The Art of Deception (Yunho x Jaejoong) - Chapter Two
**Note: The picture is a resized wallpaper that I DID NOT make and for which I take no credit.**
The Art of Deception (Chapter Two)
Pairing: Yunho (DBSK) x Jaejoong (DBSK).
Category: K-Pop.
Length: Multi-chaptered.
Genres: Angst, drama, humor, romance.
Rating: PG-13.
Warning: Homosexuality, light swearing, sexual implications, violence.
Summary: Yunho is a rich son who’s never done anything to earn his own money. Attending snobby diners and appearing in social events with his parents is more than he can take, so he decides to run away, thinking that surely life is better elsewhere - anywhere but his place. Little does he know that it doesn’t get any better in the slums. His thirst for adventure will be quenched - a little too much. Enter street Kabuki actor Kim Jaejoong!
Chapter One
***
[Yunho’s POV]
I should have known there was more to this rogue than a pretty face.
The bastard took off with my money and only official means of identification that I had… Now I’m left in a place that I know nothing about (including how to get out), completely penniless, with an empty stomach and no place to stay whatsoever. I should have expected something like that, given how I’m used to having it easy, how I’ve never had to lift a single finger, whether I wanted it or not. But there’s no way I could have ever imagined that things would turn out so bad, so quickly.
The irony of the situation. Oh, the bitter irony.
To think that I was just about ready to set fire to my father’s safe an hour ago… At this moment, there isn’t much I wouldn’t do to get my hands on a fistful of change, if it could get me a roof to sleep under.
I’m not sleeping in a dirty alley, no way. It’s out of the question.
Which is why, bracing myself for the humiliation, I make for the front door of the inn.
Ready to beg. Hoping I won’t have to go so far.
Thinking that nothing good can come from this, I push the door open, almost wishing that I was back at that boring party - wait, no, I can’t have these thoughts… I wanted change and I’m going to get it, no matter what awaits me from now on. That is why when a rather… unsympathetic-looking woman turns her head to glance at me from behind her counter, suspicion in her eyes, I do the only thing I can.
I smile. “Um, good evening, ma’am. I need a room for the night.”
The innkeeper scrutinises me as I stand in the hall like a doofus, hands in my pockets. She gives me a look that clearly says “Yeah, I can see that. So what?”, although no words leave her mouth at the time. This suggests that she leaves the talking to me (or that she has no intentions to say anything regardless). At any rate, there isn’t much for me to lose by trying - except for my pride, maybe.
“Yes, I need a room, but…” The woman’s mouth, which was drawn into a thin line, drops a few notches in a downright grimace. This is not looking good. Smile, Yunho, I tell myself. Keep smiling. That’s it. “Listen… I don’t have my wallet with me. So… I may not have it right now, but I promise I’ll pay you back in double as soon as I can… I just need a shelter for tonight… please?”
And as soon as the bomb has been dropped, I know I made a terrible mistake.
She bats her eyelashes seductively, but I think she’s mostly making fun of me rather than hitting on me by making me look like a complete idiot. Great, another weirdo. “I’ve heard that story many times, honey, and it was always a lie. Charming thieves who pretend to be princes but are nothing close to it, not in a million years! Do you think I’m an idiot? No money, no bed, that’s how it goes!”
What a way to put it. I guess I’m not going to get any help from her, after all.
“I understand, ma’am, but…”
She leaves me no room to object, counteracting with yet another argument, eyebrows knit in unrepressed anger contradiction. “Do you think the fact that you’re pretty cute can get you anything?”
“N-no, I don’t…”
“If it were that easy, I wouldn’t be here!”
I refrain from commenting on that, coming to the conclusion that it would probably do more harm than good to my situation. Silence is golden as they say. “Listen, I just…”
This seems to do it for her patience - if she ever had any. “You just thought it was worth giving it a try, isn’t it? Well, sorry to say, sweetheart, but it won’t work for me! Get out of here!” The growing annoyance on her face tells me that this is probably my last chance and that my luck has run dry. As if to prove my theory, she walks around her counter to stand beside me.
Desperate, I decide to play my trump card as she puts her hands on my shoulders and starts walking me to the entrance - or rather exit, as it would seem in my case. Will I really be sleeping in the dumpsters…? “Wait, I-… D-Don’t you know me? I’m Jung Yunho, you must know my father…“
“Names don’t buy food or rent! Out!”
The door opens suddenly, missing my face by a few centimetres, and I am kicked out like a parasite, where my butt lands painfully in the dirt. “Now scram! And don’t you dare come back!”
I am flabbergasted. I can’t believe the woman didn’t recognize me.
Harsh. I can’t help but think this was uncalled for.
Closing my eyes long enough to recollect my thoughts, I listen as the door slams shut on me, cutting off all hopes I might have had to sleep in a bed tonight. Then, I crack an eye open, only to find that there are several individuals huddled up around me and looking at me closely. I would want to tell them to go away and leave me the hell alone, but considering how I’m ridiculously outnumbered, I keep quiet.
How frustrating… This is definitely not a good start.
But thinking about my father’s smug face when I come running back to him is more than I can take. I’ll show him I don’t need him. I’m not letting him win this one.
Not to mention that I have to find the thief and get back what he stole from me.
Unfazed, I stand up as proudly as I possibly can in this situation and brushing off actual (not imaginary) dust off my pants, I march off to God-knows-where, aware of numerous pairs of eyes piercing into my back as I go. I’m trying to make a point here… Even if it’s probably incredibly stupid of me to stand my ground, I don’t want to give up. That would mean defeat, and if there’s something that qualifies me, it’s my impossibly stubborn persistence and unshakable pride. That much I’ll admit.
This sucks. This really, really sucks. Here I was moments ago, pumped up with ideas of grandeur, intent on making drastic changes in my life once and for all. Giving my wristwatch a brief glance, I understand that I’ve been gone for two hours at most, and that in that short time, I managed to have my wallet stolen and my very person no less than kicked out of a very modest-looking inn; and that’s a nice way to say it.
Well, only one thing serves to cheer me up at the moment.
With everything that has gone wrong in the past two hours, what more could possibly happen? I cling to that very idea for support and motivation. Yes, it can only get better now.
But fate has a nasty habit of proving us wrong, doesn’t it.
Yup, it sure does tonight.
As the thunder cracks above my head and the rain comes pouring down on me, I take a deep breath to keep myself from screaming at my impossibly bad luck and instead, I take off my blazer to lift it over my head, reasoning that keeping my head warm is my best bet if I want to avoid getting sick on my first day away from home. Stomping my foot and throwing a fit, although it does sound like it would provide much relief, would not in any way help my situation.
Better find a shelter quick.
Strangely calm all of a sudden - it must be that my anger has turned into desperation for being so ill-fated - I hold my hand up over my eyes like a visor, trying to see through the torrents that are streaming down around me. I’m already drenched despite my efforts, but I still wish to take cover until the angry elements calm down sufficiently, so I scan my surroundings in search of a place to hide.
The rain is coming down so hard… I can barely see one foot in front of me…
Blindly, I stumble through the curtain of water, unsure as to where I’m going exactly.
After advancing for a few minutes, holding out my hands in front of me, searching, I lay my palms flat against a rough surface that I recognize to be a brick wall. I continue in that direction, feeling that I’ve reached some kind of alleyway which I’m walking deeper into with every step that I take. By that time I’m soaked to the bones and shivering like a puppy (I’m pretty sure I must smell like one too).
Eventually, the quantity of droplets washing down on me dies down, before disappearing completely.
Surprised, I look up and around, only to find that I’ve ended up next to a building, under a roof.
Spirits suddenly dampened (literally) by the much-deserved break, I crouch down to the ground, huddling up to keep what’s left of my body warmth, which is not a lot. I rub my dripping face and shove my hair back while keeping cover under my blazer. Everything but thrilled by the unexpected shower, I wait and wish for the downpour to die down before I die of pneumonia.
What a truly horrible beginning for a new life. I sure hope all this won’t become a habit…
For now, I’ll rest a little, since it’s the only thing I can afford to do (no pun intended).
And so my eyes feel heavy and my head nods and I feel myself drift away…
***
[Yunho’s POV]
I wake up to the feel of hands running up my sides and clasping my wrists, keeping me down…
Wait a minute… Hands… on me?! How did this happen? What did I miss?!
“Whoa, whoa…! What the hell are you doing?”
Now fully awake, I lift a pair of horrified eyes towards my two assailants who are currently stripping me of my clothing and accessories. “Get your hands off me! Please, stop!” One of the men sniggers as if this situation was completely hilarious, but none of them actually stops what they’re doing. Rationalizing that trying to talk them out of this is probably pointless, I start fighting back, attempting to wriggle out of their steel grip, before finding out that this too will serve me no purpose.
I can’t move. They’re too strong for me.
“Ugh…! Let me go… bastards…” I feel very weak, powerless… No doubt that my earlier experience with the merciless nature has something to do with it. I hang my head, unable to hold it up straight, and lay unmoving as the perpetrators accomplish whatever they have decided to do with me. Their intentions are unclear but I doubt what they have in store for me is anything pleasant…
“His togs are all high-class brands… They’ll bring in big money if we sell ‘em…”
“Of course we’ll sell ‘em… Are you thinkin’ of parading ‘round with those on? Hah!”
“Look, look… This is Armani… Armani, man! No kidding!”
“Good job, pardner! We’re gonna be rich! Take that shiny watch for me too, will ya?”
Puzzled, I look up at them. “So you just… want my… clothes…?”
It takes a while for my weakened mind to process what my mouth has just uttered (apparently without consultation between the two). When it does, though, I realize what a stupid thing I have just said.
In a few days, I would remember this and laugh, but… for now…
The one who had been taking my watch off looks up at that with crinkling eyes. A sparkle of interest now glows in them. “What… Got something else that’d be valuable for us, eh?”
His partner looks at him, baring his fangs, before turning back in my direction and closing the distance between us slowly. Anxious, I start to back away from him in the same fashion, feeling a truly disheartening sense of alarm in my stomach. “Something else for us to take? Could it be… you’re a virgin, rich boy? Ho-ho-ho, this could be worth a lot more than I thought…”
“Let’s sell him to Hana… I’m sure he’ll soon become one of the clients’ favourite…”
Sell…? Could it be as in… Could they possibly mean to… a brothel?
Feeling my throat tighten and almost completely cut off the flow of air to my lungs, suffocating me, I back off some more, only to find that my back is now pressed against the wall and that there’s no way out of this for me. As the panic takes over me, I stop thinking: I kick one of them and attempt to punch the other, but he catches my fist before it connects with his jaw and twists my arm behind my back, pinning me down as if this were nothing to him. “You sure he’s good at all…?”
“Only one way to find out.” That’s all the other has to say before he starts deftly unbuttoning my shirt (my blazer being long gone now). Shuddering in disgust as I understand all too well what is going on with an acute sense of reality, I start thrashing with renewed vigour, wanting to get away at all costs. “Get… away…!” I protest as the other unzips my trousers and shoves his hand down-
I close my eyes, as if this could remove me from the scene, and suddenly, I hear a loud thump, after which my assailant collapses on me, weighing me down in his fall. What… exactly just happened?
Alerted by the unexpected turn of event, I blink them back open, only to find that the man has lost consciousness. Behind him, over his shoulder, I see the dark beauty from earlier facing my way, which indicates that he must have been the one to knock out my attacker. He quickly turns his attention to the other, who tries to get away upon seeing such anger and violence directed at him.
I, too, must say that I am astonished - and a little flattered - about getting his assistance.
“Jaejoong-ah, what are you thinking? We were gonna use the money for the kids-“
“You… You know I hate your guts. Why are you pretending to be friends?”
“Such harsh feelings… Do I really deserve-“
“You deserve far worse. Get the fuck away before I show you what I’m thinking.”
“Woah, there. You tryin’ to pick a fight with me, pretty boy?” Jaejoong’s opponent attempts to intimidate him, but it doesn’t seem like the cliché phrase scares him in the least. Actually, it only seems to fuel the unexplainable ire that emanates from him. Grabbing the other guy by the collar of his shirt, he rams him into the brick wall, not caring that his head smashes against it painfully.
“I’m warning you, Bongchol: get out of here. I don’t like to repeat myself.”
Thick silence follows the threat - which I do not think to be empty - as both men assess each other and stare each other down. After a few seconds of palpable tension during which even I hold my breath, my aggressor abdicates by lowering his head, and Jaejoong lets go of him, although he never looks away. “You really need to chill once in a while. Geez…” The other man walks away, leaving his unconscious partner behind. Once he’s gone, my saviour - to whose face I can finally put a name, Jaejoong - spares me a brief look, a conflicting mix of feelings, before leaving too. Before he can get away, though, I push the offending body off of me and make to follow him. I still have business with him…
My attempt to stand doesn’t work out so well and I trip over a garbage can in a loud clank, barely managing to keep my balance. This draws Jaejoong’s attention back to me.
Oh man. He’s looking at me with such intensity…
Exactly, he’s simply looking at me. What the heck is wrong with me? Why those feelings?
Before I can help myself, I breathe out a hoarse “thank you” that hurts my pride, as if it weren’t shattered to pieces enough already. But it’s true: he really did save my hide.
After what just transpired, I couldn’t have predicted what he gives me as an answer.
“You just happened to be there. Don’t imagine weird things.”
Wow. What a nice, plain way to say “I could have left you to die and it wouldn’t have bothered me”…
Whatever. The fact is what happened, happened. Why should I care what he thinks?
Still, a part of me doesn’t believe him (or rather wants to believe that he’s not telling the truth, which wouldn’t be surprising, seeing how he stole my wallet and all). Seriously doubting the veracity of his words, I stand with my arms crossed, eyebrow raised in clearly expressed scepticism.
This doesn’t go unnoticed by Jaejoong, who narrows his eyes, a gesture that makes me inwardly smirk. Interesting. It seems like we have at least one thing in common. “Listen, I wasn’t trying to save you, okay…? I just don’t like that guy and you happened to be in the way. He’ll use whatever means necessary to get what he wants, something I can’t agree with.” I have half a mind to tell him that’s what he did when he took off with my money, but I hold back, remembering how he slammed that guy into the wall…
Not that I would mind that much, but…
He looks like he wants to say why am I even telling you this when he turns heels and starts walking away. “If you really want to make yourself useful, get out of this place. You don’t belong here.”
So what, he’s just going to walk away? I still haven’t retrieved my wallet…
Intent on getting it back, I walk in quick strides to catch up with him and plant myself right in front of him. As he wasn’t expecting me to challenge his authority, he almost runs into me, stopping merely inches away from my face. He quickly backs away. At that point, he looks a little pissed, but not any less good-looking, to be honest. In fact, he looks extremely attractive when he’s angry. “What do you want?” He hisses between clenched teeth, trying to look composed but failing miserably.
“Give back what you stole.” I flat-out say, stretching out my hand to receive what’s mine.
That seems to trigger something: the feral smile sneaks its way back on his lips as he registers the fact that I’ve seen through his act. “Heh. Took you long enough.” He says more to himself than to me, though he makes no move to give in to my request. “I’m serious, go home. You won’t last the night.”
I’m slightly offended by how little credit he gives me, but his statement intrigues me.
He seems so certain of what he says…
“What makes you think that? You don’t even know me…”
Jaejoong snickers and I can’t help but jump at the unexpected sound. I’d seen him be pretty serious up until now, but this sounded so… so boyish. Almost… cute. “Come on, now… I’m not exactly a genius but I’m not stupid either… Everyone knows who you are, Jung Yunho. Now I don’t know if you got lost or if you came here willingly - which would be extremely foolish, by the way, no offence -, but regardless of the reason, you should leave as soon as possible. You shouldn’t be here.”
Upon hearing him say that, I start eyeing him more curiously. “And why is that?”
It’s his turn to stare at me as if I had just gone mad. “Why, you ask? Because you’re playing with fire. You’re like a… tasty piece of meat among a pack of hungry wolves, Jung.” Jaejoong pauses momentarily, apparently proud of his eloquent metaphor. “Anyone with even an ounce of intelligence knows that you have money; it’s not like you’re really trying to hide it, right? And I’ll admit you’re not exactly bad to look at either… so go back to your hotel or whatever while you still can.”
Just who does he think he is? Ordering me around like that… “This is none of your business.”
He nods uninterestingly, conceding me that much. “Damn right, it’s not.”
“I think I’m old enough to make that decision myself without a stranger treating me like a child.”
“Hey, you got a point there, big guy… Sure, stay here, be my guest… But stay away from dark alleyways, would you? Just a friendly advice. I won’t be saving your ass a second time.”
I humph disdainfully at his insolent air of self-importance. “I wouldn’t expect you to.”
He smirks, visibly glad to have angered me, if only a little. “Good, ‘cause I’m not gonna.”
“I can take care of myself very well without your help.”
“Sure you can. That’s why you almost got molested back there. That was very convincing indeed.”
My expression darkens at the none-too-pleasant memory. “Shut up. I didn’t ask for your help.”
“You sure looked relieved to see me though…”
I heave a sharp sigh of annoyance, wishing that he would just leave me alone and be on his damn way. How does he manage to find something to bite back every time I say something? It’s like he has an endless number of arguments… “Thanks for your help, alright? Sincerely, I mean it. Now go away.”
“I’ll let you know that this-”, Jaejoong makes a wide sweeping movement with his arm, “is where I live. If anything, you’re the one trespassing on my property. You go away.” He retorts while pointing his finger at me accusingly, waiting to see how I’ll react to that. But I’m honestly exhausted and I don’t feel like arguing any more with him. This confrontation has already worn me out, so I just do as he says - anything for a little bit of peace. “Fine. Goodbye.” I just want to sleep…
For some reason, though, as I walk out of the alleyway, I can hear footsteps in my back, and it can only be one person, considering the circumstances. “…Why are you following me?”
A low chuckle. “Well… The view is a lot better from here.”
I can’t believe this guy.
“You warn me about potential dangers but you’re a freaking pervert yourself.” I reproach him for his inappropriate comment, thankful to know that he’s behind me and won’t see my flaming red cheeks… No matter what he says and no matter how infuriating he is to me, I can’t deny my being attracted to him and the fact that his presence does not leave me completely impassive. Not at all.
No matter how much I hate it, it’s the inescapable truth.
As I feel Jaejoong grow closer to me, I stand stiff like a post, nerves racked, wondering what he could possibly be up to. When I finally dare turn my head a little, I find that he’s a little too close for comfort. “What a severe accusation, Mr. Jung. I am flattered.” He says, his breath ghosting close to my face in an attempt to unsettle me, most likely, which succeeds perfectly. Swallowing with much difficulty - God, I hope he won’t have noticed that -, I admire his flawless visage from up close, my vision oddly blurry.
I feel so drawn in… It would be so easy… And yet…
He bears my gaze a little longer, looking like he doesn’t hate the proximity either. Then, chuckling, he pulls away and passes me by, lifting an arm to wave at me. “See ya.”
It takes me a few minutes to recover, and when I finally do, he’s completely out of sight.
How dare he act so damn smug and make me feel things I shouldn’t…
Just… Damn this guy! He still hasn’t given me back my wallet!
Chapter Three