Let's Play Pretend - Chapter 2
Title: Let's Play Pretend - Chapter 2
Genre: Romance, fluff, slight angst
Pairing: YunJae
Rating: PG-13; (NC-17 overall)
Summary: Jung Yunho finds himself stuck in a fake relationship with another man when he is very much straight and is secretly dating a very famous actress.
The Bobblehead's Plan
Jaejoong walked into a charming coffee shop that was just a few minutes walk from his workplace. With the sun shining behind him, he almost looked like he was glowing. In fact, his face was indeed gleaming because of what happened in the elevator yesterday. It had put him in a very pleasant mood and gave a cute little bounce on his steps.
Once inside, he scanned the area to look for someone with an unusual, lopsided haircut. When he spotted him seated at a round table with a newspaper spread out in front of him, he quickly walked towards the table with an ear-splitting grin.
“Hey Chunnie!” Jaejoong chimed. “What did you want to talk about?” he said, sitting himself down at the vacant chair opposite his friend.
Jaejoong and Yoochun met through a mutual friend, Kim Junsu, the owner of the apartment building. It was their common love for pubs, alcohol, and music that brought them closer together. And because of that connection, they instantly became each other’s wingman-Soulmates, they’d like to call it.
Yoochun greeted Jaejoong with a warm smile only reserved for this special friend of his. But before he get distracted, he continued on with his business. “Well, I thought you had something to tell me.”
Yoochun was the one who suggested the apartment to Yunho and helped with the arrangements and paperwork while the model was still in the States. Jaejoong was unaware of that which made the first meeting more interesting. It was only when Jaejoong knocked at Yoochun’s apartment one morning expecting to see his friend but to be greeted by a face that he hadn't seen for years.
To say Jaejoong was ecstatic would be an understatement. He was overjoyed and kept smiling like a chimpanzee on drugs. And so, the rest, as how others put it, was history; and from there, started the mess that was Jung Yunho and Kim Jaejoong’s not so typical relationship.
“What do you mean?” Jaejoong quirked an eyebrow, looking a little confused.
“You know what I’m talking about,” Yoochun said firmly.
Jaejoong averted his eyes as he shifted nervously on his seat.
“Why did you do it?”
Jaejoong bit his lip, assessing the situation. Sneaking a glance behind his friend, he wondered how quickly he could bolt to the door before Yoochun could catch up and whack him on the head. Jaejoong sighed in defeat dismissing the silly thought. He knew how useless it was to run away.
“Well?” Yoochun sat up straight, pushing the newspaper close to Jaejoong.
“How did you know?” He looked down, and stared at the headline with a blurred photo of Yunho and that girl.
Yoochun shrugged, “I talked to the person who leaked the story.”
“That bastard,” Jaejoong grouched. “Wasn't he supposed to protect his source or something?”
Yoochun smiled despite Jaejoong's self-indictment. “I had to promise him an exclusive interview with Yunho in exchange for the information,” he explained.
Jaejoong huffed, leaning back on his chair. “That dimwit won’t even get anything from the stupid interview. Yunho’s so whipped he’d rather eat his own poop before he admits to anything.”
Yoochun chuckled at that because he knew there was truth in those words. “So, wanna tell me why you did it?” he asked again.
Jaejoong crossed his arms and continued to glare at the morning paper. If his eyes could shoot fire, the photo would have already turned to ash.
It was when Jaejoong noticed that Yunho stopped bringing girls up to the apartment building that he suspected the other must have finally found a “keeper”. He did entertain the thought that maybe the time had come that Yunho realized his sexual preference had changed… but nah, Jaejoong thought, Yunho would have already jumped him if the other had finally turned gay. So, to confirm his suspicions, he pried the information out of Yunho’s manager slash bestfriend.
“I don’t believe she feels the same way about him,” Jaejoong answered in a muted voice. “If she really cares for him, then I don’t understand why she wants to keep him a secret. He deserves better than that.”
Yoochun shook his head. “Look, it’s not your place to make that judgment.”
“What does he see in her anyway?” Jaejoong continued to avoid Yoochun’s inquisitive eyes because he did not like the pitying look his friend was giving him.
Yoochun hummed in understanding, “You think he deserves someone better?”
“Stop looking at me like that. I…” Jaejoong griped, eyes darting everywhere, avoiding Yoochun's. “I know you think it’s impossible… but I’d at least try.”
The other remained silent, eyes still fixed on Jaejoong.
“Are you going to tell him?” Jaejoong finally looked up and met the other’s stare. This time, really looking at those eyes. Jaejoong was scared he’d see the look of disappointment there, but all he saw was only love and concern.
“No, I am not going to tell him. However, I expect you to do the right thing,” Yoochun leaned forward, reaching for Jaejoong’s arm. “You will tell him when you’re ready, and you will apologize.”
“Maybe,” Jaejoong muttered silently.
Yoochun sighed, pulling his hand away.
Jaejoong felt guilty, so he tried to reason with his friend. “Fine,” he said, stomping his feet in defiance of what he was agreeing to, even stepping on Yoochun’s foot in the process, “but I’m not promising you anything!”
“You’re so stubborn,” Yoochun winced. He sighed in frustration seeing that it was of no use trying to talk some sense into Jaejoong’s pretty head.
“They’re not even married yet,” Jaejoong scoffed. “I still have a chance to…” his words trailed, not entirely sure what chance he had with Yunho.
“To what?” Yoochun asked with the gentlest voice he could muster. Jaejoong is like a brother to him and it was hurting him to see the other so distressed.
“Yunho’s already in a relationship and you need to respect that. You are not to make decisions for him, and you do not go around tipping some nosy reporter about a secret he’d worked really hard to keep. And while we're at it,” Yoochun quickly added, suddenly remembering what he really came here for. He rolled the flimsy newspaper before giving Jaejoong a good smack on his forehead.
“What in the world were you thinking?” Yoochun scowled at his friend.
“I’m sorry,” Jaejoong laughed, remembering his previous thoughts about getting whacked on the head.
“Are you really?” Yoochun raised an eyebrow knowingly.
“Just a tiny bit.” Jaejoong smirked, determined to lighten up the mood.
Yoochun snapped his fingers, “How about this, I’ll help you find a much better-looking guy.”
“Chun, you know how it ended the last time you tried to set me up with someone. It was horrible!” Jaejoong laughed, before continuing in a rush, excited voice, “How about you help me kidnap Yunho so I could-oww! That hurts!”
Yoochun flicked his forehead. “Not that kind of help, stupid. I’m supposed to help you move on. Wait, you do know Yunho is going crazy because of what you did?”
“Serves him right,” Jaejoong said grinning, “and it’s only the second best part.”
“Uh, what is the best part?”
“Well, about that...” Jaejoong smiled sheepishly, then completely disarmed Yoochun when he pleaded with his skillful puppy-dog eyes, "I have a favor to ask."
“Fine,” he sighed. “What do you have in mind?" Yoochun looked at him skeptically but it was this one look of Jaejoong that he just couldn't resist. He knew he was going to regret it, but he decided to listen.
“You have to convince Yunho to date me.”
Yoochun eyed Jaejoong funny, laughing a little as he waited for the punchline to come. But a minute of awkward silence in the air made his eyes widen like saucers when he realized his friend was not joking.
“You’re serious," Yoochun mumbled under his breath.
“I'm pretty sure it will help clear out the rumor if other people thought he was gay,” Jaejoong deadpanned like it was the most obvious explanation.
"Wait, now you want to help? No, don't answer that," Yoochun sighed finally catching up, shaking his head in disbelief. "You've thought about this, didn't you? This was your plan all along."
"Mm-hmmm!" Jaejoong nodded his head animatedly, looking exactly like one of those dashboard bobblehead figures in Yoochun's car. He was grinning like a cat, hands snapping in all directions as he continued to talk. "Okay so, I have this plan and if you just listen and do exactly what I tell you then I'm positive it'll going to work."
Yoochun’s mouth gaped as the other continued on, explaining how this “plan” of his was flawless and effective. He’d always known that Kim Jaejoong is a determined person, even admired that special trait of his. But today, Yoochun wasn’t sure if he liked that side of him as he listened to Jaejoong yap endlessly for a good half an hour.
“You know I can’t do that! That’s crazy!”
Jaejoong rolled his eyes.
"Sure you can," he ignored the other's dumbfounded expression, and instead chided his friend for not keeping up with him. “Will you stop being such a pessimist idiot? We're going to be a great team, Chunnie."
Because If there was one thing Jaejoong wanted the most in this world, it was to make Jung Yunho fall for him. And Yoochun was going to help him make it happen.
Part 3 >>
A/N: Sorry for the lack of YunJae, but no worries, the fun begins in the next chapter. :)
By the way, about the female OC, should I give her a name or just make her a nameless character?
Please leave some comments and tell me what you think of the story so far. Thank you so much!