tea for two [part i]
tea for two [part i]
changmin ♥ changmin | (minor) yunho ♥ jaejoong | bff!yoosu
oneshot | AU | pg-13
drama | romance | comedy | fluff
summary: college!au. a tiny wee bit of incest? err.
a/n: well u read that right. It’s Changmin/Changmin fic - but no, it’s not him being narcissistic and in love with himself like he sometimes does xD. Read on and you’ll understand. For asuka2507, because babe, you made me write this. sorry for the fail and cliches. asdadfsadalkjlhjj /runs and hides
--
“Oh my God look at him, Hyoyeon-ah! Isn’t he the coolest guy ever? Look at how he walks, those long, long legs...I think I just had an eyegasm!”
“Sunny, pssh! You want him to know you’re a pervert before he agrees to go out with you?”
“But…but…”
“…but I do agree that those long legs and sexy smile are orgasm-inducing!” Squeal. A very shrilled, ear-splitting squeal.
Two girl gush from a table across from him as he stands up, and he glances back to see the mentioned guy walks into the library, soft sugary smile thrown carelessly around as he chats up the librarian and the students that pass by. Changmin rolls his eyes and feels a creepy shiver sweep across his skin, it is just all too cliché that he feels like puking. He could never understand why everyone think the guy is hot anyway, because seriously, with that super-ugly smirk and mismatched eyes, one seriously had to be blind not to see it and say he is handsome. He huffs as he gathers his books and papers, his stationeries all neatly arranged into his pencil case before he stuffs them all into his backpack.
His favorite spot in the whole college had just been contaminated by the presence of one, very annoying guy - Kim Choikang. He does not know why exactly, but Choikang just rubs him the wrong way. It’s bad enough they have to sit beside each other for Physics lectures, where the guy always, without fail, drool over his books and notes as he sleeps. Ignorant and stupid, Changmin really doesn’t like to acquaint himself with such bigheaded snob.
Just as he passes the History section and about to walk out of the door, a hand grabs him and suddenly he is pulled into a corner and pushed against the shelves, thick volumes pressing onto his back like prickly needles. He yelps but a hand clamped over his mouth muffled the noise, and in the hazy confusion of the situation he is in, he finally realizes the culprit being none other than Choikang - the guy he hates in more ways than one.
Changmin glares at him, his spite obvious as he pushes Choikang’s hand away.
“What the hell do you want from me?!”, Changmin hisses, not wanting to attract attention and make a scene. God he doesn’t even want people to see him anywhere near Choikang other than in class, who knows what nasty rumors would surface. Changmin, the resident nerd genius hanging out with the college bad guy? People will surely say something stupid and get on his nerves. It’s bad enough that Choikang is known to go for both genders - having the reputation to sleep with men and women he deems pretty enough for his bed. Changmin doesn’t want to be another name etched on his notorious list of bedwarmers - gossip or not.
“You.”
Choikang says salaciously, licking his bottom lips as he reaches out a hand to ruffle Changmin’s neatly combed hair. Changmin bats his hand away reflexively, frowning at the answer.
“What?”
“Where are you going in such a hurry?”
“None of your business.”
“Fierce. Very sexy.”
“Don’t play with me, Choikang-sshi.”
“Not playing. Totally serious here.”
Choikang blinks owlishly and Changmin snorts, “And you think I’d trust you if you make that face?”
“Why wouldn’t you?”
“Well, because-“
“-I really want you, Shim Changmin.”
Changmin stills, his eyes widening in shock, clearly offended. Damn it this is worse than he thinks it is.
“I don’t have time to deal with people like you.”, he replies moodily as he moves to walk away. But Choikang obviously has something else in his mind and would not let Changmin go that easily, as he swiftly catches Changmin’s wrists and holds him up against the shelves again, his head diving purposefully towards Changmin’s face.
“W-wha?”
“People like me, huh? What kind of people am I? Bad? Evil? Irresistable?”, Choikang breathes the words against Changmin’s lips, his eyes droopy as his gaze sweeps Changmin’s face, from the expressive mismatched eyes behind his glasses towards the haughty, proud tilt of his nose, and down towards his lips which are now trembling adorably. Choikang smiles and exhales, giving Changmin a kiss of air between their almost touching lips, relishing in the way Changmin’s cheeks gradually blush pink.
Choikang dives in nearer, his lips touching Changmin’s softly before all of the sudden he is pushed off with a force that sends him spooling backwards, his shoulders hitting the opposite shelf with a loud thud.
“You’re so full of yourself!”, Changmin spats angrily at Choikang as he stalks away, rubbing his lips with the back of his hand like he had just tasted something awful. Wide-eyed but not entirely surprised, Choikang just laughs, cracking his shoulders as he takes in the view of Changmin’s back.
“What an interesting guy.”
*
“God, if I could just punch his teeth in! I’m so mad! Who does he think he is? Urgh!”, Changmin growls, stabbing his lunch with his chopsticks as if it is Choikang’s head. Junsu winces and Yoochun chuckles quietly, amused at their friend’s show of anger.
“Maybe he actually likes you, Changmin…”, Junsu says as he reaches out for another piece of meat, before stopping as he feels the menacing glare thrown his way, which almost makes him drop his chopstick into the hot, boiling pot of shabu-shabu.
“Err...what Junsu meant was, Choikang probably wasn’t kidding when he said…when he said he wants you.”, Yoochun tries to save Junsu, but it obviously makes it worse as Changmin continues to glower at them, effectively making them cower together in their seats. If ones were to see the scene they would not have guess both Yoochun and Junsu are older than him.
Changmin sighs dejectedly as he takes a piece of meat and puts it in Junsu’s bowl as a sign of forgiveness, knowing he should not have been mad at his friends in the first place for trying to make him feel better.
“The thing is, hyung…”, Changmin starts purposefully, “…we all know he wants everything that walks on two legs. He probably just wants to rile me up and make me angry, for whatever sick reason he had in that hare brain he has.”
Yoochun and Junsu look at each other, before they smile and nod in agreement with what Changmin had said. They know it is more than what Changmin thought it is, but there is nothing they could (and should) do at the moment. Changmin is known to be elusive and distant, a loner who does not have many friends and prefers to study than party. Both Yoochun and Junsu had known Changmin since they were in middle school, having become his classmates after the boy was enrolled into a senior class because of his excellent grades. Throughout middle school and high school, the three of them had always stuck by each other, although Yoochun and Junsu dare not to mess with Changmin when he is mad because he is just a monster when he’s angry (and they both love themselves too much to ruin their widely known pretty faces).
Choikang is not all that bad actually, and it seems like Changmin is the only one in the whole college who thinks Choikang is an unsalvageable beast that he should stir clear of. The fact that Choikang elicits this kind of reaction from the mostly docile and quiet Changmin is certainly something to note about. Yoochun and Junsu think perhaps Choikang would be the one to crack the invisible wall Changmin erected against love. Who knows? Nothing is impossible when it comes to love.
*
Almost a week passed after that uneventful incident in the library, and Changmin had managed to dodge Choikang for the good part of the week. He was called out for Student Council’s meeting during Physics lectures on Monday, and on Tuesday he volunteered to be the teacher’s aid, and that means he got to sit at the desk in front of the class and not in his usual seat next to the loathsome guy.
But today, ah today Changmin has no excuse but to endure Choikang’s existence for two hours. He pacifies himself with the thought of the oncoming semester break, and tells himself he wouldn’t have to see that ugly face for some time. That thought is the only thing that gives him patience and strength to survive.
“Hey baby…”, Choikang greets, dropping his bags on the floor next to his seat as he sits down. Baby my ass…Changmin just inhales deeply, trying hard to ignore the man. He continues to read his notes as if he hasn’t heard anything. He hears Choikang sniggers clearly, before he feels puffs of air blown into his ear, tickling his lobe.
“What the?!”, Changmin snarls, frowning deeply as he almost falls out of his chair from shock. Choikang holds Changmin’s arm before his butt could touch the floor, saving him yet laughing at him at the same time.
“You ignore me. That’s bad manner, Changmin-ah.”, Choikang muses teasingly as Changmin shakes his hand away and straightens out in his chair.
“Don’t call me that.”
“Call you what?”
“Changmin-ah. Don’t call me ‘Changmin-ah’.”
“Why not? We’re friends, aren’t we?”
“Since when?”
“Ouch, you hurt me there, Changmin-ah.”
“Good. And it’s ‘Changmin-sshi’ for you.”
“Feisty, I like.”
“…”
“Changmin-sshi.”
“…”
“Changmin-sshiiii…”
“…”
“Ohhhhh Changmin-sshiiiii…”
“…”
“So you like to be called like that in bed, huh? I can get used to that.”
“W-what?!”
Changmin’s eyes widen considerably, surprised at the remark. He grits his teeth in annoyance, before he closes his book and stands up. Choikang grins, his eyes crinkling in mirth at the blush overtaking Changmin’s face.
“I’ve had enough of you and your arrogance, Choikang-sshi. I don’t have to deal with this.”
At that exact moment the lecturer walks in, and Choikang immediately pulls Changmin down before he could storm out of the room.
“Hey, hey, no need to be so mad, baby. I won’t bother you during lecture, promise. Stay, since I’ll just sleep like usual.”, Choikang whispers and winks, and Changmin huffs indignantly, suddenly too mad and disturbed to focus on the lecture anymore.
*
Semester break means vacations for many students, but for Changmin, it means he’ll hole up in the public library in preparation for next semester and takes up extra working hours at the tea café he’s doing part-time in nearby. Call him a nerd or what, he just does not like to be unprepared. He always wants to be ahead of the game, and always challenges himself to know things before they are taught to him. Early preparation also means he would not have to cram for exams - and lesser risk of anxiety attack.
“Excuse me?”, a voice calls out to Changmin as he clears the table, and he quickly turns to see a man standing behind him, his face half-covered by the big sunglasses he wore. He wears ripped blue jeans and black jacket, with a fitted deep red shirt underneath - casual yet attractive.
“Shim Changmin-sshi?”, the man asks, holding out a hand. Changmin glances once at the outstretched hand, before grasping it and nodding timidly.
“Yes, I’m Shim Changmin. And you are…?”
“I’m Kim Jaejoong…Kim Choikang’s older brother.”
Changmin’s jaw drops open, “You are Choikang’s b-brother?”
Kim Jaejoong laughs, one hand covering his mouth almost abashedly. He removes his sunglasses and Changmin almost faints at the assault of beauty the man possesses. The man’s eyes are lined lightly with kohl, his pink lips plump and his white skin is just silky smooth. He is truly exquisite, his feature soft and pretty yet the square shoulder and the sharp angles of his jaw and nose note the ingrained masculinity the man has. So very different from the sneer and goofiness of Choikang’s face.
“You must be thinking ‘they don’t look alike at all’…”, Changmin nods stupidly at Jaejoong’s remark and the man just chuckles, “…we get that all the time.”
“Do you…do you want to sit down?”, Changmin asks haltingly, surprised at the sudden visit from a stranger. Kim Jaejoong looks around, before he points out at the farthest table nearly hidden behind an alcove that leads to the back office.
“I’ll wait for you back there. Your shift ends in about an hour, right? We’ll talk afterwards. I have so many things to ask you about.”, Kim Jaejoong gushes, smiling as he makes his way towards the table. Changmin stays rooted at his place, his mind roiling with possibilities. And the fact that some stranger knows when exactly his shift ends. That is weird, somewhat creepy if he really thinks about it.
An hour passed and Changmin makes his way dutifully to the waiting man, taking a seat opposite him and bowing politely.
“You’re really cute…”, Kim Jaejoong says smilingly, eying Changmin with a teasing gaze. Changmin feels his cheeks heat up, and he immediately thinks that these brothers are total players from the way they both could shamelessly flirt with anyone.
“…but that’s not why I’m here, Changmin-sshi. The reason why I’m here is I want to know if you’re serious with Choikang or not.”
“S-serious? What does that mean?”, Changmin asks back, nearly shouting at the indication he found in the man’s utterance. Kim Jaejoong smirks, sipping his Darjeeling as he stares at Changmin above his cup.
“You tell me.”
“Tell you what? I don’t…I don’t understand.”
“You guys are dating, right? Choikang told me he likes you.”
“Huh?”
Kim Jaejoong puts his chin on his propped up knuckle, looking at Changmin unblinkingly for long, uncomfortable seconds before he sighs.
“Choikang is playing again, isn’t he? But he said he will be serious this time. I guess I shouldn’t have trust him that easily…”
“Playing what? Serious?”, Changmin is getting impatient, not knowing what the brothers had talked about but having a strong inkling it was about him.
Kim Jaejoong smiles at Changmin, reaching out to pat his hand.
“Choikang is not a bad guy, Changmin-sshi.”
“Hmm…” Somehow that is quite hard to believe, Changmin thinks. Kim Jaejoong’s smile stretches wider, an understanding dawning in his eyes.
“You think Choikang is a playboy, huh? Well, that boy’s just playing around…I don’t think he’s serious with anyone he’s been with…though I have a feeling you’d be a different case…”, Kim Jaejoong pauses, and Changmin feels his heart stops for a fraction of a second, “He may fool around a lot in college, Changmin-sshi, but that’s the only place and time he could do so. To be honest, the image of him you see in college is very different from the Choikang at home.”
“Different?”
“You already knew about our family, right? Ever heard about Kim Corporation?”
“The one that owns the chain supermarkets and beauty salons nationwide?”
Kim Jaejoong nods with a courteous smile, “Our parents are very strict in the way they brought us up. Choikang was trained since he was a kid in the how-to of business and marketing, and he is expected to behave all the time in front of our parents and guardians. We had private tutors at home to teach us all sorts of things, but Choikang wanted to go to a local college because he wanted to mix around with someone his age and our parents finally agreed after much persuasion. Choikang rarely plays and laughs at home, except of course when he’s with me, his only sibling.”
“But I’ve been worried about him since he knew about his turning of age ceremony. Choikang will be the noted as the official heir when he turns 21, just a few weeks from now. When he becomes the heir, he’ll inherit the company as well as our many shares in overseas investments and other real estates properties. But Choikang being Choikang, he refused and plainly rejected the idea…”
Changmin’s mouth is agape, not believing the thing he is hearing. Yes, he had known that Kim Choikang came from a well-to-do family, but he never thought the guy would actually be the heir of a multibillionaire corporation!
“Why would he refuse…?”
“Because of me.”, the simple statement is said in such sullen expression that makes Changmin all the more curious. Plus, Choikang totally doesn’t seem like the type who would forgo having money thrown his way - the party guy is more likely to spend it all on his many and ever-changing partners!
“I’m sorry if I’m being nosy…but I don’t understand.”
“You see, he doesn’t want to become the heir because he wants me to be one.”
“Ah! You’re his older brother…so why aren’t you the one…?”
“I’m not a genuine Kim.”
Kim Jaejoong smiles apologetically, before he sweeps his hair up and looks at Changmin, who suddenly seems a bit sad somehow. So that explained why they look so different from each other even though they are siblings.
“It looks like I have troubled you unnecessarily. I’m sure there are many things you’re unsure about, but I’m really not the one who should be telling them all to you. But I understand it now…why Choikang likes you so much. Even your faces are similar. I think if you take off your glasses you’ll see that you look exactly like him. Your sharp eyes, straight nose and proud mouth - they are all so much like Choikang’s ones. I bet you’ve never really seen it yourself, huh? I just knew it was you when I saw you from outside the café…it was like I just saw Choikang, only with different manners and disposition. Maybe he sees something in you, Changmin-sshi…though what it is I can’t really tell. But I have a feeling he probably likes you more than he realizes himself. Give him time, okay? He’ll come around…”
Kim Jaejoong stands up, and Changmin imitates his action.
“Just don’t treat him so harshly. He can be careless at times but he usually has good intentions. Please take care of my younger brother, Changmin-sshi…and thank you for your precious time and the lovely tea.”
Changmin is still brainstruck long after Kim Jaejoong had left, his mind working hard to process this new information about Kim Choikang that he had never known about.
*
Hushed laughter from behind Jaejoong’s door pricks Choikang’s ears, as he walks towards his older brother’s room. Choikang smiles, his heart feeling light whenever he is about to see Jaejoong - his favorite person in the whole wide world. To others it might looks like Choikang is simply attached to his brother like a younger sibling would, but only Choikang knows the truth.
He is, for a long time now, in love with Jaejoong.
Jaejoong was adopted when he was just a few months old by Choikang’s parents since they haven’t been granted a child even after 10 years of marriage. They doted on him, gave him all the things that a kid could possibly want, but all that changed when Mrs Kim was pregnant with Choikang. Jaejoong was barely 4 years old when it happened, and after Choikang’s birth, all attention was given to the baby and Jaejoong was forced to only look from the side. He was after all, only a temporary substitute to the Kims’ baby.
Growing up, Choikang witnessed how their parents always favored him over his older brother, and how Jaejoong seemed to take the cold treatment with nothing but a smile. Jaejoong played with him, and he listened whenever Choikang rambled about anything. He was never selfish and will always share his things with Choikang, even though Choikang was the one who had taken his privileges from him with his birth. From early on, Jaejoong had become Choikang’s personal hero. He would do all he can to make Jaejoong happy, constantly finding ways to make Jaejoong smiles and laughs.
When Choikang turned 15, all thoughts about his older brother became something else altogether. He began seeing Jaejoong in a different light - he even saw Jaejoong’s face in his wet dreams sometimes. It doesn’t help that Jaejoong was generous with physical affection, always hugging and touching Choikang whenever they hung out together. Choikang knows Jaejoong probably doesn’t think much about those kinds of action since they had been doing it since they were little, but at times it leaves Choikang frustrated, and those times Choikang had nothing else to do but to release the pent-up tension with his hands, and after he turned 18, with his sexual partners.
But these days, Choikang got tired with having casual flings with people he cares nothing about. Jaejoong had been asking him if he has someone he really likes, and Choikang only gave him vague answer and mentioned the first name that came to the top of his head. He only wants Jaejoong after all, and he decides that he’ll confess to the man as soon as possible. He wants Jaejoong to know his true feelings, and perhaps after that they could have a love relationship - like one Choikang had been dreaming about since he reached his puberty.
Choikang opens the door without knocking, used to having barge on whatever Jaejoong is doing from young. But the sight that greets him makes him lose his breath, almost as if something just knocked him over and made his heart stop. His brain ceases to function upon seeing his beloved person - naked, sweaty and very much aroused - underneath an equally naked male body that doesn’t belong to him.
“Choikang!”, Jaejoong exclaims from the bed, pulling the cover over himself to give him a bit of modesty. His lover rolls over and off the bed, taking his discarded shirt and pants and is about to proceed to the bathroom. Jaejoong gives his lover an apologetic look, and the man just smiles and shakes his head, signaling that it’s okay.
Choikang blinks, and something kicks in his brain and makes it function again.
He fakes a chuckle, “I didn’t know you have someone over. My bad. Please continue whatever it is you were doing before my untimely interruption. Heh. I’ll talk to you later, hyung!”
He is just about to close the door when Jaejoong hops off the bed and wheedles towards him, the bed cover wrapped around his body and Choikang has to remind himself to breathe properly at the amount of creamy, toned skin he is seeing in such a close proximity.
“Are you alright, dongsaeng? You can tell me now if it’s something serious…”, Jaejoong asks earnestly, his eyes shining with pure concern for his younger brother. Choikang swallows the bitter truth down his throat - he is only a dongsaeng in Jaejoong’s eyes, never more - and he feels his heart breaks into splintering pieces.
“No, nothing serious, hyung. I just want to know…who you’re going with to the company’s gala next month…”, he rubs his not-itchy head, eyes wandering about everything but Jaejoong’s half-covered body.
Jaejoong smiles as he glances towards the closed bathroom door, his expression relaxing almost instantly.
“Ah, about that. Well…umm…I’m thinking of inviting Yunho to the gala, but I haven’t asked him yet. I don’t know if he would want to go, you know big party and the formalities…but I think it’s about time I introduce him to our family, yes? I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time now…I hope that he is okay with it.”, he whispers, leaning against the opened door and grinning sheepishly at Choikang.
A long time now…so they have been going out for quite some time.
Choikang smiles back, even though his heart is bleeding and he feels like crying,
“Just ask him, hyung. Who can say no to my beautiful brother?”
Jaejoong blushes and chuckles, shoving Choikang out playfully.
“And you better ask Changmin-sshi out properly, Choikang. He seems like a good boy, and I think he’ll make you happy. Don’t play around with him, okay?”, the older man warns as he closes the door, leaving Choikang speechless.
*
“Wow, nice bunch of muscles you have there, Changmin-ah.”
Changmin whips around and nearly drops the tray of newly washed tea cups to the floor at the surprise verbal assault. He immediately glares and composes himself when he sees Choikang leaning against the backdoor, hands folded in front of his chest and smirking. Changmin sets the tray on the nearby counter and approaches Choikang quickly, one finger pointing accusingly towards the guy.
“What are you doing here? Are you trying to get me into trouble?!”, Changmin hisses underneath his breath, not wanting to attract his co-workers’ attention.
“Relax baby, I’m not trying to do anything. Just came to see you at work, that’s all.”
“Stop calling me ‘baby’!”
“Why? I like calling you ‘baby’.”
“Y-you can’t! We’re not in that kind of relationship…or any kind of relationship for that matter!”
“We can be, if you let us be.”
“And why would I do that?! You’re a jerk. This is probably some kind of stupid bet you had with your stupid friends - the classic chick flick scenario of the college playboy making fun of the innocent nerd. You’ll make me fall for you with your sneaky tricks and then at some kind of party where there’s a lot people, you’ll ditch me and laugh at me while telling me I’ve gotten in over my head to be thinking I have a shot to be with someone like you! You don’t think I’d know it, but hah! I do. I have sisters okay? I watch movies, and learn a lot from them!”
Choikang just gives Changmin an incredulous look, before he bursts out laughing, one hand pressing on his stomach. Changmin rushes forward to shut him up, pushing the noisy cackling hyena out the backdoor before he gets yelled at by the manager.
“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God Changmin-ah…you’re hilarious!”, Choikang says as he wipes the tears that came out from laughing too much. Changmin just huffs and sighs, not appreciating the fact that Choikang is making fun of the serious thing he had just said but not having the energy to argue with the man more than he already had.
“Please leave me alone. Some people actually have to work to feed themselves, okay?”
Choikang smiles ruefully at Changmin, bits of laughter trailing to an end as he reaches out to Changmin’s face, brushing a stray lock that had come out of place because of the commotion. He stares deeply into Changmin’s scowling eyes, his dark brown orbs almost piercing straight into Changmin’s soul.
“I…I miss you. Haven’t seen you for days, Changmin-ah...”
Changmin doesn’t understand why there is a warm feeling coiling at the pit of his stomach at Choikang’s admission, and suddenly his lips feel too leaden to give the guy a snarky reply.
“I won’t get in your way. I just need to see you…even if it’s just for a little while…”, Choikang says gently, coming nearer and nearer and before Changmin knows it, he is pulled forward into a tight hug. It is almost like an out-of-body experience, seeing himself being embraced in his sworn enemy’s arms and not being able to push or pull away. He feels Choikang’s breath near his neck, and senses the clear, crazy thump of Choikang’s heart against his own. They are of similar heights and builds, but Changmin thinks it is still insanely impossible how their bodies could have fit like this.
Choikang feels different somehow, and Changmin couldn’t really put a finger on why he feels so. The way Choikang clings to him, the way he speaks in that gentle tone and his desolate sighs, it is as if he is holding a great burden in his heart that he could never say out loud. Maybe this is the Choikang his older brother was talking about? The quiet and reserved guy who complies and follows orders obediently without fail - a stark contrast to the foulmouthed, playful Casanova that Changmin is used to seeing in college.
But then, what does he know about Kim Choikang other than the rumors he had heard? They never speak more than a sentence before that incident in the library, and even after they start talking (or squabbling), Changmin has always has that mental image of Choikang as the sort of troublemaker girls hate to love and boys love to hate. Without his knowledge, Choikang suddenly has grabbed his attention in that unique, careless way of his and worms his way into Changmin’s mind (and fearfully, he thinks, perhaps his heart too).
“I’ll go now. Work hard. Shim Changmin fighting!”
Choikang lets Changmin go, smiling sweetly as he pats Changmin’s shoulder and moves to walk away. Changmin turns and sees the retreating back of Choikang, and feels something quite amiss. His heart is clenching ever so painfully, and he doesn’t even know why.
“Wait!”
Choikang’s steps slow down before stopping. He turns around to face Changmin, clearly surprised. Changmin is surprised as well, and he is cursing himself inwardly because hell, he doesn’t even know why he called Choikang out like that!
“Umm…”
“You called me, Changmin-ah?”
“Umm…”, Changmin hesitates some more, before nodding like a fool. He clenches his sweaty palms, trying very hard to calm the fuck down.
“Areyouokay?”
“Huh?”
“You heard me!!”
Choikang furrows his brows, confused at Changmin’s reactions. Is he concerned about me or angry at me?
“I…I think I’m okay…now.”
Changmin looks down at his shoes, his cheeks heating up a blush as he couldn’t believe what he had just done. An awkward moment passes before Changmin finally can garner some strength into his seemingly paralyzed limbs again. He looks up to see Choikang looking at him amusedly, a playful smile on his face.
“Good! Now buzz off!”
He runs inside, and as he closes the backdoor, he hears Choikang chuckling clearly and somehow, it makes him smile as well.
*
A few days later, Changmin is surprised again, but this time by Choikang’s older brother Kim Jaejoong who came to the café with a handsome man in tow.
“Hi Changmin-sshi!”, Jaejoong calls out joyfully, smiling as he approaches Changmin. Changmin smiles back, courteous and professional.
“Ah, Jaejoong-hyungnim. Please sit down. What would you like to order?”, he asks in his waiter-mode. Jaejoong chuckles and pulls him nearer, his eyes glinting naughtily.
“I didn’t come here for tea, Changmin-sshi. Has Choikang asked you to the gala yet?”
“What gala?”
Jaejoong tsks at Changmin’s wide-eyed expression and massages his own forehead.
“Aish this Choikang. He’s really slow when it comes to this sort of things…”, he pauses, before he suddenly remember something and whips around, pulling the guy who came with him forward, “…Sorry, I lost my manners again. This is Jung Yunho, my boyf- no, my fiancé. Please don’t tell Choikang about this, he doesn’t know about it yet. It’s a surprise. We want to announce it at the night of the gala. I’m so excited to see Choikang’s face when he hears it! He’ll be so thrilled!”
Changmin gapes because he couldn’t understand what is going on. Fiancé? Surprise? Gala?
“Jaejoong-hyungnim…I don’t understand…”, Changmin says desperately. Jaejoong pulls him towards the same table at the back.
“Next weekend there will be our company’s annual gala, and Yunho and I plan to announce our engagement then. We’ve already told our parents, but I purposefully hide this from Choikang. It’d be a sort of a birthday present, he’s been so down lately that I thought he’ll be happy to hear that I’m going to appoint him as my best man…and guess what? I bet he will be more happy to know we’ll appoint you as Yunho’s best man too!”, Jaejoong is beaming as he talks, clearly excited.
Changmin doesn’t know what to make of the man’s words. All thoughts except of Choikang left his mind when he heard Jaejoong mentioned about the man’s disposition. So it’s true he was feeling down…that would explain why he visited Changmin out of nowhere the other day.
“I…umm…”
Jaejoong grins, mistaking Changmin’s flustered reply as him being humble about getting named as an unknown man’s best man. Truth is, Changmin doesn’t even hear the end of Jaejoong’s sentences - past the statement about Choikang’s condition.
“You’ll accept it, right?”
“Eh?”
“You’ll be Yunho’s best man, wouldn’t you?”, Jaejoong asks, eyes wide and hopeful. His fiancé shifts uncomfortably in his seat, almost as if he’s scared of the verdict. Changmin’s jaw drops open and his eyes rounded, finally getting what the man is saying.
“I-I…I can’t! I’m not…it wouldn’t be right! I don’t know how to be anyone’s best man!”, he gasps in horror, shaking his head as he rejects Jaejoong’s offer. The man pouts at Changmin before he turns towards his fiancé, lips exaggeratedly protruded.
“Yunhoya…he doesn’t want to be your best man…what should we do now? Who would be your best man, baby? Ahhh…this is too bad…Choikang would have been so happy if he is willing to do this…”, Jaejoong sighs dejectedly, letting his head falls on Yunho’s shoulder in a show of defeat. Yunho rubs his fiancé’s shoulder and coos, obviously playing along with the ploy.
“What can we do…no one wants to be my best man, sweetheart. I guess I’m just not lovable…”
“How can you say that?! I love you, I would do anything for you! I’d be your best man if it isn’t for the fact I’d be next to you as your groom!”
“Oh Jaejoong-ah!”
“Yunhoya!”
They kiss and Changmin almost falls out of his seat from what he dubs as the lamest and most annoyingly obvious guilt-tripping act ever. He never knew Choikang’s brother would be capable of pulling such a no-brainer.
He notices the manager and a few of his colleagues gaping open-mouthed at the couple who has begun making out in their seats and frantically hisses to them, stopping them from raping each other right there and then in the opened café.
“Okay, okay! I’ll be your best man! Stop making out in this café, you’ll scare our customers away!”
Jaejoong wipes his mouth and grins widely, like a Cheshire cat who just got fed plump with cream. He straightens up and pulls his fiancé to stand with him, the man looking sort of dazed and well, painfully horny.
“So I guess it’s a deal then. Can’t wait to see you at the gala next week!”, Jaejoong beams as he walks out of the café with his fiancé, leaving Changmin to wonder what kind of mishap he has just gotten himself into.
--[click here for part ii]
changmin ♥ changmin | (minor) yunho ♥ jaejoong | bff!yoosu
oneshot | AU | pg-13
drama | romance | comedy | fluff
summary: college!au. a tiny wee bit of incest? err.
a/n: well u read that right. It’s Changmin/Changmin fic - but no, it’s not him being narcissistic and in love with himself like he sometimes does xD. Read on and you’ll understand. For asuka2507, because babe, you made me write this. sorry for the fail and cliches. asdadfsadalkjlhjj /runs and hides
--
“Oh my God look at him, Hyoyeon-ah! Isn’t he the coolest guy ever? Look at how he walks, those long, long legs...I think I just had an eyegasm!”
“Sunny, pssh! You want him to know you’re a pervert before he agrees to go out with you?”
“But…but…”
“…but I do agree that those long legs and sexy smile are orgasm-inducing!” Squeal. A very shrilled, ear-splitting squeal.
Two girl gush from a table across from him as he stands up, and he glances back to see the mentioned guy walks into the library, soft sugary smile thrown carelessly around as he chats up the librarian and the students that pass by. Changmin rolls his eyes and feels a creepy shiver sweep across his skin, it is just all too cliché that he feels like puking. He could never understand why everyone think the guy is hot anyway, because seriously, with that super-ugly smirk and mismatched eyes, one seriously had to be blind not to see it and say he is handsome. He huffs as he gathers his books and papers, his stationeries all neatly arranged into his pencil case before he stuffs them all into his backpack.
His favorite spot in the whole college had just been contaminated by the presence of one, very annoying guy - Kim Choikang. He does not know why exactly, but Choikang just rubs him the wrong way. It’s bad enough they have to sit beside each other for Physics lectures, where the guy always, without fail, drool over his books and notes as he sleeps. Ignorant and stupid, Changmin really doesn’t like to acquaint himself with such bigheaded snob.
Just as he passes the History section and about to walk out of the door, a hand grabs him and suddenly he is pulled into a corner and pushed against the shelves, thick volumes pressing onto his back like prickly needles. He yelps but a hand clamped over his mouth muffled the noise, and in the hazy confusion of the situation he is in, he finally realizes the culprit being none other than Choikang - the guy he hates in more ways than one.
Changmin glares at him, his spite obvious as he pushes Choikang’s hand away.
“What the hell do you want from me?!”, Changmin hisses, not wanting to attract attention and make a scene. God he doesn’t even want people to see him anywhere near Choikang other than in class, who knows what nasty rumors would surface. Changmin, the resident nerd genius hanging out with the college bad guy? People will surely say something stupid and get on his nerves. It’s bad enough that Choikang is known to go for both genders - having the reputation to sleep with men and women he deems pretty enough for his bed. Changmin doesn’t want to be another name etched on his notorious list of bedwarmers - gossip or not.
“You.”
Choikang says salaciously, licking his bottom lips as he reaches out a hand to ruffle Changmin’s neatly combed hair. Changmin bats his hand away reflexively, frowning at the answer.
“What?”
“Where are you going in such a hurry?”
“None of your business.”
“Fierce. Very sexy.”
“Don’t play with me, Choikang-sshi.”
“Not playing. Totally serious here.”
Choikang blinks owlishly and Changmin snorts, “And you think I’d trust you if you make that face?”
“Why wouldn’t you?”
“Well, because-“
“-I really want you, Shim Changmin.”
Changmin stills, his eyes widening in shock, clearly offended. Damn it this is worse than he thinks it is.
“I don’t have time to deal with people like you.”, he replies moodily as he moves to walk away. But Choikang obviously has something else in his mind and would not let Changmin go that easily, as he swiftly catches Changmin’s wrists and holds him up against the shelves again, his head diving purposefully towards Changmin’s face.
“W-wha?”
“People like me, huh? What kind of people am I? Bad? Evil? Irresistable?”, Choikang breathes the words against Changmin’s lips, his eyes droopy as his gaze sweeps Changmin’s face, from the expressive mismatched eyes behind his glasses towards the haughty, proud tilt of his nose, and down towards his lips which are now trembling adorably. Choikang smiles and exhales, giving Changmin a kiss of air between their almost touching lips, relishing in the way Changmin’s cheeks gradually blush pink.
Choikang dives in nearer, his lips touching Changmin’s softly before all of the sudden he is pushed off with a force that sends him spooling backwards, his shoulders hitting the opposite shelf with a loud thud.
“You’re so full of yourself!”, Changmin spats angrily at Choikang as he stalks away, rubbing his lips with the back of his hand like he had just tasted something awful. Wide-eyed but not entirely surprised, Choikang just laughs, cracking his shoulders as he takes in the view of Changmin’s back.
“What an interesting guy.”
*
“God, if I could just punch his teeth in! I’m so mad! Who does he think he is? Urgh!”, Changmin growls, stabbing his lunch with his chopsticks as if it is Choikang’s head. Junsu winces and Yoochun chuckles quietly, amused at their friend’s show of anger.
“Maybe he actually likes you, Changmin…”, Junsu says as he reaches out for another piece of meat, before stopping as he feels the menacing glare thrown his way, which almost makes him drop his chopstick into the hot, boiling pot of shabu-shabu.
“Err...what Junsu meant was, Choikang probably wasn’t kidding when he said…when he said he wants you.”, Yoochun tries to save Junsu, but it obviously makes it worse as Changmin continues to glower at them, effectively making them cower together in their seats. If ones were to see the scene they would not have guess both Yoochun and Junsu are older than him.
Changmin sighs dejectedly as he takes a piece of meat and puts it in Junsu’s bowl as a sign of forgiveness, knowing he should not have been mad at his friends in the first place for trying to make him feel better.
“The thing is, hyung…”, Changmin starts purposefully, “…we all know he wants everything that walks on two legs. He probably just wants to rile me up and make me angry, for whatever sick reason he had in that hare brain he has.”
Yoochun and Junsu look at each other, before they smile and nod in agreement with what Changmin had said. They know it is more than what Changmin thought it is, but there is nothing they could (and should) do at the moment. Changmin is known to be elusive and distant, a loner who does not have many friends and prefers to study than party. Both Yoochun and Junsu had known Changmin since they were in middle school, having become his classmates after the boy was enrolled into a senior class because of his excellent grades. Throughout middle school and high school, the three of them had always stuck by each other, although Yoochun and Junsu dare not to mess with Changmin when he is mad because he is just a monster when he’s angry (and they both love themselves too much to ruin their widely known pretty faces).
Choikang is not all that bad actually, and it seems like Changmin is the only one in the whole college who thinks Choikang is an unsalvageable beast that he should stir clear of. The fact that Choikang elicits this kind of reaction from the mostly docile and quiet Changmin is certainly something to note about. Yoochun and Junsu think perhaps Choikang would be the one to crack the invisible wall Changmin erected against love. Who knows? Nothing is impossible when it comes to love.
*
Almost a week passed after that uneventful incident in the library, and Changmin had managed to dodge Choikang for the good part of the week. He was called out for Student Council’s meeting during Physics lectures on Monday, and on Tuesday he volunteered to be the teacher’s aid, and that means he got to sit at the desk in front of the class and not in his usual seat next to the loathsome guy.
But today, ah today Changmin has no excuse but to endure Choikang’s existence for two hours. He pacifies himself with the thought of the oncoming semester break, and tells himself he wouldn’t have to see that ugly face for some time. That thought is the only thing that gives him patience and strength to survive.
“Hey baby…”, Choikang greets, dropping his bags on the floor next to his seat as he sits down. Baby my ass…Changmin just inhales deeply, trying hard to ignore the man. He continues to read his notes as if he hasn’t heard anything. He hears Choikang sniggers clearly, before he feels puffs of air blown into his ear, tickling his lobe.
“What the?!”, Changmin snarls, frowning deeply as he almost falls out of his chair from shock. Choikang holds Changmin’s arm before his butt could touch the floor, saving him yet laughing at him at the same time.
“You ignore me. That’s bad manner, Changmin-ah.”, Choikang muses teasingly as Changmin shakes his hand away and straightens out in his chair.
“Don’t call me that.”
“Call you what?”
“Changmin-ah. Don’t call me ‘Changmin-ah’.”
“Why not? We’re friends, aren’t we?”
“Since when?”
“Ouch, you hurt me there, Changmin-ah.”
“Good. And it’s ‘Changmin-sshi’ for you.”
“Feisty, I like.”
“…”
“Changmin-sshi.”
“…”
“Changmin-sshiiii…”
“…”
“Ohhhhh Changmin-sshiiiii…”
“…”
“So you like to be called like that in bed, huh? I can get used to that.”
“W-what?!”
Changmin’s eyes widen considerably, surprised at the remark. He grits his teeth in annoyance, before he closes his book and stands up. Choikang grins, his eyes crinkling in mirth at the blush overtaking Changmin’s face.
“I’ve had enough of you and your arrogance, Choikang-sshi. I don’t have to deal with this.”
At that exact moment the lecturer walks in, and Choikang immediately pulls Changmin down before he could storm out of the room.
“Hey, hey, no need to be so mad, baby. I won’t bother you during lecture, promise. Stay, since I’ll just sleep like usual.”, Choikang whispers and winks, and Changmin huffs indignantly, suddenly too mad and disturbed to focus on the lecture anymore.
*
Semester break means vacations for many students, but for Changmin, it means he’ll hole up in the public library in preparation for next semester and takes up extra working hours at the tea café he’s doing part-time in nearby. Call him a nerd or what, he just does not like to be unprepared. He always wants to be ahead of the game, and always challenges himself to know things before they are taught to him. Early preparation also means he would not have to cram for exams - and lesser risk of anxiety attack.
“Excuse me?”, a voice calls out to Changmin as he clears the table, and he quickly turns to see a man standing behind him, his face half-covered by the big sunglasses he wore. He wears ripped blue jeans and black jacket, with a fitted deep red shirt underneath - casual yet attractive.
“Shim Changmin-sshi?”, the man asks, holding out a hand. Changmin glances once at the outstretched hand, before grasping it and nodding timidly.
“Yes, I’m Shim Changmin. And you are…?”
“I’m Kim Jaejoong…Kim Choikang’s older brother.”
Changmin’s jaw drops open, “You are Choikang’s b-brother?”
Kim Jaejoong laughs, one hand covering his mouth almost abashedly. He removes his sunglasses and Changmin almost faints at the assault of beauty the man possesses. The man’s eyes are lined lightly with kohl, his pink lips plump and his white skin is just silky smooth. He is truly exquisite, his feature soft and pretty yet the square shoulder and the sharp angles of his jaw and nose note the ingrained masculinity the man has. So very different from the sneer and goofiness of Choikang’s face.
“You must be thinking ‘they don’t look alike at all’…”, Changmin nods stupidly at Jaejoong’s remark and the man just chuckles, “…we get that all the time.”
“Do you…do you want to sit down?”, Changmin asks haltingly, surprised at the sudden visit from a stranger. Kim Jaejoong looks around, before he points out at the farthest table nearly hidden behind an alcove that leads to the back office.
“I’ll wait for you back there. Your shift ends in about an hour, right? We’ll talk afterwards. I have so many things to ask you about.”, Kim Jaejoong gushes, smiling as he makes his way towards the table. Changmin stays rooted at his place, his mind roiling with possibilities. And the fact that some stranger knows when exactly his shift ends. That is weird, somewhat creepy if he really thinks about it.
An hour passed and Changmin makes his way dutifully to the waiting man, taking a seat opposite him and bowing politely.
“You’re really cute…”, Kim Jaejoong says smilingly, eying Changmin with a teasing gaze. Changmin feels his cheeks heat up, and he immediately thinks that these brothers are total players from the way they both could shamelessly flirt with anyone.
“…but that’s not why I’m here, Changmin-sshi. The reason why I’m here is I want to know if you’re serious with Choikang or not.”
“S-serious? What does that mean?”, Changmin asks back, nearly shouting at the indication he found in the man’s utterance. Kim Jaejoong smirks, sipping his Darjeeling as he stares at Changmin above his cup.
“You tell me.”
“Tell you what? I don’t…I don’t understand.”
“You guys are dating, right? Choikang told me he likes you.”
“Huh?”
Kim Jaejoong puts his chin on his propped up knuckle, looking at Changmin unblinkingly for long, uncomfortable seconds before he sighs.
“Choikang is playing again, isn’t he? But he said he will be serious this time. I guess I shouldn’t have trust him that easily…”
“Playing what? Serious?”, Changmin is getting impatient, not knowing what the brothers had talked about but having a strong inkling it was about him.
Kim Jaejoong smiles at Changmin, reaching out to pat his hand.
“Choikang is not a bad guy, Changmin-sshi.”
“Hmm…” Somehow that is quite hard to believe, Changmin thinks. Kim Jaejoong’s smile stretches wider, an understanding dawning in his eyes.
“You think Choikang is a playboy, huh? Well, that boy’s just playing around…I don’t think he’s serious with anyone he’s been with…though I have a feeling you’d be a different case…”, Kim Jaejoong pauses, and Changmin feels his heart stops for a fraction of a second, “He may fool around a lot in college, Changmin-sshi, but that’s the only place and time he could do so. To be honest, the image of him you see in college is very different from the Choikang at home.”
“Different?”
“You already knew about our family, right? Ever heard about Kim Corporation?”
“The one that owns the chain supermarkets and beauty salons nationwide?”
Kim Jaejoong nods with a courteous smile, “Our parents are very strict in the way they brought us up. Choikang was trained since he was a kid in the how-to of business and marketing, and he is expected to behave all the time in front of our parents and guardians. We had private tutors at home to teach us all sorts of things, but Choikang wanted to go to a local college because he wanted to mix around with someone his age and our parents finally agreed after much persuasion. Choikang rarely plays and laughs at home, except of course when he’s with me, his only sibling.”
“But I’ve been worried about him since he knew about his turning of age ceremony. Choikang will be the noted as the official heir when he turns 21, just a few weeks from now. When he becomes the heir, he’ll inherit the company as well as our many shares in overseas investments and other real estates properties. But Choikang being Choikang, he refused and plainly rejected the idea…”
Changmin’s mouth is agape, not believing the thing he is hearing. Yes, he had known that Kim Choikang came from a well-to-do family, but he never thought the guy would actually be the heir of a multibillionaire corporation!
“Why would he refuse…?”
“Because of me.”, the simple statement is said in such sullen expression that makes Changmin all the more curious. Plus, Choikang totally doesn’t seem like the type who would forgo having money thrown his way - the party guy is more likely to spend it all on his many and ever-changing partners!
“I’m sorry if I’m being nosy…but I don’t understand.”
“You see, he doesn’t want to become the heir because he wants me to be one.”
“Ah! You’re his older brother…so why aren’t you the one…?”
“I’m not a genuine Kim.”
Kim Jaejoong smiles apologetically, before he sweeps his hair up and looks at Changmin, who suddenly seems a bit sad somehow. So that explained why they look so different from each other even though they are siblings.
“It looks like I have troubled you unnecessarily. I’m sure there are many things you’re unsure about, but I’m really not the one who should be telling them all to you. But I understand it now…why Choikang likes you so much. Even your faces are similar. I think if you take off your glasses you’ll see that you look exactly like him. Your sharp eyes, straight nose and proud mouth - they are all so much like Choikang’s ones. I bet you’ve never really seen it yourself, huh? I just knew it was you when I saw you from outside the café…it was like I just saw Choikang, only with different manners and disposition. Maybe he sees something in you, Changmin-sshi…though what it is I can’t really tell. But I have a feeling he probably likes you more than he realizes himself. Give him time, okay? He’ll come around…”
Kim Jaejoong stands up, and Changmin imitates his action.
“Just don’t treat him so harshly. He can be careless at times but he usually has good intentions. Please take care of my younger brother, Changmin-sshi…and thank you for your precious time and the lovely tea.”
Changmin is still brainstruck long after Kim Jaejoong had left, his mind working hard to process this new information about Kim Choikang that he had never known about.
*
Hushed laughter from behind Jaejoong’s door pricks Choikang’s ears, as he walks towards his older brother’s room. Choikang smiles, his heart feeling light whenever he is about to see Jaejoong - his favorite person in the whole wide world. To others it might looks like Choikang is simply attached to his brother like a younger sibling would, but only Choikang knows the truth.
He is, for a long time now, in love with Jaejoong.
Jaejoong was adopted when he was just a few months old by Choikang’s parents since they haven’t been granted a child even after 10 years of marriage. They doted on him, gave him all the things that a kid could possibly want, but all that changed when Mrs Kim was pregnant with Choikang. Jaejoong was barely 4 years old when it happened, and after Choikang’s birth, all attention was given to the baby and Jaejoong was forced to only look from the side. He was after all, only a temporary substitute to the Kims’ baby.
Growing up, Choikang witnessed how their parents always favored him over his older brother, and how Jaejoong seemed to take the cold treatment with nothing but a smile. Jaejoong played with him, and he listened whenever Choikang rambled about anything. He was never selfish and will always share his things with Choikang, even though Choikang was the one who had taken his privileges from him with his birth. From early on, Jaejoong had become Choikang’s personal hero. He would do all he can to make Jaejoong happy, constantly finding ways to make Jaejoong smiles and laughs.
When Choikang turned 15, all thoughts about his older brother became something else altogether. He began seeing Jaejoong in a different light - he even saw Jaejoong’s face in his wet dreams sometimes. It doesn’t help that Jaejoong was generous with physical affection, always hugging and touching Choikang whenever they hung out together. Choikang knows Jaejoong probably doesn’t think much about those kinds of action since they had been doing it since they were little, but at times it leaves Choikang frustrated, and those times Choikang had nothing else to do but to release the pent-up tension with his hands, and after he turned 18, with his sexual partners.
But these days, Choikang got tired with having casual flings with people he cares nothing about. Jaejoong had been asking him if he has someone he really likes, and Choikang only gave him vague answer and mentioned the first name that came to the top of his head. He only wants Jaejoong after all, and he decides that he’ll confess to the man as soon as possible. He wants Jaejoong to know his true feelings, and perhaps after that they could have a love relationship - like one Choikang had been dreaming about since he reached his puberty.
Choikang opens the door without knocking, used to having barge on whatever Jaejoong is doing from young. But the sight that greets him makes him lose his breath, almost as if something just knocked him over and made his heart stop. His brain ceases to function upon seeing his beloved person - naked, sweaty and very much aroused - underneath an equally naked male body that doesn’t belong to him.
“Choikang!”, Jaejoong exclaims from the bed, pulling the cover over himself to give him a bit of modesty. His lover rolls over and off the bed, taking his discarded shirt and pants and is about to proceed to the bathroom. Jaejoong gives his lover an apologetic look, and the man just smiles and shakes his head, signaling that it’s okay.
Choikang blinks, and something kicks in his brain and makes it function again.
He fakes a chuckle, “I didn’t know you have someone over. My bad. Please continue whatever it is you were doing before my untimely interruption. Heh. I’ll talk to you later, hyung!”
He is just about to close the door when Jaejoong hops off the bed and wheedles towards him, the bed cover wrapped around his body and Choikang has to remind himself to breathe properly at the amount of creamy, toned skin he is seeing in such a close proximity.
“Are you alright, dongsaeng? You can tell me now if it’s something serious…”, Jaejoong asks earnestly, his eyes shining with pure concern for his younger brother. Choikang swallows the bitter truth down his throat - he is only a dongsaeng in Jaejoong’s eyes, never more - and he feels his heart breaks into splintering pieces.
“No, nothing serious, hyung. I just want to know…who you’re going with to the company’s gala next month…”, he rubs his not-itchy head, eyes wandering about everything but Jaejoong’s half-covered body.
Jaejoong smiles as he glances towards the closed bathroom door, his expression relaxing almost instantly.
“Ah, about that. Well…umm…I’m thinking of inviting Yunho to the gala, but I haven’t asked him yet. I don’t know if he would want to go, you know big party and the formalities…but I think it’s about time I introduce him to our family, yes? I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time now…I hope that he is okay with it.”, he whispers, leaning against the opened door and grinning sheepishly at Choikang.
A long time now…so they have been going out for quite some time.
Choikang smiles back, even though his heart is bleeding and he feels like crying,
“Just ask him, hyung. Who can say no to my beautiful brother?”
Jaejoong blushes and chuckles, shoving Choikang out playfully.
“And you better ask Changmin-sshi out properly, Choikang. He seems like a good boy, and I think he’ll make you happy. Don’t play around with him, okay?”, the older man warns as he closes the door, leaving Choikang speechless.
*
“Wow, nice bunch of muscles you have there, Changmin-ah.”
Changmin whips around and nearly drops the tray of newly washed tea cups to the floor at the surprise verbal assault. He immediately glares and composes himself when he sees Choikang leaning against the backdoor, hands folded in front of his chest and smirking. Changmin sets the tray on the nearby counter and approaches Choikang quickly, one finger pointing accusingly towards the guy.
“What are you doing here? Are you trying to get me into trouble?!”, Changmin hisses underneath his breath, not wanting to attract his co-workers’ attention.
“Relax baby, I’m not trying to do anything. Just came to see you at work, that’s all.”
“Stop calling me ‘baby’!”
“Why? I like calling you ‘baby’.”
“Y-you can’t! We’re not in that kind of relationship…or any kind of relationship for that matter!”
“We can be, if you let us be.”
“And why would I do that?! You’re a jerk. This is probably some kind of stupid bet you had with your stupid friends - the classic chick flick scenario of the college playboy making fun of the innocent nerd. You’ll make me fall for you with your sneaky tricks and then at some kind of party where there’s a lot people, you’ll ditch me and laugh at me while telling me I’ve gotten in over my head to be thinking I have a shot to be with someone like you! You don’t think I’d know it, but hah! I do. I have sisters okay? I watch movies, and learn a lot from them!”
Choikang just gives Changmin an incredulous look, before he bursts out laughing, one hand pressing on his stomach. Changmin rushes forward to shut him up, pushing the noisy cackling hyena out the backdoor before he gets yelled at by the manager.
“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God Changmin-ah…you’re hilarious!”, Choikang says as he wipes the tears that came out from laughing too much. Changmin just huffs and sighs, not appreciating the fact that Choikang is making fun of the serious thing he had just said but not having the energy to argue with the man more than he already had.
“Please leave me alone. Some people actually have to work to feed themselves, okay?”
Choikang smiles ruefully at Changmin, bits of laughter trailing to an end as he reaches out to Changmin’s face, brushing a stray lock that had come out of place because of the commotion. He stares deeply into Changmin’s scowling eyes, his dark brown orbs almost piercing straight into Changmin’s soul.
“I…I miss you. Haven’t seen you for days, Changmin-ah...”
Changmin doesn’t understand why there is a warm feeling coiling at the pit of his stomach at Choikang’s admission, and suddenly his lips feel too leaden to give the guy a snarky reply.
“I won’t get in your way. I just need to see you…even if it’s just for a little while…”, Choikang says gently, coming nearer and nearer and before Changmin knows it, he is pulled forward into a tight hug. It is almost like an out-of-body experience, seeing himself being embraced in his sworn enemy’s arms and not being able to push or pull away. He feels Choikang’s breath near his neck, and senses the clear, crazy thump of Choikang’s heart against his own. They are of similar heights and builds, but Changmin thinks it is still insanely impossible how their bodies could have fit like this.
Choikang feels different somehow, and Changmin couldn’t really put a finger on why he feels so. The way Choikang clings to him, the way he speaks in that gentle tone and his desolate sighs, it is as if he is holding a great burden in his heart that he could never say out loud. Maybe this is the Choikang his older brother was talking about? The quiet and reserved guy who complies and follows orders obediently without fail - a stark contrast to the foulmouthed, playful Casanova that Changmin is used to seeing in college.
But then, what does he know about Kim Choikang other than the rumors he had heard? They never speak more than a sentence before that incident in the library, and even after they start talking (or squabbling), Changmin has always has that mental image of Choikang as the sort of troublemaker girls hate to love and boys love to hate. Without his knowledge, Choikang suddenly has grabbed his attention in that unique, careless way of his and worms his way into Changmin’s mind (and fearfully, he thinks, perhaps his heart too).
“I’ll go now. Work hard. Shim Changmin fighting!”
Choikang lets Changmin go, smiling sweetly as he pats Changmin’s shoulder and moves to walk away. Changmin turns and sees the retreating back of Choikang, and feels something quite amiss. His heart is clenching ever so painfully, and he doesn’t even know why.
“Wait!”
Choikang’s steps slow down before stopping. He turns around to face Changmin, clearly surprised. Changmin is surprised as well, and he is cursing himself inwardly because hell, he doesn’t even know why he called Choikang out like that!
“Umm…”
“You called me, Changmin-ah?”
“Umm…”, Changmin hesitates some more, before nodding like a fool. He clenches his sweaty palms, trying very hard to calm the fuck down.
“Areyouokay?”
“Huh?”
“You heard me!!”
Choikang furrows his brows, confused at Changmin’s reactions. Is he concerned about me or angry at me?
“I…I think I’m okay…now.”
Changmin looks down at his shoes, his cheeks heating up a blush as he couldn’t believe what he had just done. An awkward moment passes before Changmin finally can garner some strength into his seemingly paralyzed limbs again. He looks up to see Choikang looking at him amusedly, a playful smile on his face.
“Good! Now buzz off!”
He runs inside, and as he closes the backdoor, he hears Choikang chuckling clearly and somehow, it makes him smile as well.
*
A few days later, Changmin is surprised again, but this time by Choikang’s older brother Kim Jaejoong who came to the café with a handsome man in tow.
“Hi Changmin-sshi!”, Jaejoong calls out joyfully, smiling as he approaches Changmin. Changmin smiles back, courteous and professional.
“Ah, Jaejoong-hyungnim. Please sit down. What would you like to order?”, he asks in his waiter-mode. Jaejoong chuckles and pulls him nearer, his eyes glinting naughtily.
“I didn’t come here for tea, Changmin-sshi. Has Choikang asked you to the gala yet?”
“What gala?”
Jaejoong tsks at Changmin’s wide-eyed expression and massages his own forehead.
“Aish this Choikang. He’s really slow when it comes to this sort of things…”, he pauses, before he suddenly remember something and whips around, pulling the guy who came with him forward, “…Sorry, I lost my manners again. This is Jung Yunho, my boyf- no, my fiancé. Please don’t tell Choikang about this, he doesn’t know about it yet. It’s a surprise. We want to announce it at the night of the gala. I’m so excited to see Choikang’s face when he hears it! He’ll be so thrilled!”
Changmin gapes because he couldn’t understand what is going on. Fiancé? Surprise? Gala?
“Jaejoong-hyungnim…I don’t understand…”, Changmin says desperately. Jaejoong pulls him towards the same table at the back.
“Next weekend there will be our company’s annual gala, and Yunho and I plan to announce our engagement then. We’ve already told our parents, but I purposefully hide this from Choikang. It’d be a sort of a birthday present, he’s been so down lately that I thought he’ll be happy to hear that I’m going to appoint him as my best man…and guess what? I bet he will be more happy to know we’ll appoint you as Yunho’s best man too!”, Jaejoong is beaming as he talks, clearly excited.
Changmin doesn’t know what to make of the man’s words. All thoughts except of Choikang left his mind when he heard Jaejoong mentioned about the man’s disposition. So it’s true he was feeling down…that would explain why he visited Changmin out of nowhere the other day.
“I…umm…”
Jaejoong grins, mistaking Changmin’s flustered reply as him being humble about getting named as an unknown man’s best man. Truth is, Changmin doesn’t even hear the end of Jaejoong’s sentences - past the statement about Choikang’s condition.
“You’ll accept it, right?”
“Eh?”
“You’ll be Yunho’s best man, wouldn’t you?”, Jaejoong asks, eyes wide and hopeful. His fiancé shifts uncomfortably in his seat, almost as if he’s scared of the verdict. Changmin’s jaw drops open and his eyes rounded, finally getting what the man is saying.
“I-I…I can’t! I’m not…it wouldn’t be right! I don’t know how to be anyone’s best man!”, he gasps in horror, shaking his head as he rejects Jaejoong’s offer. The man pouts at Changmin before he turns towards his fiancé, lips exaggeratedly protruded.
“Yunhoya…he doesn’t want to be your best man…what should we do now? Who would be your best man, baby? Ahhh…this is too bad…Choikang would have been so happy if he is willing to do this…”, Jaejoong sighs dejectedly, letting his head falls on Yunho’s shoulder in a show of defeat. Yunho rubs his fiancé’s shoulder and coos, obviously playing along with the ploy.
“What can we do…no one wants to be my best man, sweetheart. I guess I’m just not lovable…”
“How can you say that?! I love you, I would do anything for you! I’d be your best man if it isn’t for the fact I’d be next to you as your groom!”
“Oh Jaejoong-ah!”
“Yunhoya!”
They kiss and Changmin almost falls out of his seat from what he dubs as the lamest and most annoyingly obvious guilt-tripping act ever. He never knew Choikang’s brother would be capable of pulling such a no-brainer.
He notices the manager and a few of his colleagues gaping open-mouthed at the couple who has begun making out in their seats and frantically hisses to them, stopping them from raping each other right there and then in the opened café.
“Okay, okay! I’ll be your best man! Stop making out in this café, you’ll scare our customers away!”
Jaejoong wipes his mouth and grins widely, like a Cheshire cat who just got fed plump with cream. He straightens up and pulls his fiancé to stand with him, the man looking sort of dazed and well, painfully horny.
“So I guess it’s a deal then. Can’t wait to see you at the gala next week!”, Jaejoong beams as he walks out of the café with his fiancé, leaving Changmin to wonder what kind of mishap he has just gotten himself into.
--[click here for part ii]