Vertigo Chapter 6
“You called me earlier? Sorry I wasn’t able to answer. I’m in the middle of a meeting.”
When Yunho just got out from the meeting room and checked his phone, he didn’t expect to see a missed call from Changmin during lunchtime. He called back the boy in the afternoon, didn’t want to disturb him when he was still at school.
“That’s okay. It was an accident, actually. I wasn’t trying to call you. I forgot to text you about that.”
“Oh.” Yunho denied that he was disappointed.
Changmin was silent at first. “Uh, actually, it was Junsu.” He decided to tell him the truth. “He wanted to double date this weekend.”
Yunho didn’t respond at first. It sounded a little childish to his ear. “I can’t.” he looked at his calendar, full with red post-it. “I have work.”
“During weekend?” Changmin asked. “It’s not like I want that double date, nor that I don’t want it,“ he muttered. “But do you work in weekends?”
“My father just got back from China and I have some presentations to be done,” Yunho said.
Changmin didn’t answer, and Yunho could hear his breaths.
His phone rang, and Yunho answered it, Jaejoong said that his father was asking for him.
“I gotta go, Changmin.”
“Right. Bye.”
The call was disconnected before Yunho could say anything.
*
Changmin hadn’t met Yunho for days. He didn’t try to contact the older, didn’t want to disturb him, and Yunho seemed to be too immersed in his job anyway. He told himself that he wasn’t upset, though couldn’t help but admitted that the life he lived after Yunho and before Yunho was so different, and everything couldn’t be the same again without his mate.
Yunho texted him though.
Jung Yunho:
How’s school?
Shim Changmin:
so so. hows work?
Jung Yunho
Nothing new
There was really nothing to talk about because they were in two different worlds. Changmin thought Yunho wouldn’t want to know if Junsu put too much chili in his noodle and spent the entire day in the bathroom, or he forgot to do his homework but luckily the teacher forgot about that also. And he knew he wouldn’t understand what Yunho was working on, so he didn’t try to ask further either.
He met Krystal in the photography club once, but her treatment towards him remained the same. Nothing changed.
It was one week after Yunho picked him up at school, and the businessman appeared again near the gate, exactly the way Changmin remembered him.
Changmin hated him.
Yunho’s grin turned to a frown when the younger didn’t reply his smile. “Something’s wrong?”
You.
“It’s so hot.” Changmin didn’t want to look at him. But Yunho scent was so overwhelming. It had been so long since he smelt the man’s scent like that, straight from the person, not from the tie Yunho left for him. It barely smelt like Yunho anymore, it smelt like Changmin now.
“How about ice cream?” Yunho asked as they walked towards his car.
Changmin just nodded and got in the car.
Yunho took the driver’s seat and gave Changmin a paper bag. “I have something for you.”
Changmin opened the bag and took the box out. It was the brand new DSLR camera. He knew the price, he saw it in the magazine and the kids in the club made such a fuss about this camera.
“I can't accept this.” Changmin found himself saying.
Yunho was surprised. “Why?”
“This is not right. It's very expensive.”
Yunho didn’t say anything at first. “You shouldn't care about the price. It's a gift for you.”
Changmin looked at Yunho. “But it makes me think that I have to give you something in return.”
“You don't have to. I bought that because I found out you like photography. I just want to give you something and you don’t have to do anything in return.”
Changmin sighed. Of course Yunho felt that way. He knew the man was deadly rich and this camera was probably nothing for him. But Changmin couldn’t pay it even after he saved up his allowance for months. “I know you feel that way, but I don't. I can't just-“
Yunho breathed out. “It's just a gift. You shouldn't think so complicated about that.”
“So my thoughts are complicated? Well I’m sorry for being like that, I’m just never used to accept expensive present from someone I barely know, and met just two times!” Changmin put the box back to the bag, and opened the door to get out.
So much for being dramatic, the door was locked.
Changmin huffed, impatiently unlocked it and got out.
Since the night his father reminded him of the consequences of two Alphas in a bond, Changmin was afraid. He didn’t know it would work out for them or not. He knew it would be hard. Stubbornness was a trait that could be easily found in an Alpha, and Changmin knew he could be such an ass sometimes. And Yunho… did he even know that man well? Beside of how rich he was, what else did Changmin know?
Someone grabbed his wrist, and Changmin didn’t have to think twice to know who it was. He stopped walking and the hand let go of him. Changmin felt a bit disappointed about that.
“I’m sorry.” Yunho said. “I should’ve texted you more, or tried to call you. I’m busy but I know it’s not an excuse, because you’re busy too with school.”
Changmin didn’t turn around to see him.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t meet you too lately.” He continued. “And I’m sorry again, because I can’t promise to see you more in the future because I don’t know if I can, but I will try.”
Yunho took two steps and stood in front of the boy. Changmin could see his polished shoes in the opposite of his dirty sneakers.
“But I’m not sorry about the gift. If you don’t want to accept it, I can’t force you. But you can’t stop me from doing what I want.”
Yunho was right. And to think of it, after Yunho said it, Changmin knew he was upset of how they rarely talk to each other. The older said that he was gonna married him during their last meeting, for god’s sake! But then he just disappeared just like that? Changmin didn’t know how the man could read him well.
“You don’t have to be sorry at all.”
Yunho didn’t say anything, so Changmin lifted his head to see the man, who was already staring.
“You don’t always have to call me or text me first, I can do that too. I just don’t know what to say.” Changmin shrugged.
Yunho took a deep breath and smiled. “I don’t know either. I can’t complain to you of how my father refused to do two presentations because we have clients from Japan and Germany. He wanted to do it all at once. And I bet you don’t wanna know how I almost fell because the floor was slippery and I heard the janitor laughed behind my back.”
Changmin smiled back, because, well. Yunho had the same problem with him. “You clumsy old man…”
“I was in a hurry.” Yunho replied.
Changmin let out a small laugh and Yunho laughed with him.
“Still up for that ice cream?”
Changmin nodded.
“And for that presentation, why don’t you do it in English and have your staff to explain to your client in their own language through headset or something.
Yunho’s eyes widened in realization. “Good idea, thank you. Why didn’t we think about that before…”
They went to an patbingsoo shop Changmin liked, and he was paying, and Yunho didn’t say anything about it.
After they arrived at Changmin’s home, the younger returned his tie.
“You don’t need this anymore?” Yunho thumbed the tie.
“I’d rather you meet me in person. So you have to try harder.”
Yunho smirked. “Noted, Sir.”
*
He knew Changmin wasn’t that type of guy who was into gifts and presents, but still, he wanted to give something for his mate. So when Yunho found out that the boy liked photography, he didn’t think twice of buying him a camera, asked the waiter in the counter which was the best one, and simply just bought it.
He knew the boy was in a bad mood when he met him at school. And when Changmin refused the gift, he wondered why. It wasn’t like Yunho tried to buy him or something. But when the younger snapped at how he didn’t know Yunho, because they rarely meet each other, and walked off him, he understood.
Changmin wasn’t angry because of the gift. He was angry at him, even from the first time. Changmin wasn’t hot, he was mad at Yunho. The boy didn’t care about the camera, it was all about Yunho.
But he was glad they made up. It had been years since he had a relationship, and Yunho forgot what it was like. He forgot about the arguments, about the fight, about how could he fix things. And he was relieved when Changmin rather enthusiastically showed him the way to reach his favorite patbingsoo stall.
“I asked about you to Soojung,” Yunho said when their dessert came. He kinda amazed at how big the bowl and how tall the ice was. The topping were so colorful, redbeans, mochi, and even cereal.
They shared a bowl, and Changmin poured the milk and gave Yunho one of the spoons. “I met her yesterday.”
“Yeah, and he complained to me,” Yunho took a bite, and his brain froze for a moment. “Oppa, you talked about him all night and I’m so embarrassed I can’t look at Changmin Sunbae in the eye, she said,” he mimicked his sister.
Changmin laughed. “But she’s all good, though,” he said. “Did you say you talked about me all night?”
Yunho was chocked by the chewy mochi.
Changmin took out a mineral bottle from his bag and gave it to Yunho.
“Thanks,” Yunho mumbled after he drank it.
Changmin smiled and just ate like nothing happened.
“Yes, I talked about you. I want to know more about you.” Yunho continued, and he could see Changmin turned pink.
“Why don’t you just ask?”
Yunho shrugged. “Isn’t it fun to find out without asking? Like completing a puzzle.”
“But asking can avoid any misunderstanding,” Changmin replied.
Yunho was reminded again of how clever Changmin was. And he badly wanted to brush the boy’s dark hair because it looked ridiculously soft. “You’re right.”
Changmin took out his wallet after they finished, and went to the cashier. Yunho didn’t try to hold him back, he just knew he’d take Changmin to a very good place for the next date.
When Yunho drove home, he looked at the tie lay on the empty seat beside him. He picked it up and brought it to his nose.
It was filled with the familiar detergent scent the Shim’s family used, and stronger scent of Changmin’s himself.
Yunho would leave his things more often at Changmin’s.
*
“Remind the Sales and Marketing Department for tomorrow’s meeting. At 10, I don’t want them to be late. Say it to them twice, Jung Yunho does not tolerate tardiness.” He said to Jaejoong.
“And if they’re late?” Jaejoong looked at Yunho from his computer.
“I’ll fire them.”
“Ooh, me likey.” The secretary grinned. “Really, though?”
“No.” Yunho sighed. “My father hires them for a reason.”
Jaejoong tsked. “Those snakes need to get some beating, I think.”
Yunho could only sigh.
“Hey, by the way, how’s about your mate, huh? That high school boy.” Jaejoong asked as he typed with the speed Yunho couldn’t follow.
“Yep, we had a date yesterday.” Yunho couldn’t stop his grin from widening.
Jaejoong giggled. “Have you claimed him yet? Did he knot you or you do him? How does it work for Alpha and Alpha?”
Yunho hit Jaejoong lightly with a roll of papers. “Tune it down. And no, I can’t just knot him like that. Go back to work.” Yunho left to his room.
“You look happier, by the way. Wish you more dates in the future,” Jaejoong said to the nearly closed door.
“Thanks!” came Yunho’s replied.
*
It was almost 11, and Jaejoong already contacted the Marketing Department two times. Yunho was running out of patience.
“I’ll just go to-“
“No. I will get them.” Yunho stood up and straightened his suit. “Please wait for a moment, Mr Yoon,” he said to the department head.
The Sales staffs just eyed him, half fear half anxious, and the Department Head just nodded in reply.
Yunho knew there were a lot of the staff in the company doubted him and his ability to continue his father’s hard work and fulfilled the man’s role. And Kim Kangin, one of his father’s trusted man, didn’t try to hide the fact that he disliked Yunho. He didn’t let it got him, but he was just fed up by the fact of how much Kangin disrespected him and couldn’t be professional about work matters.
The Marketing was located in the other building, and as Jaejoong followed behind Yunho, the secretary hoped the long walk cooled Yunho off a little.
“Mr Kim,” Yunho’s voice was low and loud, full of authority as he found the man in the cafeteria in the first floor. He saw the man with Lee Hyojae, one of the Marketing staff. “I believe you already have an appointment today.”
Kangin looked at Yunho and put down his coffee, and Hyojae just tried to be invisible.
“The meeting today with the Sales Department.” Yunho said, tried to remain calm though the veins popped on his temple.
“Oh.” Kangin said innocently. He looked at his watch, and knocked it lightly. “I thought it was still 7,”
“Hm,” Yunho lifted the corner of his lips. He leaned down towards Kangin, and Jaejoong flinched, afraid that his boss would punch the man or something.
Hyojae just watched, but Kangin smirked amusedly. Thinking the same way with Jaejoong, because if the son of Jung Yanghoon really punched him, it would make quite a show.
“Let me see,” Yunho carefully lifted Kangin’s wrist to see the watch clearly. It was heavy with gold and decorated with diamonds. “Your watch must be broken, then,” he took off the watch off the man’s wrist in one swift motion. “There’s no need to wear it anymore.” He let go of the watch in his hand to the coffee cup, gave Kangin a stern look before turned around and walked away.
Jaejoong saw Kangin agitated and poured the coffee to get his watch, before he quickly followed Yunho.
“Fuck- you,” Kangin hissed. “You don’t deserve this company! You’re just a brat who got lucky because of your father! You will just ruin everything he had built for decades! What do you know about this corp, kid?! You better know your position, and it’s much lower than the janitor!” he shouted, attracted the people, but they looked away as they realized Yunho was still there.
Hyojae tried to hold Kangin down, calmed down his superior.
Yunho didn’t turn around or stopping, he kept walking. “Tell Mr Yoon and the Sales that we have to postpone the meeting today. I will apologize to him personally.”
“Okay.” Jaejoong took another route to the meeting room as Yunho headed towards the elevator.
Yunho’s head was dizzy and he was a little out of breath. He was grateful he was alone in the elevator because he really wanted to be alone at moment like this. But when the door almost closed, there was a hand holding it opened, and another man entered. Yunho didn’t look at his face, but smelling the scent, he knew who it was.
He lifted his head to see Changmin smiling shyly at him.
“I saw you-“
Yunho couldn’t think but his reflexes worked it all for him. He took a step closer to his mate, before took the younger in his arms, a hand took Changmin’s wrist and brought it to his nose. The soft scent released the tension in his brain and he could feel his blood flow through his calmed heart beat.
Changmin didn’t move nor he said anything. He just stood there, close to his mate, shared the same air with his hand attached to the older’s face.
When the elevator dinged, Changmin quietly pushed the button to close it again.