Fated To Love you?; Chapter 11
Title: Fated To Love You?
Author: oh_thexirony
Genre: Romance, Angst, Fluff, Crack, AU
Length: Chaptered; Chapter 11 - Whatever it Takes, This is Just the Start
Pairing(s): YunhoxJaejoong (mainly) , a side of YoochunxJunsu, KibumxChangmin, HyukxSu ( bff-ship )
Overall Rating : PG - R (will be warned of rating in every individual chapter)
Rating for This Chapter: PG
Warning(s) for This Chapter: none
Fated To Love You? ; Chapter 11
Whatever it Takes, This is Just the Start
"Uncle Chun!"
"Hey Jiyool."
Reaching out, his hands extended to pick up the little girl who came running out of the Kindergarten, her bag swinging happily behind her from her shoulders, Yoochun smiled. What a sight this was, no one would expect that Park Yoochun, famous playboy would have any patience for a child.
"Wheres my Daddy?"
"At home, he wasn't feeling too good, so I'm taking you home instead."
"Oh. Is Daddy okay?"
"Yeah, he should be feeling better when we get back."
"Oh..okay then. Are you staying for dinner?"
"Hmm."
"Does Jiyool want me too?"
"Yes! Then I can show you my drawings!"
"Alright then, now come, lets get you home." with a chuckle, Yoochun balanced the girl in one hand while pulling open the passenger door he was leaning against previously.
-
"I'm not going home Kibum."
"Yes you are."
"Give me one good reason why."
"Because I say so."
"Nice try." Shoving the boy in front of him away, Changmin started to stalk off when a hand that grabbed his arm with surprising force yanked him back fiercly to his previous position.
"Min, go up alright." it was a softer voice Kibum used this time.
"Why. Why should I? So I can see them both falling into bed with one another again."
"It could have been a mistake - you never know, and I'm sure, he isn't there anymore."
"How are you so sure?"
"Trust me."
Silence as Changmin crossed his arms over his chest only to look towards his side, at the car with the tinted windows they had just stepped out from. No surprise that Kibum had a driver, after all - when your parents could afford it, and were hardly in town - they liked to make up in other ways.
"Min, come on - trust me."
"And if he is there...?"
"You can come right over, and I'll put you up."
"Promise."
"Yeah, now go."
"When did you become a saint Kibum? Forcing me to go to school, and now making sure I get home safely? "
Lifting his shoulders in a light shrug, Kibum nodded in the direction of the gaurded building they were in front of.
"Don't even try to run halfway to the enterance - we all know I'm a better runner."
"Sure." was the sneer as a retort as Changmin kicked at the ground. With an inadible grumble, that sounded very much like a curse, he started off towards the building, but not before a hand, came to rest on his upper arm, again.
Turning back, a questioning look in his eyes, Changmin raised an eyebrow.
"Ah, I... nothing." letting his arm slip from Changmin's arm, Kibum turned only to pull open the door of the car. Stepping into the vehicle, he only paused to wink at Changmin before pulling the door shut. It was true Kim Kibum style, not even a goodbye and the car tore away from the curb to join the evening traffic of people rushing home.
-
"Daddy!" it was a loud yell as Yoochun pushed open the door to the study, only to find Yunho standing by the window, his hands folded loosely in front of him.
"Hey." was the reply as Yunho turned around, a smile slipping onto his face. Bending down to face his daughter, a laugh fell from his lips as she wrapped her arms around him, while planting a kiss onto his cheek.
"So how was school." still in his bent position on the floor, Yunho reached up to brush back locks of Jiyool's curls.
"Fun! We did painting today, and my teacher said mine was the neatest."
"Well, isn't Jiyool brilliant?" glancing up towards Yoochun who stood behind, his hands in his pockets, Yunho glanced to the clock.
"Go wash up alright? Daddy has something to talk to Uncle Chun about, I'll see you soon downstairs for dinner."
"Okay!" Hugging Yunho once more, Jiyool turned to skip out of the room, closing the door behind her.
"So, care to tell me why you were no show this afternoon and only remembered about the meeting around 4 hours later? You were lucky they decided to reschedule because their boss couldn't make it. " Pulling his hands out of his pocket, Yoochun let himself fall into the couch in the room before glancing up and down at Yunho's attire. He had removed the jacket, but he was still decked out in his office attire, button down shirt with a discarded tie lying on the table.
Standing from his bent position, Yunho collapsed into the huge swivel chair behind the large oak desk, cluttered with files.
"I met him Chun, in the lift." a pause as he raked a hand through his hair. "I told him everything."
"Everything?"
"I told him about Myung Hee, how we met, how I was going to go back to him when she got pregnant, and how we got married only to have her loose the child..."
"Thats all?"
"Yeah."
"He knows about Jiyool, you should have explained futher."
"Wha - How?"
"He saw her at the hospital the first day." Nodding lightly, Yoochun looked to Yunho who had sprung up to lean forward, his hands placed nervously on the tables edge.
"I was only intending to, after, later - "
"He probably thought you stayed to have a kid with her because you fell in love instead of returning to him in the first place."
"But I told him, she begged me to stay and... yeah."
"Not good enough Yunho." a sigh before he continued. "You should have told him about her suicide attempt, the threats that came to you, not to mention how you did in fact get drunk again, and you know. Doesn't change the fact you were a bastard, but maybe it would have helped more, but its what you owe him, an explanation."
"I think it was hardly the time to talk about suicide attempts and threats Chun."
Burrying his head in his hands, Yunho slumped back into his chair. Indeed, there had been the threats, the beatings he received some days after Myung Hee's miscarriage, on how he would so-called get it if he left her. They would ambush him, thugs into an alley way where they would beat him up, badly. He had always assumed Myung Hee had sent them, but everytime she saw him injured, she seemed horrified, in a way that couldn't be just acting. Then, came the suicide attempt, where she had actually downed half a bottle of painkillers, sloshed down with a bottle of wine, and slit her wrist while sitting in front of the fireplace that winter. Needless to say, they both had scared Yunho, leaving him with no choice, but to stay. Out of guilt, duty, and his own fear, because the thugs - they had known, about Jaejoong, said he would get it if Yunho went back. But never once, had he bothered wondering why they knew, how they knew.
"Yunho..." it was a hesitant pause, as Yoochun sat up, shifting uncomfortably in his seat, something never seen of him, because Park Yoochun was always comfortable.
Looking up, Yunho shot him a tired, questioning look.
"You should know," another pause as he picked his words carefully. "Myung Hee really didn't send those thugs."
"What do you kn...-" Yunho had stood up, his legs carrying him to where Yoochun was sitting, only to be interupted by a tiny burst of noise that shot into the room.
"Daddy! Grandma wants you me to tell you and Uncle Chun dinner's ready." a burst of english words that came tumbling out of her mouth at rapid fire.
Standing up, while avoidining Yunho's gaze, Yoochun grinned down at Jiyool.
"Well, we should go then, shouldn't we Yunho?"
"Yeah...we should."
Meeting Yunho's gaze, Yoochun shot him a look that plainly said it was all he would say.
"Daddy? Are you okay?"
"Yeah, come on Jiyool, dinner time."
-
He had sat in his car for five minutes, the engine not even on, only to have Eunhyuk call him. It was with that one call that Jaejoong had cancelled the meeting before tearing out of the carpark, the tyres of his car yelling noisly in protest against the almost rubbery floor of the carpark. He had spent the next hour or so, driving aimlessly around the city of Seoul, before bringing his car to a stop beside an abandoned field somewhere on the outskirts on the city where he had sat, just looking as the afternoon sun shone, glinting through the windows of his vehicle, slowly cooling to an evening glow.
It had all been too much for him to process, and even in that explanation, Jaejoong found too many loopholes, what about Jiyool. Why didn't he return? Was Yunho lying again, how true were his words? But no matter, as he had said - nothing changed the fact that Yunho had hurt him so deeply. And now, he had to keep in mind, everything was different from 6 years ago. He wasn't just Kim Jaejoong, 20 year old student anymore, he was Kim Jaejoong, 26 years old with more than just simple responsibilities.
He had tore his eyes away from the glaring Sun, slightly blinded by his own confusions before he sat back with nothing more than a mere sigh, only to pull the car out of park, as he started his journey back to the City. His face was flawless, as usual, but if one looked closely, they would notice the dissapearing swolleness beneath his eyes, and if anyone had bothered to, they would notice the light, almost invisible marks of tears that had made their ways down his cheeks.
That was it, as he had promised himself, the last of the tears, for real this time.
-
"Mhmm. We had breakfast, he was surprisingly nice about it, and then he sent me home before going off for a meeting..."
Junsu shot a nervous gaze towards Jaejoong while pulling at a stray strand of string at the elbow of his long sleeved shirt while letting his voice trail off. He was currently positioned on one of the barstools that stood just in front of the windowed counter that opened (and were now open) to look into the kitchen. The older man had got home about half an hour earlier with bags of groceries. He had dumped them in the kitchen, peeled off his jacket and tie, before setting himself to work in the kitchen. A sight rarely seen nowadays.
So far, their conversation had been a light one, with Jaejoong asking questions mainly about Yoochun and Junsu, and how Junsu's day went. The two incidents of the previous night were carefully avoided, however any issues relating to Jaejoong were not brought up entirely.
Eyes darting across the kitchen as the older walked from the sink to the fridge, Junsu gulped lightly. He was worried, but so far - Jaejoong had seemed fine, and Junsu didn't wish to ask even though his concern was becoming throbbingly painful, least he bring about an unpleasant wave of what was to be forgotten.
It was after a quiet few minutes of mulling that Junsu finally stratched the back of his head before propping his chin on his upturned palms. He figured it was no point worrying silently, if Jaejoong had wanted to talk about it, he would have. It was in those few moments that Junsu had settled on just being there - he would be there and waiting if Jaejoong ever wanted to speak about it, and would no doubt interfere if he found that things got too out of hand.
"...so, you guys are seeing each other now?" it was a simple statment, but Junsu could hear the underlying tones of an apology that Jaejoong didn't voice. He was sorry for the over-reaction this morning.
"Yeah... we thought we did give it a shot, I mean" a pause before he pushed the words out of his mouth in a quiet rush. "He isn't that bad you know."
His finishing sentence was a garbled mess of language, one that made him turn red, from the tip of his toes all the way to the top of his head. He was speaking the truth, the truth laced with his own comforting words for Jaejoong - telling him, it was okay, he understood.
Pausing, knife poised in mid air over a mushroom he was just about to cut into, Jaejoong smirked slightly as he looked over to a bashful Junsu. Well, maybe this would turn out well, for one of them - at least.
"...well I mean apart from that issue of him have roaming hands, and a mouth that can just about do anything, and... and..."
"Okay Su, I get it." he was quick to interupt as Junsu's eyes glazed over slightly, seemingly recalling something that Jaejoong had absolutely no interest on finding out.
-
It was a slam of the door that kicked Junsu out of his semi-like trance, and caused Jaejoong to tear his slightly, horrified yet deadly curious gaze away from Junsu as his eyes drifted towards the ceiling, in what seemed to be bliss, simply at the memory of something. Placing the knife down on the chopping board, Jaejoong wiped his hands against a hand towel nearby before walking towards the enterance to the kitchen. Leaning against the door frame, as Junsu twisted in his chair, both men looked towards the hallway where no doubt, a scowling teenager would appear moments later. As promised, Kibum had delivered Changmin home.
This was the difficult part of the day, the most difficult that required the most care when dealing with, as Jaejoong thought. Simply for the fact, that he was dealing with Changmin here, and Changmin was everything from snarky, with extreme mood-swings, and also, important and fragile at the same time.
It was odd to some people. But both Junsu and Changmin were family to Jaejoong, and to put it simply, as cliche as it sounded - Kim Jaejoong loved them both.
Changmin however, was a totally different issue from Junsu. Jaejoong was dependant on the teenager, and although neither voiced it out, they knew it was the same for either. Changmin had helped distract Jaejoong from a time when everything had come crashing down, had been there for him in his child-like way ,and Jaejoong had in a way, saved Changmin. He was really like his own child, as Jaejoong thought. He loved him with, not the same way as one would be attached to a lover, but in a way in where their love ran deeper than blood.
"Changmin..." it wasn't a greeting, nor a statement, and yet could not be counted quite as a lingering question either.
It was a hateful glance in which Jaejoong got in return as the boy stomped past him to his own room, only to slam the door in return, as a verbal response of sorts.
Letting his head fall as he stared at the ground with a sigh, Jaejoong felt his heart twist - not in the way Yunho made it twist, but in a different and yet as painful way.
"Hyung. I'll go talk to him."
"Don't nag at him, just talk to him, make sure hes okay. I'll...I'll carry on preparing dinner."
-
Stabbing at a piece of meat that lay on his rice, Yunho frowned lightly as he propped an elbow on the dinner. He didn't need to be of any participation of conversation at the table tonight. Both Jiyool and Yoochun were both engaged in cheerful chatter with his Father and Mother, and if the subtle part of his brain that was listening in had processed correctly, they were speaking about the crazy Around the World Vacation both his parents were about to embark on in a few months as part of his Father's retirement.
"Yunho... are you okay?" his mother.
Snapping out of his daze, Yunho looked up, the frown smoothening out.
"Wha...? Yeah, I'm fine."
"But Daddy, you were frowning."
"I'm fine honey, just thinking about ...work stuff." shooting a smile at the little girl who had reached over to place a hand on his forehead, as if trying to smoothening out the frown that had dissapeared, Yunho ruffled her hair affectionately.
"Leave the work in the office Yunho, its dinner time." his father.
Nodding a silent response, Yunho shot Yoochun a look, as the other man immediately extended an arm to reach for a helping of vegetables, ignoring Yunho's gaze.
It was what was bothering Yunho, Yoochun's words. Yoochun knew something, and if Yunho was right, it was something Yoochun was not supposed to know, something neither of them was supposed to know. Something that concerened both Jaejoong and Myung Hee, and he had to find out what - but knowing Yoochun, he was the master of avoidance, and it wasn't going to be easy tricking anything out of Yoochun if the man chose not to divulge. It was one of the reasons he made both a great lawyer, and a great liar.
Gaze falling to a vase of fresh flowers - his mother insisted on having around the house , changed daily, ever since he could remember, Yunho lifted an eyebrow slightly.
"I'll be back, I need to use the bathroom." slipping out of his seat, he slid away towards the hall. Grabbing the cordless phone off the small table that stood by the stairs, Yunho made his way towards the standing antique set of drawers beneath a hanging gold framed mirror.
Pulling open the first drawer, he riffled through a stack of cards, lined up, arranged with tags at instances where they seperated, Yunho finally fished out one card. Punching in number into the phone he held, he placed it to his ear as the rich dial tone filled his hearing.
Pulling out a slim black wallet from his pocket, Yunho flipped it open while cradling the phone between his shoulder and head. Flipping out a dark plastic card, he squinted, trying to read the numbers off the back.
-
It was an uncomfortable, angry silence that blanketed the dinner table that night as the three sat beneath the hanging lights.
"Here." picking up the last slice of beef of the plate with his chopsticks, Jaejoong leaned towards his right, as he placed it down, slightly hesitant into Changmin's almost empty bowl of rice.
It was a silence that followed, before the teenager broke it.
"Thanks." a mumble, but it was a leap of difference from the earlier door slamming. Watching carefully, but pretending not to notice at the same time, Jaejoong felt himself sag with relief as Changmin's eyes lightened up while his jaw moved, chewing the piece of meat. It was a good thing, food could bend Changmin's iron will, and a bonus - that Jaejoong could cook.
Taking another glance at the teenager who was now happily finishing up the rest of his rice, Jaejoong placed his own chopsticks on the table as he pushed back his chair, ready to stand to clear the table.
"Hey, I'll wash up today - you've already cleaned the pans, theres not much to do." Junsu spoke as he shot out of his chair, while starting to grab the now empty dishes - all but Changmin's bowl, which he was still eating out of .
Stacking them up, he flashed Jaejoong a smile as he shot towards the kitchen, in a mass of something slightly hyper. It had seemed that he and Changmin had a snack on Changmin's stash of candy before dinner while they were having their conversation.
"So how was your day." it was Jaejoong who broke the tense silence.
"Probably not as good as yours." was the biting reply from Changmin as the boy placed down his bowl, only to stare into it, refusing to look up, as silence filled the space once again, save the sound of running water and Junsu's upbeat hums.
"Min..." placing a hand on the boys arm, thankful he didn't flinch away, Jaejoong opened his mouth to continue, when the doorbell rang, causing Junsu to stick his head out of the windowed counter.
"I'll get it!" was the bubbly reporter's cheery quick yell as the running tap sloshed to a halt.
Watching as Junsu dissapeared around the corner, down the hallway towards the apartment door, Jaejoong tried again, but before he could even speak, Junsu appeared, his head sticking out from behind the corner, his expression one that was slightly startled.
"Hyung, I think you should come here."
-
It was about twenty minutes later that the three sat on the couch in the living room, their eyes darting furiously, back and forth over every crimson covered surface of the apartment. The smell was intoxicatingly sweet, only as fresh roses could smell.
"There must be a least a thousand of them."
"Maybe more."
Nudging Jaejoong gently in the ribs, forgetting for that moment that he wasn't actually supposed to be speaking to Jaejoong, Changmin continued to gape in awe at the stunning red flowers that surrounded him. Gaze darting to the cream envelop Jaejoong held in his hand, Changmin spoke, his gaze wandering back to his surroundings. It was the first time he had seen something like this.
"Omma. Open it."
"Yeah hyung open it." Junsu, who had pranced off his seat from the sofa, only to pick up a rose to examine it.
Still in awe, Jaejoong looked down to the envelop in his hands. Tearing open the envelop, he pulled open a heavy plain white card. Flipping it over, his gaze wandered over the print.
Whatever it takes.
This is just the start.
-
Author: oh_thexirony
Genre: Romance, Angst, Fluff, Crack, AU
Length: Chaptered; Chapter 11 - Whatever it Takes, This is Just the Start
Pairing(s): YunhoxJaejoong (mainly) , a side of YoochunxJunsu, KibumxChangmin, HyukxSu ( bff-ship )
Overall Rating : PG - R (will be warned of rating in every individual chapter)
Rating for This Chapter: PG
Warning(s) for This Chapter: none
Fated To Love You? ; Chapter 11
Whatever it Takes, This is Just the Start
"Uncle Chun!"
"Hey Jiyool."
Reaching out, his hands extended to pick up the little girl who came running out of the Kindergarten, her bag swinging happily behind her from her shoulders, Yoochun smiled. What a sight this was, no one would expect that Park Yoochun, famous playboy would have any patience for a child.
"Wheres my Daddy?"
"At home, he wasn't feeling too good, so I'm taking you home instead."
"Oh. Is Daddy okay?"
"Yeah, he should be feeling better when we get back."
"Oh..okay then. Are you staying for dinner?"
"Hmm."
"Does Jiyool want me too?"
"Yes! Then I can show you my drawings!"
"Alright then, now come, lets get you home." with a chuckle, Yoochun balanced the girl in one hand while pulling open the passenger door he was leaning against previously.
-
"I'm not going home Kibum."
"Yes you are."
"Give me one good reason why."
"Because I say so."
"Nice try." Shoving the boy in front of him away, Changmin started to stalk off when a hand that grabbed his arm with surprising force yanked him back fiercly to his previous position.
"Min, go up alright." it was a softer voice Kibum used this time.
"Why. Why should I? So I can see them both falling into bed with one another again."
"It could have been a mistake - you never know, and I'm sure, he isn't there anymore."
"How are you so sure?"
"Trust me."
Silence as Changmin crossed his arms over his chest only to look towards his side, at the car with the tinted windows they had just stepped out from. No surprise that Kibum had a driver, after all - when your parents could afford it, and were hardly in town - they liked to make up in other ways.
"Min, come on - trust me."
"And if he is there...?"
"You can come right over, and I'll put you up."
"Promise."
"Yeah, now go."
"When did you become a saint Kibum? Forcing me to go to school, and now making sure I get home safely? "
Lifting his shoulders in a light shrug, Kibum nodded in the direction of the gaurded building they were in front of.
"Don't even try to run halfway to the enterance - we all know I'm a better runner."
"Sure." was the sneer as a retort as Changmin kicked at the ground. With an inadible grumble, that sounded very much like a curse, he started off towards the building, but not before a hand, came to rest on his upper arm, again.
Turning back, a questioning look in his eyes, Changmin raised an eyebrow.
"Ah, I... nothing." letting his arm slip from Changmin's arm, Kibum turned only to pull open the door of the car. Stepping into the vehicle, he only paused to wink at Changmin before pulling the door shut. It was true Kim Kibum style, not even a goodbye and the car tore away from the curb to join the evening traffic of people rushing home.
-
"Daddy!" it was a loud yell as Yoochun pushed open the door to the study, only to find Yunho standing by the window, his hands folded loosely in front of him.
"Hey." was the reply as Yunho turned around, a smile slipping onto his face. Bending down to face his daughter, a laugh fell from his lips as she wrapped her arms around him, while planting a kiss onto his cheek.
"So how was school." still in his bent position on the floor, Yunho reached up to brush back locks of Jiyool's curls.
"Fun! We did painting today, and my teacher said mine was the neatest."
"Well, isn't Jiyool brilliant?" glancing up towards Yoochun who stood behind, his hands in his pockets, Yunho glanced to the clock.
"Go wash up alright? Daddy has something to talk to Uncle Chun about, I'll see you soon downstairs for dinner."
"Okay!" Hugging Yunho once more, Jiyool turned to skip out of the room, closing the door behind her.
"So, care to tell me why you were no show this afternoon and only remembered about the meeting around 4 hours later? You were lucky they decided to reschedule because their boss couldn't make it. " Pulling his hands out of his pocket, Yoochun let himself fall into the couch in the room before glancing up and down at Yunho's attire. He had removed the jacket, but he was still decked out in his office attire, button down shirt with a discarded tie lying on the table.
Standing from his bent position, Yunho collapsed into the huge swivel chair behind the large oak desk, cluttered with files.
"I met him Chun, in the lift." a pause as he raked a hand through his hair. "I told him everything."
"Everything?"
"I told him about Myung Hee, how we met, how I was going to go back to him when she got pregnant, and how we got married only to have her loose the child..."
"Thats all?"
"Yeah."
"He knows about Jiyool, you should have explained futher."
"Wha - How?"
"He saw her at the hospital the first day." Nodding lightly, Yoochun looked to Yunho who had sprung up to lean forward, his hands placed nervously on the tables edge.
"I was only intending to, after, later - "
"He probably thought you stayed to have a kid with her because you fell in love instead of returning to him in the first place."
"But I told him, she begged me to stay and... yeah."
"Not good enough Yunho." a sigh before he continued. "You should have told him about her suicide attempt, the threats that came to you, not to mention how you did in fact get drunk again, and you know. Doesn't change the fact you were a bastard, but maybe it would have helped more, but its what you owe him, an explanation."
"I think it was hardly the time to talk about suicide attempts and threats Chun."
Burrying his head in his hands, Yunho slumped back into his chair. Indeed, there had been the threats, the beatings he received some days after Myung Hee's miscarriage, on how he would so-called get it if he left her. They would ambush him, thugs into an alley way where they would beat him up, badly. He had always assumed Myung Hee had sent them, but everytime she saw him injured, she seemed horrified, in a way that couldn't be just acting. Then, came the suicide attempt, where she had actually downed half a bottle of painkillers, sloshed down with a bottle of wine, and slit her wrist while sitting in front of the fireplace that winter. Needless to say, they both had scared Yunho, leaving him with no choice, but to stay. Out of guilt, duty, and his own fear, because the thugs - they had known, about Jaejoong, said he would get it if Yunho went back. But never once, had he bothered wondering why they knew, how they knew.
"Yunho..." it was a hesitant pause, as Yoochun sat up, shifting uncomfortably in his seat, something never seen of him, because Park Yoochun was always comfortable.
Looking up, Yunho shot him a tired, questioning look.
"You should know," another pause as he picked his words carefully. "Myung Hee really didn't send those thugs."
"What do you kn...-" Yunho had stood up, his legs carrying him to where Yoochun was sitting, only to be interupted by a tiny burst of noise that shot into the room.
"Daddy! Grandma wants you me to tell you and Uncle Chun dinner's ready." a burst of english words that came tumbling out of her mouth at rapid fire.
Standing up, while avoidining Yunho's gaze, Yoochun grinned down at Jiyool.
"Well, we should go then, shouldn't we Yunho?"
"Yeah...we should."
Meeting Yunho's gaze, Yoochun shot him a look that plainly said it was all he would say.
"Daddy? Are you okay?"
"Yeah, come on Jiyool, dinner time."
-
He had sat in his car for five minutes, the engine not even on, only to have Eunhyuk call him. It was with that one call that Jaejoong had cancelled the meeting before tearing out of the carpark, the tyres of his car yelling noisly in protest against the almost rubbery floor of the carpark. He had spent the next hour or so, driving aimlessly around the city of Seoul, before bringing his car to a stop beside an abandoned field somewhere on the outskirts on the city where he had sat, just looking as the afternoon sun shone, glinting through the windows of his vehicle, slowly cooling to an evening glow.
It had all been too much for him to process, and even in that explanation, Jaejoong found too many loopholes, what about Jiyool. Why didn't he return? Was Yunho lying again, how true were his words? But no matter, as he had said - nothing changed the fact that Yunho had hurt him so deeply. And now, he had to keep in mind, everything was different from 6 years ago. He wasn't just Kim Jaejoong, 20 year old student anymore, he was Kim Jaejoong, 26 years old with more than just simple responsibilities.
He had tore his eyes away from the glaring Sun, slightly blinded by his own confusions before he sat back with nothing more than a mere sigh, only to pull the car out of park, as he started his journey back to the City. His face was flawless, as usual, but if one looked closely, they would notice the dissapearing swolleness beneath his eyes, and if anyone had bothered to, they would notice the light, almost invisible marks of tears that had made their ways down his cheeks.
That was it, as he had promised himself, the last of the tears, for real this time.
-
"Mhmm. We had breakfast, he was surprisingly nice about it, and then he sent me home before going off for a meeting..."
Junsu shot a nervous gaze towards Jaejoong while pulling at a stray strand of string at the elbow of his long sleeved shirt while letting his voice trail off. He was currently positioned on one of the barstools that stood just in front of the windowed counter that opened (and were now open) to look into the kitchen. The older man had got home about half an hour earlier with bags of groceries. He had dumped them in the kitchen, peeled off his jacket and tie, before setting himself to work in the kitchen. A sight rarely seen nowadays.
So far, their conversation had been a light one, with Jaejoong asking questions mainly about Yoochun and Junsu, and how Junsu's day went. The two incidents of the previous night were carefully avoided, however any issues relating to Jaejoong were not brought up entirely.
Eyes darting across the kitchen as the older walked from the sink to the fridge, Junsu gulped lightly. He was worried, but so far - Jaejoong had seemed fine, and Junsu didn't wish to ask even though his concern was becoming throbbingly painful, least he bring about an unpleasant wave of what was to be forgotten.
It was after a quiet few minutes of mulling that Junsu finally stratched the back of his head before propping his chin on his upturned palms. He figured it was no point worrying silently, if Jaejoong had wanted to talk about it, he would have. It was in those few moments that Junsu had settled on just being there - he would be there and waiting if Jaejoong ever wanted to speak about it, and would no doubt interfere if he found that things got too out of hand.
"...so, you guys are seeing each other now?" it was a simple statment, but Junsu could hear the underlying tones of an apology that Jaejoong didn't voice. He was sorry for the over-reaction this morning.
"Yeah... we thought we did give it a shot, I mean" a pause before he pushed the words out of his mouth in a quiet rush. "He isn't that bad you know."
His finishing sentence was a garbled mess of language, one that made him turn red, from the tip of his toes all the way to the top of his head. He was speaking the truth, the truth laced with his own comforting words for Jaejoong - telling him, it was okay, he understood.
Pausing, knife poised in mid air over a mushroom he was just about to cut into, Jaejoong smirked slightly as he looked over to a bashful Junsu. Well, maybe this would turn out well, for one of them - at least.
"...well I mean apart from that issue of him have roaming hands, and a mouth that can just about do anything, and... and..."
"Okay Su, I get it." he was quick to interupt as Junsu's eyes glazed over slightly, seemingly recalling something that Jaejoong had absolutely no interest on finding out.
-
It was a slam of the door that kicked Junsu out of his semi-like trance, and caused Jaejoong to tear his slightly, horrified yet deadly curious gaze away from Junsu as his eyes drifted towards the ceiling, in what seemed to be bliss, simply at the memory of something. Placing the knife down on the chopping board, Jaejoong wiped his hands against a hand towel nearby before walking towards the enterance to the kitchen. Leaning against the door frame, as Junsu twisted in his chair, both men looked towards the hallway where no doubt, a scowling teenager would appear moments later. As promised, Kibum had delivered Changmin home.
This was the difficult part of the day, the most difficult that required the most care when dealing with, as Jaejoong thought. Simply for the fact, that he was dealing with Changmin here, and Changmin was everything from snarky, with extreme mood-swings, and also, important and fragile at the same time.
It was odd to some people. But both Junsu and Changmin were family to Jaejoong, and to put it simply, as cliche as it sounded - Kim Jaejoong loved them both.
Changmin however, was a totally different issue from Junsu. Jaejoong was dependant on the teenager, and although neither voiced it out, they knew it was the same for either. Changmin had helped distract Jaejoong from a time when everything had come crashing down, had been there for him in his child-like way ,and Jaejoong had in a way, saved Changmin. He was really like his own child, as Jaejoong thought. He loved him with, not the same way as one would be attached to a lover, but in a way in where their love ran deeper than blood.
"Changmin..." it wasn't a greeting, nor a statement, and yet could not be counted quite as a lingering question either.
It was a hateful glance in which Jaejoong got in return as the boy stomped past him to his own room, only to slam the door in return, as a verbal response of sorts.
Letting his head fall as he stared at the ground with a sigh, Jaejoong felt his heart twist - not in the way Yunho made it twist, but in a different and yet as painful way.
"Hyung. I'll go talk to him."
"Don't nag at him, just talk to him, make sure hes okay. I'll...I'll carry on preparing dinner."
-
Stabbing at a piece of meat that lay on his rice, Yunho frowned lightly as he propped an elbow on the dinner. He didn't need to be of any participation of conversation at the table tonight. Both Jiyool and Yoochun were both engaged in cheerful chatter with his Father and Mother, and if the subtle part of his brain that was listening in had processed correctly, they were speaking about the crazy Around the World Vacation both his parents were about to embark on in a few months as part of his Father's retirement.
"Yunho... are you okay?" his mother.
Snapping out of his daze, Yunho looked up, the frown smoothening out.
"Wha...? Yeah, I'm fine."
"But Daddy, you were frowning."
"I'm fine honey, just thinking about ...work stuff." shooting a smile at the little girl who had reached over to place a hand on his forehead, as if trying to smoothening out the frown that had dissapeared, Yunho ruffled her hair affectionately.
"Leave the work in the office Yunho, its dinner time." his father.
Nodding a silent response, Yunho shot Yoochun a look, as the other man immediately extended an arm to reach for a helping of vegetables, ignoring Yunho's gaze.
It was what was bothering Yunho, Yoochun's words. Yoochun knew something, and if Yunho was right, it was something Yoochun was not supposed to know, something neither of them was supposed to know. Something that concerened both Jaejoong and Myung Hee, and he had to find out what - but knowing Yoochun, he was the master of avoidance, and it wasn't going to be easy tricking anything out of Yoochun if the man chose not to divulge. It was one of the reasons he made both a great lawyer, and a great liar.
Gaze falling to a vase of fresh flowers - his mother insisted on having around the house , changed daily, ever since he could remember, Yunho lifted an eyebrow slightly.
"I'll be back, I need to use the bathroom." slipping out of his seat, he slid away towards the hall. Grabbing the cordless phone off the small table that stood by the stairs, Yunho made his way towards the standing antique set of drawers beneath a hanging gold framed mirror.
Pulling open the first drawer, he riffled through a stack of cards, lined up, arranged with tags at instances where they seperated, Yunho finally fished out one card. Punching in number into the phone he held, he placed it to his ear as the rich dial tone filled his hearing.
Pulling out a slim black wallet from his pocket, Yunho flipped it open while cradling the phone between his shoulder and head. Flipping out a dark plastic card, he squinted, trying to read the numbers off the back.
-
It was an uncomfortable, angry silence that blanketed the dinner table that night as the three sat beneath the hanging lights.
"Here." picking up the last slice of beef of the plate with his chopsticks, Jaejoong leaned towards his right, as he placed it down, slightly hesitant into Changmin's almost empty bowl of rice.
It was a silence that followed, before the teenager broke it.
"Thanks." a mumble, but it was a leap of difference from the earlier door slamming. Watching carefully, but pretending not to notice at the same time, Jaejoong felt himself sag with relief as Changmin's eyes lightened up while his jaw moved, chewing the piece of meat. It was a good thing, food could bend Changmin's iron will, and a bonus - that Jaejoong could cook.
Taking another glance at the teenager who was now happily finishing up the rest of his rice, Jaejoong placed his own chopsticks on the table as he pushed back his chair, ready to stand to clear the table.
"Hey, I'll wash up today - you've already cleaned the pans, theres not much to do." Junsu spoke as he shot out of his chair, while starting to grab the now empty dishes - all but Changmin's bowl, which he was still eating out of .
Stacking them up, he flashed Jaejoong a smile as he shot towards the kitchen, in a mass of something slightly hyper. It had seemed that he and Changmin had a snack on Changmin's stash of candy before dinner while they were having their conversation.
"So how was your day." it was Jaejoong who broke the tense silence.
"Probably not as good as yours." was the biting reply from Changmin as the boy placed down his bowl, only to stare into it, refusing to look up, as silence filled the space once again, save the sound of running water and Junsu's upbeat hums.
"Min..." placing a hand on the boys arm, thankful he didn't flinch away, Jaejoong opened his mouth to continue, when the doorbell rang, causing Junsu to stick his head out of the windowed counter.
"I'll get it!" was the bubbly reporter's cheery quick yell as the running tap sloshed to a halt.
Watching as Junsu dissapeared around the corner, down the hallway towards the apartment door, Jaejoong tried again, but before he could even speak, Junsu appeared, his head sticking out from behind the corner, his expression one that was slightly startled.
"Hyung, I think you should come here."
-
It was about twenty minutes later that the three sat on the couch in the living room, their eyes darting furiously, back and forth over every crimson covered surface of the apartment. The smell was intoxicatingly sweet, only as fresh roses could smell.
"There must be a least a thousand of them."
"Maybe more."
Nudging Jaejoong gently in the ribs, forgetting for that moment that he wasn't actually supposed to be speaking to Jaejoong, Changmin continued to gape in awe at the stunning red flowers that surrounded him. Gaze darting to the cream envelop Jaejoong held in his hand, Changmin spoke, his gaze wandering back to his surroundings. It was the first time he had seen something like this.
"Omma. Open it."
"Yeah hyung open it." Junsu, who had pranced off his seat from the sofa, only to pick up a rose to examine it.
Still in awe, Jaejoong looked down to the envelop in his hands. Tearing open the envelop, he pulled open a heavy plain white card. Flipping it over, his gaze wandered over the print.
Whatever it takes.
This is just the start.
-