On the Other Side of You (3/?)
Title: On the Other Side of You, chapter 3
Summary: Yunho is determined to find out more, and there are muffins. Oh yes, there are. :D:D
Chapter 1
Chapcter 2
This should, by rights, be two chapters, but the first half was too short, so I thought buggrit, and wrote the rest of it (which ended up being too long. ^^;)... and yeah. Figure it to make up for my lack of update! Here be the promised muffins. :D Chapt 4 is almost entirely written to, so it'll be up in the next couple of days. Youngwoong returns!
They ended up in a café, Yunho practically dragging a still mightily confused Jaejoong off, the psychology student’s brain tying knots in itself trying to figure it all out. And he refused, utterly refused to let this go.
“Well. I’m Yunho.” Yunho finally said, after a long cross-examination that his grandfather the lawyer would have been proud of. Jaejoong nodded.
“Yes, I know.” He replied, causing Yunho to raise his eyebrows in some surprise.
“You know?” Yunho repeated, wondering how exactly Jaejoong knew him, if he wasn’t Youngwoong. He knew he would have remembered someone that looked like Youngwoong if he’d met him before!
“Well… yes. You were in my Asian Cultures class last year. I think you dated nearly every girl enrolled in it.” Jaejoong said a little shyly, sipping on his tea. Yunho frowned, mentally ruffling through his memories and trying to pick out any that Jaejoong appeared in. He came up blank.
“Really? I didn’t notice you at all!” He replied, only to realize how damn rude that sounded half a second after it left his mouth. “I mean -” he rushed to try and cover himself, but Jaejoong smiled depreciatingly and shrugged.
“It’s okay. Not many people do.”
What a strange, strange boy. Yunho couldn’t help but think to himself. Obviously one of those bookworm types that came to Uni to actually study rather then hang out and party. What a waste! If Jaejoong took a little time with his appearance and fixed up his clothes… and well, spoke up a bit more, he could be gorgeous. Yunho knew he could be gorgeous, because he’d already seen it. He really could not understand how there could be two people with exactly the same face that weren’t twins. Or even brothers. The first thing that Yunho had asked Jaejoong - after their rather confusing argument over his name, was if he’d had a brother. But Jaejoong had told him that he was the only boy in his family. In fact, he had eight sisters. Eight. Yunho couldn’t imagine. He had a hard enough time living in a house with his mother and one sister. He couldn’t think how anyone could survive in a house with nine women! Maybe this was the logical explanation for Jaejoong’s complete lack of style. It was likely he wouldn’t be able to access a mirror if his life depended on it, if Yunho’s sister was anything to go by. So there were eight Kim sisters, and nary a boy to be seen apart from dorky looking Jaejoong who apparently also couldn’t pull of ‘sexy’ or even any approximation of ‘self confident’ if his life depended on it. The boy was so awkward and shy and… well, ‘mousy’ was the word that jumped to mind. So where in the six hells did Youngwoong figure into this equation?
Meanwhile, finding himself ignored in favour Yunho’s apparent deep contemplation of the table top, Jaejoong reached into his satchel and pulled out a brown paper bag, removing a muffin from it and pealing back the paper cup deftly. Looking over at Yunho’s lone cup of coffee. Jaejoong bit his lip uncertainly and broke the muffin in half, silently offering one side to Yunho.
Yunho absently accepted the baked good, with a muttered thanks, head still lost in increasable stupid ideas on how Youngwoong and Jaejoong were related. Long lost twins, pod babies, clones? There had to be some connection. His brain was abruptly jolted from its reverie when his taste buds and stomach suddenly beat it to death with large stick.
Yunho blinked down at the muffin in his hand, a large chunk of it missing from where he’d just bitten into it. He swallowed down the mouthful he had, and looked up to Jaejoong.
“This is one damn good muffin. Where the hell’d you buy it?” He asked - or more like, demanded. He’d go wherever it was and buy half a dozen of the things. The taste was amazing, and it wasn’t even as if he really had a particular fondness of muffins. Most unfortunately, Yunho’s mother was not the best cook. She did basic dishes fine, but more often then not when Yunho was living at home he managed to somehow organize to be out for dinner. Baked goods were always scarce in the Jung house, and when they did somehow appear, unless they came in a nice box with some fancy logo on it, they were usually to be avoided.
Jaejoong blushed, hiding half his face behind his own part of the muffin, which he’d only been nibbling on quietly as Yunho had stared intently into the table.
“Uhm. I didn’t. Well, I mean… I work at a bakery in the mornings, so I get to take some of the food sometimes.” He explained.
“What bakery? Where is it? This muffin is awesome.” Yunho asked quickly, leaning forward. Bemused, and a little weirded out by Yunho’s sudden fixation, Jaejoong pulled out a pad from his bag and wrote on it. Tearing off the piece, he slid it over the table to Yunho, who eagerly picked it up. On it, in neat, rounded writing was a name an address. The King’s Man. Strange name for a bakery, but Yunho didn’t really care. He’d defiantly be going there. Tomorrow. For breakfast. He took another bite of the muffin and melted.
“’s welly goo.” He mumbled to Jaejoong, who began to laugh, and then covered his mouth quickly again, even as his giggles continued. Yunho scoffed down his part of the muffin, eyeing Jaejoong’s half until the other boy hastily handed it over, afraid for his hands, and Yunho proceeded to polish that off too. He sighed contentedly, patting his belly, and then went back to his original train of thoughts regarding Jaejoong and Youngwoong, the baked goods only distracting him from his sexy siren for so long.
“So you’re sure you don’t have any… like, identical cousins, or… something lurking around.” He said once more, and Jae sighed, leaning on the table with one forearm.
“No. No male cousins. No brothers. No one called Youngwoong. Sorry Yunho.” Jaejoong said, repeating what he’d already told the other boy. He was kind of intrigued as to why Yunho, the famed skirt chaser of SM University’s humanities departments, was so completely obsessed with this boy he’d met once at a bar. Yunho hadn’t really explained that part, or what he wanted this ‘Youngwoong’ fellow for. Frankly, Jaejoong felt a little sorry for the guy - it seemed that once Yunho got a hold of him, something maybe a little drastic was going to happen.
“Where were you last night then?” Yunho suddenly asked, and Jaejoong frowned at him.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I was at home. I had to write up a document analysis, and then I went to bed.” He said, a little annoyed at how demanding and invasive Yunho was. He was like a steamroller - indelicate, hasty and way too forceful. And then there was the whole thing where he totally ignored Jae, even though he was the one who practically forced him to come to the café. Jae was quite used to being ignored, but there were limits, even for him. Yunho had to be one of the most arrogant guys that Jaejoong had ever met. Pushed to unusual rudeness by Yunho’s obtuse manner, Jae gave him a bit of a scowl and zipped up his satchel, pulling it up by a strap as he stood. “Look Yunho, I really don’t know what you want from me. I don’t know Youngwoong, I really don’t, and I have class in fifteen minutes, so good luck finding him and all, but I can’t really help you.” He said as firmly as he could.
Yunho blinked up at the boy, realizing he’d once again been a bit indelicate. It was all just really frustrating. He had these two bits of a puzzle but it was like one had been put through the wash and been chewed on by the dog. It didn’t fit. And despite everything, he still wasn’t sure if Jaejoong was just some sort of professional liar or something.
“Wait, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so abrupt.” Yunho said quickly before the boy walked off. Jaejoong gave him a blank look, then sighed, shifting his back pack slightly.
“It’s okay. But I really do have class. I hope you find your Youngwoong.” Jaejoong finally said, a little more sincerely this time, with a small smile to match.
“Hmmm - thanks. I guess I’ll see you around.” Yunho said absently. Jaejoong quirked his eyebrow a little, and coughed.
“Yeah. Maybe.” He said, sounding incredibly disbelieving that Yunho would ever so much as glance at him again. Yunho nodded even more absently, the movement continuing even after Jaejoong had left.
My Youngwoong. Hm. I like the sound of that.
----------------------=============================-------------------------
There was a loud, obnoxious jangling sound that filled the street, causing a few people around to turn and stare… but Yoochun didn’t really care. There were already a few people staring before his cell phone went off, so it wasn’t like a few more would matter. He fished the phone out from his back pocket with his free hand and flipped it open.
“Hey babe.” He answered it, dodging a little kid who went flying by on the footpath as he did so.
“Yoochuuun~!” Junsu’s voice was even higher then usual. “Where are you? I thought we were going to meet up before you had class?”
“Sorry Su… I had planned to! We can meet up for lunch, yeah?” He replied with a wince.
“Yeah… but where are you now?!” Junsu persisted.
“I don’t know.” Was the succinct reply.
“What to you mean, you don’t know?”
“I mean, I’ve really got no idea where I am right now.” Yoochun clarified brilliantly, before skidding down a sharp unexpected turn into another street and nearly falling over in the process.
“… then, what are you doing?” Junsu asked quizzically.
“Apparently, we’re hunting muffins.” Yoochun told him mildly.
“…” Junsu stared, and paused, and thought about this information. “What?”
“Don’t ask me. Yunho’s on a mission. I’m just the woebegone, abused and unwilling sidekick.” Yoochun said plaintively, even as he nearly fell over Yunho who had stopped suddenly at an intersection, head snapping about wildly. And then they were off again, Yoochun’s sore wrist being hauled forward whether he wanted to move or not.
“… Yunho’s on a mission for muffins.” Junsu repeated skeptically.
“Yes. Apparently so.” Micky confirmed, and both of them shared a silent understanding of Yunho’s ‘apparent’ mental breakdown.
“Why can’t he just get a muffin at one of the uni stores?” Junsu said, although he sounded like he’d already become as resigned to this development as Yoochun already was, being that neither of them had much of a say in the whole matter.
“You’re asking me?” Yoochun asked tiredly, and then yelped as he scraped his hand accidentally on some rough bricking. “I don’t know. He just turned up this morning babbling about muffins, and now we’re looking for some shop selling muffins. I think he’s lost. I certainly don’t know where I am.”
“I know where we are. I just can’t find the damn shop! He said it was here!” Yunho exclaimed from in front, sounding rather put out. “And they’re not just any muffins, Chun… You’ll see!” He dropped his friend’s wrist quite suddenly in favour of trying to figure out what number the building they were standing in front of was.
“Yeah, yeah. Special muffins. I heard you the first three hundred times.” Yoochun replied, rubbing his head with his freed hand. Turning his focus back to his phone, he shook his head. “Su, I’m doubting we’re even going to make it to class on time. Or at all. So… lunch?” He asked, a little plaintively. He needed something sane to look forward to after all this Yunho-induced randomness. Junsu sighed a little on the other end, and Yoochun could practically hear the pout.
“Yeah. Fine. And you better be bringing me one of these ‘special’ muffins.” Junsu huffed out, and Yoochun rolled his eyes.
“I will if we ever find the place.” Yoochun promised. “See you soon!”
“You’d better!” Junsu replied. “And loose Yunho when you come!” He added. Yoochun laughed, looking at his friend, who was looking rather insane right at the minute, wandering up and down the street like a loon.
“Believe me, I’m going to do that as soon as I possibly can.” He replied. He was still grinning when he closed his phone, and made his way after Yunho.
“Okay, so where is this joint?” He said, in a little better mood now. Yunho pouted at him, looking totally confused.
“I don’t know! It’s meant to be here! But that building there does not look like a bakery to me.” He said, pointing at an office block. “And that’s the number on the address!”
“Let me see.” Yoochun said, and Yunho pulled out a crumpled bit of paper with black scrawl on it. Peering at it, and then at the building, Yoochun laughed.
“Idiot. That building is 110. This address says 170.” He said. “The shop should be…” He had a quick glance along the street, looking at which way the numbers were going, and then pointed to their right. “up that way.” He pronounced. Yunho gaped at him and snatched the paper back, scrutinizing it.
“That’s a seven?” He asked in confusion. Yoochun nodded, already ambling off in the right direction. Yunho ran after him, sulking at his inability to read an address.
It only took them another five minutes to find 170, which was indeed a bakery. It had big glass windows that looked in on a small shop with a big display case full of cakes and slices. There racks of bread in the wall behind, and a number of small tables with matching chairs sitting on the red and yellow floor. The shop was bright and cheery, and had a big sign across the top of the doorway that read ‘The King’s Man’. There was a young man behind the counter, talking to a lady with a pram, and that was it. It didn’t look like anything particularly special, but Yunho’s eyes lit up like Christmas eve upon spotting it. Yoochun was left behind as Yunho’s strides grew in length.
By the time he caught up, Yunho was inside, hunkered down by the displays and peering in at the goods like a hungry dog. The counter boy was handing the lady a large bag with a box in it, and she was thanking him, rocking her pram the entire time. He smiled brilliantly at her, and she began to leave. Being the gentleman he was, Yoochun held open the door for her, earning him a slightly haughty smile and a nod of thanks.
“She’s gone.” A light voice said, and Yoochun turned in surprise, thinking that it was directed at him and not really understanding what it meant. But the counter boy wasn’t looking at him or Yunho, but towards the small door that presumably led back to the kitchen area. A second later, a head popped around the door, and an extreamly pretty guy surveyed the room with bright eyes. After seeing it free of the woman, the guy let out a happy sigh and stepped out from the doorway, relief evident in his stance. The counter boy was grinning. “I can’t believe you’re so scared of her.” He commented, and the other man gave him a wounded look.
“You don’t know how scary she can be! I don’t know why Noksu doesn’t like me, but she really doesn’t.” He whined. It seemed he suddenly realized there were customers in his store, and a huge smile came across his face, curling his eyes into cute little half moons.
“AH! New customers! Welcome welcome! ” He said excitedly, coming around from behind the counter to greet them. Yunho looked up from his inspection of every sweet he could see, and was a little taken aback at how exuberant the man seemed. “Perfect timing for you two! Junki Thursday specials!” He went on. Yoochun blinked.
“Junky specials?” He repeated bewilderedly. The man shook his head.
“No no, Junki! Me! I’m the owner of the store.” He explained jovially, spreading an arm around to demonstrate this fact. “And Thursdays is 15% off in the morning!” He went on, clapping Yunho on the shoulder and nearly upsetting his balance. “So, was there anything in particular you were looking forward to on this fine Thursday morning?”
Yunho seemed cheered at the prospect of cheap special muffins, and met Junki’s brilliant grin and raised him an excited bounce as he leapt to his feet.
“Yes! I was given a muffin yesterday - it was heavenly! And I was told this is where it came from, so here I am.” Yunho explained. Junki did not seem to find this explanation at all strange (which just upped his own ‘strange’ rating in Yoochun’s books), and he made an ‘ah!’ sound of understanding. Counter boy giggled.
“You’re here for Jaejoong’s muffins! Excellent choice, I must say.” Junki said, moving back around the counter and down to the other end, where indeed there were several trays of muffins on display. Yunho’s bright face had been abruptly wiped away however, replaced with a gob smacked one.
“Wait… wait, did you just say Jaejoong’s muffins?” He exclaimed, trotting quickly to stand in front of Junki, leaning forward over the counter. Junki gave him a puzzled look.
“Yes. He one of our bakers here.” The man said slowly. Then, as if someone had switched on a light, Junki smiled again. “Oh! You must be a friend of his from university, yes?” He asked, yet did not wait for a reply beforehe happily poked his head through the back door and yelled out “JAEJOONG! You’ve got visitors!”.
“Wait - I don’t really actually -!” Yunho began to protest, but it was a little late for that. The familiar face, complete with dorky glasses, looked out from the doorway.
“Visitors? Who…?” Jaejoong began to ask, before his eyes settled on Yunho. “Oh!” His little exclamation of surprise was actually kind of cute.
“You made those muffins?!” Yunho exclaimed, stabbing a finger at the neat row of muffins in the case. “How come you didn’t tell me that? I thought you’d be like a counter boy or something!” He went on. Jaejoong smiled at his over-reaction, quickly covering his mouth and giggles. The actual counter boy wasn’t so shy, and laughed again.
“Kibum’s our counter boy.” Junki chimed in, looking over fondly at the boy. Yoonchun just watched all this with mild surprise and interest, wondering how Yunho knew the mousy looking boy in the doorway who had flour smears on his face and down his apron, which was thankfully covering most of a truly hideous brown and grey patterned shirt that lurked underneath.
“I didn’t think you’d actually come.” Jaejoong said, looking like he wasn’t sure what to do.
“Bringing in the customers, Jae. Good lad.” Junki praised, going over to the boy and nudging him out from the doorway. “Why don’t you serve your friends and I’ll go start wrapping up those baskets for Yeonsan.” He said cheerfully, all but pushing Jae towards Yunho as he stepped out the back. Jaejoong flushed, shuffling over to the counter and looking up at Yunho from under his lowered lashes and thick glasses.
“Uhm. You want the same muffin?” He asked haltingly.
“Did you make them all?” Yunho asked, curiously, as he looked down at the little placards in front of each tray that declared the different types. Jaejoong shrugged uncomfortably, fumbling for the tongs and a bag.
“Yeah.”
“Well then. What do you recommend?” Yunho prodded, wondering at how ridiculously shy the guy was. He wasn’t really sure how to deal with it honestly - he found it a bit strange and disconcerting, as if he were dealing with a child or something.
Jae, on the other hand, was completely flustered. The bakery was like a little sanctuary for him - away from his somewhat crazy family and also the social pressures of university. He could just stay out the back of the shop and work on his baking, and not worry about anyone except for the easy going, overly cheerful Junki and the amiable Kibum. Being hauled out to the front of the store to serve none other then Jung Yunho and, Jae had noticed, his equally sociable friend Park Yoochun… well, it had thrown his ordered world for a loop. Just as Yunho had done yesterday. Jaejoong hoped that this wasn’t going to become a trend.
“Uhm. I don’t know. I like the apple raspberry ones.” He offered up softly, pointing at the corresponding tray with his tongs.
“The blueberry ones are divine.” Kibum put in with a sunny smile, leaning on the counter. “But they’re all good. Jae is a superb cook.” He said. Jaejoong wanted to go stomp on his foot. “You should try his buns!” Yes. Stomp on his foot. Both of them. Hard. With soccer shoes on. Jaejoong’s face went totally red.
“His buns.” Yoochun repeated, looking delighted with this piece of information. “Really now?” Kibum turned to Yoochun and nodded.
“Oh yeah. The ones with bacon bits are especially good.” Yoochun grinned at the reply.
“Hmm, is that so. Yunho, have you tried Jaejoong’s buns? Or just his muffins?” Yoochun asked, his eyes sparkling - he couldn’t keep the grin off his face. Yunho furrowed his brow, and then suddenly scowled at Yoochun, reaching over to hit him.
“NO! You idiot.” He exclaimed, almost horrified by the implication. Yoochun couldn’t think that he… with dorkus Jaejoong. Urgh! “No…! Just… no.” He repeated, and Yoochun rubbed at his arm, eyebrows raised disbelievingly. It was a bit hard to match Yunho with the shy fashion-dead Jaejoong - but the circumstances seemed to fit. Yoochun knew all of Yunho’s friends and acquaintances, and being that he’d never heard of Jaejoong - it meant that Yunho must have found his mysterious Youngwoong. He wasn’t sure what was going on with Yunho though - he just hoped Jaejoong cleaned up really well. Or else Yoochun’s fears about Yunho’s little breakdown might be a bit more real then he expected.
Kibum and Jaejoong were watching their exchange with some fascination - Jaejoong looking mortified, even if he wasn’t quite sure what they were talking about. Yoochun leaned across the counter towards Jae and waggled his eyebrows. It was rather disturbing; being that Jae had never so much as exchanged a word with the boy before.
“Do you have anything with cherries in it then? I hear you’re good with cherries.” Yoochun leered.
“CHUN!” Yunho exclaimed, making to hit his friend again, but Yoochun danced out of the way, cackling. Jaejoong exchanged a confused glance with Kibum, aware that there was obviously something going on here, but he had absolutely no idea what Yoochun was insinuating. So he did the only thing he could - tried to answer the question.
“Uh… well, there aren’t any muffins - but Junki makes some cherry slices?” He offered uncertainly.
Yoochun curiously noted the complete lack of expected reaction from his taunt - Jaejoong was neither blushing more nor trying to deny anything. Hm. Interesting. Maybe he wasn’t the boy Yunho was fooling around with after all - which begged the question as to who had done the impossible and turned Yunho’s head from skirts and boobs. Meanwhile, Jae’s confusion racked up his truth points on Yunho’s mental tabulation on if Jaejoong was lying or not about Youngwoong. Someone as shy as Jae would have to have some sort of reaction to the cherry jibe if he had even the least bit of an inkling as to what it meant.
Yunho blew out a puff of air, giving Yoochun a glare before trying to smile charmingly at the uncertain Jaejoong.
“Just ignore him. I usually do. Look, I’ll take one of the raspberry muffins, one of the bran and one of the blueberry.” He said. Jaejoong nodded, just happy to get Yunho what he wanted and hopefully get him out of the store. This was just getting weirder and more uncomfortable by the minute. He knelt down to pull out the muffins and place them in a bag. Kibum meanwhile gave Yoochun an expectant look, and Yoochun remembered that he had to buy a muffin for Junsu at least. And since he’d come all this way, he might as well get one too.
“Fine. A blueberry and a raspberry one for me.” He said, leaning on the counter. Kibum nodded happily and began punching up their totals on the register.
Jaejoong wordlessly handed Yunho a white paper bag full of muffin, and offered a small smile which Yunho returned absently, already peering into the bag eagerly. He grinned over at Yoochun.
“I swear Chun - Best. Muffins. Ever.” He said, not noticing as Jae flushed again behind the counter as he bagged Yoochun’s muffins. He stood again, holding a hand over half his face in embarrassment as he gave Yoochun his order. Yoochun eyed him curiously, far more interested in the slim baker then the product of the boy’s work he was buying. He had to admit, the boy was sort of cute, if you managed to imagine away the glasses and the outfit.
They both paid Kibum, with Jaejoong hovering somewhat anxiously nearby, looking like he wanted nothing more then to disappear into the back room again, but feeling as if he should stay out of courtesy. Yunho had already begun to munch on his blueberry muffin as Yoochun paid, making all sorts of noises and faces to show how much he was enjoying it.
“Come on, Yunho - we need to get to class. Yoochun prodded him, somewhat worried that Yunho would collapse into a pile of muffin-induced orgasm on the floor any minute.
“Mmmph. ‘K. Chun, uoo shou et ‘ours. ‘s ood.” Yunho said around a mouthful. Yoochun rolled his eyes as Yunho’s fixation and pushed him towards the door.
“Thanks.” He called back to the two behind the counter. “Nice to meet you Jae.” He added, flashing a smile at Jaejoong, who bit his lip.
“Uh! You too.” He tumbled out in response, and then fell into a stiff little bow. “Thank you for coming!” He rang out like a well trained sales person, keeping his head down as the pair left the store. He only stood up straight when he heard the door shut, and Kibum laugh.
“Jaejoong… your friends are rather funny.” Kibum remarked, smiling at Jae’s totally bewildered expression.
“You have no idea, Kibum. Really.” Jaejoong replied wearily, rubbing the bridge of his nose and realizing he had flour on his face. “Damn.” He muttered, turning to retreat back to the safety of his dough and ovens. What a way to start the morning.
Somewhere just down the block, there was a loud cry of surprise, and a muffled, excited voice could be heard.
“Oh muh gaw. Uoo were righ-!~ Issgoo!”
Summary: Yunho is determined to find out more, and there are muffins. Oh yes, there are. :D:D
Chapter 1
Chapcter 2
This should, by rights, be two chapters, but the first half was too short, so I thought buggrit, and wrote the rest of it (which ended up being too long. ^^;)... and yeah. Figure it to make up for my lack of update! Here be the promised muffins. :D Chapt 4 is almost entirely written to, so it'll be up in the next couple of days. Youngwoong returns!
They ended up in a café, Yunho practically dragging a still mightily confused Jaejoong off, the psychology student’s brain tying knots in itself trying to figure it all out. And he refused, utterly refused to let this go.
“Well. I’m Yunho.” Yunho finally said, after a long cross-examination that his grandfather the lawyer would have been proud of. Jaejoong nodded.
“Yes, I know.” He replied, causing Yunho to raise his eyebrows in some surprise.
“You know?” Yunho repeated, wondering how exactly Jaejoong knew him, if he wasn’t Youngwoong. He knew he would have remembered someone that looked like Youngwoong if he’d met him before!
“Well… yes. You were in my Asian Cultures class last year. I think you dated nearly every girl enrolled in it.” Jaejoong said a little shyly, sipping on his tea. Yunho frowned, mentally ruffling through his memories and trying to pick out any that Jaejoong appeared in. He came up blank.
“Really? I didn’t notice you at all!” He replied, only to realize how damn rude that sounded half a second after it left his mouth. “I mean -” he rushed to try and cover himself, but Jaejoong smiled depreciatingly and shrugged.
“It’s okay. Not many people do.”
What a strange, strange boy. Yunho couldn’t help but think to himself. Obviously one of those bookworm types that came to Uni to actually study rather then hang out and party. What a waste! If Jaejoong took a little time with his appearance and fixed up his clothes… and well, spoke up a bit more, he could be gorgeous. Yunho knew he could be gorgeous, because he’d already seen it. He really could not understand how there could be two people with exactly the same face that weren’t twins. Or even brothers. The first thing that Yunho had asked Jaejoong - after their rather confusing argument over his name, was if he’d had a brother. But Jaejoong had told him that he was the only boy in his family. In fact, he had eight sisters. Eight. Yunho couldn’t imagine. He had a hard enough time living in a house with his mother and one sister. He couldn’t think how anyone could survive in a house with nine women! Maybe this was the logical explanation for Jaejoong’s complete lack of style. It was likely he wouldn’t be able to access a mirror if his life depended on it, if Yunho’s sister was anything to go by. So there were eight Kim sisters, and nary a boy to be seen apart from dorky looking Jaejoong who apparently also couldn’t pull of ‘sexy’ or even any approximation of ‘self confident’ if his life depended on it. The boy was so awkward and shy and… well, ‘mousy’ was the word that jumped to mind. So where in the six hells did Youngwoong figure into this equation?
Meanwhile, finding himself ignored in favour Yunho’s apparent deep contemplation of the table top, Jaejoong reached into his satchel and pulled out a brown paper bag, removing a muffin from it and pealing back the paper cup deftly. Looking over at Yunho’s lone cup of coffee. Jaejoong bit his lip uncertainly and broke the muffin in half, silently offering one side to Yunho.
Yunho absently accepted the baked good, with a muttered thanks, head still lost in increasable stupid ideas on how Youngwoong and Jaejoong were related. Long lost twins, pod babies, clones? There had to be some connection. His brain was abruptly jolted from its reverie when his taste buds and stomach suddenly beat it to death with large stick.
Yunho blinked down at the muffin in his hand, a large chunk of it missing from where he’d just bitten into it. He swallowed down the mouthful he had, and looked up to Jaejoong.
“This is one damn good muffin. Where the hell’d you buy it?” He asked - or more like, demanded. He’d go wherever it was and buy half a dozen of the things. The taste was amazing, and it wasn’t even as if he really had a particular fondness of muffins. Most unfortunately, Yunho’s mother was not the best cook. She did basic dishes fine, but more often then not when Yunho was living at home he managed to somehow organize to be out for dinner. Baked goods were always scarce in the Jung house, and when they did somehow appear, unless they came in a nice box with some fancy logo on it, they were usually to be avoided.
Jaejoong blushed, hiding half his face behind his own part of the muffin, which he’d only been nibbling on quietly as Yunho had stared intently into the table.
“Uhm. I didn’t. Well, I mean… I work at a bakery in the mornings, so I get to take some of the food sometimes.” He explained.
“What bakery? Where is it? This muffin is awesome.” Yunho asked quickly, leaning forward. Bemused, and a little weirded out by Yunho’s sudden fixation, Jaejoong pulled out a pad from his bag and wrote on it. Tearing off the piece, he slid it over the table to Yunho, who eagerly picked it up. On it, in neat, rounded writing was a name an address. The King’s Man. Strange name for a bakery, but Yunho didn’t really care. He’d defiantly be going there. Tomorrow. For breakfast. He took another bite of the muffin and melted.
“’s welly goo.” He mumbled to Jaejoong, who began to laugh, and then covered his mouth quickly again, even as his giggles continued. Yunho scoffed down his part of the muffin, eyeing Jaejoong’s half until the other boy hastily handed it over, afraid for his hands, and Yunho proceeded to polish that off too. He sighed contentedly, patting his belly, and then went back to his original train of thoughts regarding Jaejoong and Youngwoong, the baked goods only distracting him from his sexy siren for so long.
“So you’re sure you don’t have any… like, identical cousins, or… something lurking around.” He said once more, and Jae sighed, leaning on the table with one forearm.
“No. No male cousins. No brothers. No one called Youngwoong. Sorry Yunho.” Jaejoong said, repeating what he’d already told the other boy. He was kind of intrigued as to why Yunho, the famed skirt chaser of SM University’s humanities departments, was so completely obsessed with this boy he’d met once at a bar. Yunho hadn’t really explained that part, or what he wanted this ‘Youngwoong’ fellow for. Frankly, Jaejoong felt a little sorry for the guy - it seemed that once Yunho got a hold of him, something maybe a little drastic was going to happen.
“Where were you last night then?” Yunho suddenly asked, and Jaejoong frowned at him.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I was at home. I had to write up a document analysis, and then I went to bed.” He said, a little annoyed at how demanding and invasive Yunho was. He was like a steamroller - indelicate, hasty and way too forceful. And then there was the whole thing where he totally ignored Jae, even though he was the one who practically forced him to come to the café. Jae was quite used to being ignored, but there were limits, even for him. Yunho had to be one of the most arrogant guys that Jaejoong had ever met. Pushed to unusual rudeness by Yunho’s obtuse manner, Jae gave him a bit of a scowl and zipped up his satchel, pulling it up by a strap as he stood. “Look Yunho, I really don’t know what you want from me. I don’t know Youngwoong, I really don’t, and I have class in fifteen minutes, so good luck finding him and all, but I can’t really help you.” He said as firmly as he could.
Yunho blinked up at the boy, realizing he’d once again been a bit indelicate. It was all just really frustrating. He had these two bits of a puzzle but it was like one had been put through the wash and been chewed on by the dog. It didn’t fit. And despite everything, he still wasn’t sure if Jaejoong was just some sort of professional liar or something.
“Wait, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so abrupt.” Yunho said quickly before the boy walked off. Jaejoong gave him a blank look, then sighed, shifting his back pack slightly.
“It’s okay. But I really do have class. I hope you find your Youngwoong.” Jaejoong finally said, a little more sincerely this time, with a small smile to match.
“Hmmm - thanks. I guess I’ll see you around.” Yunho said absently. Jaejoong quirked his eyebrow a little, and coughed.
“Yeah. Maybe.” He said, sounding incredibly disbelieving that Yunho would ever so much as glance at him again. Yunho nodded even more absently, the movement continuing even after Jaejoong had left.
My Youngwoong. Hm. I like the sound of that.
----------------------=============================-------------------------
There was a loud, obnoxious jangling sound that filled the street, causing a few people around to turn and stare… but Yoochun didn’t really care. There were already a few people staring before his cell phone went off, so it wasn’t like a few more would matter. He fished the phone out from his back pocket with his free hand and flipped it open.
“Hey babe.” He answered it, dodging a little kid who went flying by on the footpath as he did so.
“Yoochuuun~!” Junsu’s voice was even higher then usual. “Where are you? I thought we were going to meet up before you had class?”
“Sorry Su… I had planned to! We can meet up for lunch, yeah?” He replied with a wince.
“Yeah… but where are you now?!” Junsu persisted.
“I don’t know.” Was the succinct reply.
“What to you mean, you don’t know?”
“I mean, I’ve really got no idea where I am right now.” Yoochun clarified brilliantly, before skidding down a sharp unexpected turn into another street and nearly falling over in the process.
“… then, what are you doing?” Junsu asked quizzically.
“Apparently, we’re hunting muffins.” Yoochun told him mildly.
“…” Junsu stared, and paused, and thought about this information. “What?”
“Don’t ask me. Yunho’s on a mission. I’m just the woebegone, abused and unwilling sidekick.” Yoochun said plaintively, even as he nearly fell over Yunho who had stopped suddenly at an intersection, head snapping about wildly. And then they were off again, Yoochun’s sore wrist being hauled forward whether he wanted to move or not.
“… Yunho’s on a mission for muffins.” Junsu repeated skeptically.
“Yes. Apparently so.” Micky confirmed, and both of them shared a silent understanding of Yunho’s ‘apparent’ mental breakdown.
“Why can’t he just get a muffin at one of the uni stores?” Junsu said, although he sounded like he’d already become as resigned to this development as Yoochun already was, being that neither of them had much of a say in the whole matter.
“You’re asking me?” Yoochun asked tiredly, and then yelped as he scraped his hand accidentally on some rough bricking. “I don’t know. He just turned up this morning babbling about muffins, and now we’re looking for some shop selling muffins. I think he’s lost. I certainly don’t know where I am.”
“I know where we are. I just can’t find the damn shop! He said it was here!” Yunho exclaimed from in front, sounding rather put out. “And they’re not just any muffins, Chun… You’ll see!” He dropped his friend’s wrist quite suddenly in favour of trying to figure out what number the building they were standing in front of was.
“Yeah, yeah. Special muffins. I heard you the first three hundred times.” Yoochun replied, rubbing his head with his freed hand. Turning his focus back to his phone, he shook his head. “Su, I’m doubting we’re even going to make it to class on time. Or at all. So… lunch?” He asked, a little plaintively. He needed something sane to look forward to after all this Yunho-induced randomness. Junsu sighed a little on the other end, and Yoochun could practically hear the pout.
“Yeah. Fine. And you better be bringing me one of these ‘special’ muffins.” Junsu huffed out, and Yoochun rolled his eyes.
“I will if we ever find the place.” Yoochun promised. “See you soon!”
“You’d better!” Junsu replied. “And loose Yunho when you come!” He added. Yoochun laughed, looking at his friend, who was looking rather insane right at the minute, wandering up and down the street like a loon.
“Believe me, I’m going to do that as soon as I possibly can.” He replied. He was still grinning when he closed his phone, and made his way after Yunho.
“Okay, so where is this joint?” He said, in a little better mood now. Yunho pouted at him, looking totally confused.
“I don’t know! It’s meant to be here! But that building there does not look like a bakery to me.” He said, pointing at an office block. “And that’s the number on the address!”
“Let me see.” Yoochun said, and Yunho pulled out a crumpled bit of paper with black scrawl on it. Peering at it, and then at the building, Yoochun laughed.
“Idiot. That building is 110. This address says 170.” He said. “The shop should be…” He had a quick glance along the street, looking at which way the numbers were going, and then pointed to their right. “up that way.” He pronounced. Yunho gaped at him and snatched the paper back, scrutinizing it.
“That’s a seven?” He asked in confusion. Yoochun nodded, already ambling off in the right direction. Yunho ran after him, sulking at his inability to read an address.
It only took them another five minutes to find 170, which was indeed a bakery. It had big glass windows that looked in on a small shop with a big display case full of cakes and slices. There racks of bread in the wall behind, and a number of small tables with matching chairs sitting on the red and yellow floor. The shop was bright and cheery, and had a big sign across the top of the doorway that read ‘The King’s Man’. There was a young man behind the counter, talking to a lady with a pram, and that was it. It didn’t look like anything particularly special, but Yunho’s eyes lit up like Christmas eve upon spotting it. Yoochun was left behind as Yunho’s strides grew in length.
By the time he caught up, Yunho was inside, hunkered down by the displays and peering in at the goods like a hungry dog. The counter boy was handing the lady a large bag with a box in it, and she was thanking him, rocking her pram the entire time. He smiled brilliantly at her, and she began to leave. Being the gentleman he was, Yoochun held open the door for her, earning him a slightly haughty smile and a nod of thanks.
“She’s gone.” A light voice said, and Yoochun turned in surprise, thinking that it was directed at him and not really understanding what it meant. But the counter boy wasn’t looking at him or Yunho, but towards the small door that presumably led back to the kitchen area. A second later, a head popped around the door, and an extreamly pretty guy surveyed the room with bright eyes. After seeing it free of the woman, the guy let out a happy sigh and stepped out from the doorway, relief evident in his stance. The counter boy was grinning. “I can’t believe you’re so scared of her.” He commented, and the other man gave him a wounded look.
“You don’t know how scary she can be! I don’t know why Noksu doesn’t like me, but she really doesn’t.” He whined. It seemed he suddenly realized there were customers in his store, and a huge smile came across his face, curling his eyes into cute little half moons.
“AH! New customers! Welcome welcome! ” He said excitedly, coming around from behind the counter to greet them. Yunho looked up from his inspection of every sweet he could see, and was a little taken aback at how exuberant the man seemed. “Perfect timing for you two! Junki Thursday specials!” He went on. Yoochun blinked.
“Junky specials?” He repeated bewilderedly. The man shook his head.
“No no, Junki! Me! I’m the owner of the store.” He explained jovially, spreading an arm around to demonstrate this fact. “And Thursdays is 15% off in the morning!” He went on, clapping Yunho on the shoulder and nearly upsetting his balance. “So, was there anything in particular you were looking forward to on this fine Thursday morning?”
Yunho seemed cheered at the prospect of cheap special muffins, and met Junki’s brilliant grin and raised him an excited bounce as he leapt to his feet.
“Yes! I was given a muffin yesterday - it was heavenly! And I was told this is where it came from, so here I am.” Yunho explained. Junki did not seem to find this explanation at all strange (which just upped his own ‘strange’ rating in Yoochun’s books), and he made an ‘ah!’ sound of understanding. Counter boy giggled.
“You’re here for Jaejoong’s muffins! Excellent choice, I must say.” Junki said, moving back around the counter and down to the other end, where indeed there were several trays of muffins on display. Yunho’s bright face had been abruptly wiped away however, replaced with a gob smacked one.
“Wait… wait, did you just say Jaejoong’s muffins?” He exclaimed, trotting quickly to stand in front of Junki, leaning forward over the counter. Junki gave him a puzzled look.
“Yes. He one of our bakers here.” The man said slowly. Then, as if someone had switched on a light, Junki smiled again. “Oh! You must be a friend of his from university, yes?” He asked, yet did not wait for a reply beforehe happily poked his head through the back door and yelled out “JAEJOONG! You’ve got visitors!”.
“Wait - I don’t really actually -!” Yunho began to protest, but it was a little late for that. The familiar face, complete with dorky glasses, looked out from the doorway.
“Visitors? Who…?” Jaejoong began to ask, before his eyes settled on Yunho. “Oh!” His little exclamation of surprise was actually kind of cute.
“You made those muffins?!” Yunho exclaimed, stabbing a finger at the neat row of muffins in the case. “How come you didn’t tell me that? I thought you’d be like a counter boy or something!” He went on. Jaejoong smiled at his over-reaction, quickly covering his mouth and giggles. The actual counter boy wasn’t so shy, and laughed again.
“Kibum’s our counter boy.” Junki chimed in, looking over fondly at the boy. Yoonchun just watched all this with mild surprise and interest, wondering how Yunho knew the mousy looking boy in the doorway who had flour smears on his face and down his apron, which was thankfully covering most of a truly hideous brown and grey patterned shirt that lurked underneath.
“I didn’t think you’d actually come.” Jaejoong said, looking like he wasn’t sure what to do.
“Bringing in the customers, Jae. Good lad.” Junki praised, going over to the boy and nudging him out from the doorway. “Why don’t you serve your friends and I’ll go start wrapping up those baskets for Yeonsan.” He said cheerfully, all but pushing Jae towards Yunho as he stepped out the back. Jaejoong flushed, shuffling over to the counter and looking up at Yunho from under his lowered lashes and thick glasses.
“Uhm. You want the same muffin?” He asked haltingly.
“Did you make them all?” Yunho asked, curiously, as he looked down at the little placards in front of each tray that declared the different types. Jaejoong shrugged uncomfortably, fumbling for the tongs and a bag.
“Yeah.”
“Well then. What do you recommend?” Yunho prodded, wondering at how ridiculously shy the guy was. He wasn’t really sure how to deal with it honestly - he found it a bit strange and disconcerting, as if he were dealing with a child or something.
Jae, on the other hand, was completely flustered. The bakery was like a little sanctuary for him - away from his somewhat crazy family and also the social pressures of university. He could just stay out the back of the shop and work on his baking, and not worry about anyone except for the easy going, overly cheerful Junki and the amiable Kibum. Being hauled out to the front of the store to serve none other then Jung Yunho and, Jae had noticed, his equally sociable friend Park Yoochun… well, it had thrown his ordered world for a loop. Just as Yunho had done yesterday. Jaejoong hoped that this wasn’t going to become a trend.
“Uhm. I don’t know. I like the apple raspberry ones.” He offered up softly, pointing at the corresponding tray with his tongs.
“The blueberry ones are divine.” Kibum put in with a sunny smile, leaning on the counter. “But they’re all good. Jae is a superb cook.” He said. Jaejoong wanted to go stomp on his foot. “You should try his buns!” Yes. Stomp on his foot. Both of them. Hard. With soccer shoes on. Jaejoong’s face went totally red.
“His buns.” Yoochun repeated, looking delighted with this piece of information. “Really now?” Kibum turned to Yoochun and nodded.
“Oh yeah. The ones with bacon bits are especially good.” Yoochun grinned at the reply.
“Hmm, is that so. Yunho, have you tried Jaejoong’s buns? Or just his muffins?” Yoochun asked, his eyes sparkling - he couldn’t keep the grin off his face. Yunho furrowed his brow, and then suddenly scowled at Yoochun, reaching over to hit him.
“NO! You idiot.” He exclaimed, almost horrified by the implication. Yoochun couldn’t think that he… with dorkus Jaejoong. Urgh! “No…! Just… no.” He repeated, and Yoochun rubbed at his arm, eyebrows raised disbelievingly. It was a bit hard to match Yunho with the shy fashion-dead Jaejoong - but the circumstances seemed to fit. Yoochun knew all of Yunho’s friends and acquaintances, and being that he’d never heard of Jaejoong - it meant that Yunho must have found his mysterious Youngwoong. He wasn’t sure what was going on with Yunho though - he just hoped Jaejoong cleaned up really well. Or else Yoochun’s fears about Yunho’s little breakdown might be a bit more real then he expected.
Kibum and Jaejoong were watching their exchange with some fascination - Jaejoong looking mortified, even if he wasn’t quite sure what they were talking about. Yoochun leaned across the counter towards Jae and waggled his eyebrows. It was rather disturbing; being that Jae had never so much as exchanged a word with the boy before.
“Do you have anything with cherries in it then? I hear you’re good with cherries.” Yoochun leered.
“CHUN!” Yunho exclaimed, making to hit his friend again, but Yoochun danced out of the way, cackling. Jaejoong exchanged a confused glance with Kibum, aware that there was obviously something going on here, but he had absolutely no idea what Yoochun was insinuating. So he did the only thing he could - tried to answer the question.
“Uh… well, there aren’t any muffins - but Junki makes some cherry slices?” He offered uncertainly.
Yoochun curiously noted the complete lack of expected reaction from his taunt - Jaejoong was neither blushing more nor trying to deny anything. Hm. Interesting. Maybe he wasn’t the boy Yunho was fooling around with after all - which begged the question as to who had done the impossible and turned Yunho’s head from skirts and boobs. Meanwhile, Jae’s confusion racked up his truth points on Yunho’s mental tabulation on if Jaejoong was lying or not about Youngwoong. Someone as shy as Jae would have to have some sort of reaction to the cherry jibe if he had even the least bit of an inkling as to what it meant.
Yunho blew out a puff of air, giving Yoochun a glare before trying to smile charmingly at the uncertain Jaejoong.
“Just ignore him. I usually do. Look, I’ll take one of the raspberry muffins, one of the bran and one of the blueberry.” He said. Jaejoong nodded, just happy to get Yunho what he wanted and hopefully get him out of the store. This was just getting weirder and more uncomfortable by the minute. He knelt down to pull out the muffins and place them in a bag. Kibum meanwhile gave Yoochun an expectant look, and Yoochun remembered that he had to buy a muffin for Junsu at least. And since he’d come all this way, he might as well get one too.
“Fine. A blueberry and a raspberry one for me.” He said, leaning on the counter. Kibum nodded happily and began punching up their totals on the register.
Jaejoong wordlessly handed Yunho a white paper bag full of muffin, and offered a small smile which Yunho returned absently, already peering into the bag eagerly. He grinned over at Yoochun.
“I swear Chun - Best. Muffins. Ever.” He said, not noticing as Jae flushed again behind the counter as he bagged Yoochun’s muffins. He stood again, holding a hand over half his face in embarrassment as he gave Yoochun his order. Yoochun eyed him curiously, far more interested in the slim baker then the product of the boy’s work he was buying. He had to admit, the boy was sort of cute, if you managed to imagine away the glasses and the outfit.
They both paid Kibum, with Jaejoong hovering somewhat anxiously nearby, looking like he wanted nothing more then to disappear into the back room again, but feeling as if he should stay out of courtesy. Yunho had already begun to munch on his blueberry muffin as Yoochun paid, making all sorts of noises and faces to show how much he was enjoying it.
“Come on, Yunho - we need to get to class. Yoochun prodded him, somewhat worried that Yunho would collapse into a pile of muffin-induced orgasm on the floor any minute.
“Mmmph. ‘K. Chun, uoo shou et ‘ours. ‘s ood.” Yunho said around a mouthful. Yoochun rolled his eyes as Yunho’s fixation and pushed him towards the door.
“Thanks.” He called back to the two behind the counter. “Nice to meet you Jae.” He added, flashing a smile at Jaejoong, who bit his lip.
“Uh! You too.” He tumbled out in response, and then fell into a stiff little bow. “Thank you for coming!” He rang out like a well trained sales person, keeping his head down as the pair left the store. He only stood up straight when he heard the door shut, and Kibum laugh.
“Jaejoong… your friends are rather funny.” Kibum remarked, smiling at Jae’s totally bewildered expression.
“You have no idea, Kibum. Really.” Jaejoong replied wearily, rubbing the bridge of his nose and realizing he had flour on his face. “Damn.” He muttered, turning to retreat back to the safety of his dough and ovens. What a way to start the morning.
Somewhere just down the block, there was a loud cry of surprise, and a muffled, excited voice could be heard.
“Oh muh gaw. Uoo were righ-!~ Issgoo!”