him. His father already knew the risks of their relationship, Mr and Mrs Jung must’ve known that well too.
It would be hard for both of them.