The Nanny
Title: The Nanny
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Yunho/Jaejoong
Summary: Kim Jaejoong was searching for his father. Jung Yunho, on the other hand, was looking for a nanny. A series of events led them to find each other instead.
Disclaimer: Real people belong to themselves. So I really don't own anything.
A/N: This fan fiction was inspired by and loosely based on the Taiwanese drama "Down with Love." This is also unbetaed so I apologize for any mistake I made.
Chapter 7:
“He’s ruining the kitchen!”
“We don’t know that yet,” Changmin pointed out diplomatically. The early riser, he had come down for breakfast only to find a distressed cook waiting outside the kitchen door. Apparently, a certain nanny had locked Sungmin out, taking the keys to the kitchen with him. “How did Hero manage to get in there before you?”
“He was already there when I woke up at 5am to prepare breakfast and he’s been there for an hour now,” Sungmin repeatedly knocked on the door to no avail. “What are we going to do? Yunho-ssi’s going to come down any minute and there’s no food yet!”
Changmin checked his wrist watch and ran a hand through his hair. He turned back to Sungmin, who had resorted to leaning his ear against the door, trying to hear if there were any weird sounds coming from the kitchen. So far, there were only sounds of pots and pans clanking, water running, and the faint whirring sound of what Changmin guessed was the coffee maker could be heard. Changmin knocked on the door once more. “Hero, if you don’t open the door right this very moment -”
Then there was a loud crash. A boom followed. Changmin and Sungmin looked at each other in horror, before Changmin rammed into the door, breaking it into splinters. Both rushed in and stared. Hero was lying on the floor, the cupboard above him hanging wide open, various kitchen utensils along with pots and pans surrounding him. The nanny was covered in flour, a bowl held up triumphantly in hand, waving enthusiastically. “I finally got it!”
“What on earth is going on?” Yunho had heard the commotion from his room and had rushed down to the kitchen immediately. “Why is the kitchen door broken on its hinges?”
“Ask him.” Changmin turned to Hero, who was still obliviously waving the bowl around. Two breads popped out from the toaster, all burnt up. Changmin could feel a headache forming. “I remember telling you to stay away from the kitchen unless you’re helping Sungmin.”
“YOU!” Sungmin was close to hysterical. “What have you done?” In all his years of working for Jung Yunho, he had never seen the kitchen this messy until Hero came along.
“Oh. How did you get in?” Jaejoong frowned. “I could’ve sworn I took the keys with me so I wouldn’t be bothered…” He sniffed and his brows furrowed. “I think I smell something burning.”
“Everything is burning!” Sungmin growled as he rushed to the stove to turn it off. “Get out of the kitchen! Now!”
Jaejoong pouted. “I just wanted to make breakfast for the twins.” He wanted to do something special for them before he leaves. And he should do something about his brain-mouth filter again - it cost him his first real job, after all. It was one of the things every one in the palace had warned him of. Crown Prince Jaejoong should always think before he speaks, because every word he says especially in public, could be construed differently. He’s taken caution to be politically correct most of the time, but there were times when he just couldn’t help himself, and last night had been one of those times.
Jaejoong didn’t regret saying the things he did. He just wished Jin wouldn’t murder him once he returns to the latter’s apartment.
“I’ll call the rest of the household staff to help clean up the kitchen so you can prepare breakfast immediately,” Changmin told Sungmin. “Rini-ssi and Mihyun-ssi must be cleaning the second floor now.” The two servants were older than Yunho and the only two people Changmin was formal with at the household. “Kangin can take care of the garden later.” Kangin was the gardener.
“While you’re at it, tell Jin that we’ll be dropping the twins off to school before going to the firm.” Yunho spoke up. “I’ll have breakfast with my niece and nephew. But you can go ahead once Sungmin has the food ready Changmin, you’re going to be late.”
Changmin just nodded and proceeded to call the other staff. Sungmin was left throwing all the stuff Jaejoong had tried to make. “Are you trying to kill the twins? They can’t eat these!”
But Jaejoong was too busy staring at Yunho in wonder. “You do realize you’re going to be late for work, right?”
“I’m my own boss. I can go to work late if I want to.” Yunho looked at Jaejoong, as if daring the latter to say otherwise. “From now on, I’m going with you to take the kids to school after having breakfast with them. You’ll stay with them until their classes is over in the afternoon and Jin picks you up.”
“So I’ll have the afternoons off?”
“You’re not allowed to take a day off. You have to stay with the twins until I get home so I can spend some time with them. Besides, you have to pay for the kitchen door you broke.” Yunho raised an eyebrow. “You’re not thinking of backing out now, are you?”
Jaejoong huffed in response. “Of course not.” He was never one to turn down a challenge.
Yunho smirked. “Good. Call me when breakfast is ready.” He ordered to Jaejoong before leaving the kitchen.
It took a minute for what Yunho told him to sink in. Jaejoong smiled brightly. “Well, at least Jin’s not going to murder me anytime soon.”
++++
Surprise was an understatement of what Park Yoochun felt when his best friend came to the law firm two hours after he was supposed to. “What happened?” Yoochun followed Yunho walking to his office.
“I had breakfast with my niece and nephew then took them to their school.” Yunho replied, stopping by Kyuhyun’s desk and taking the files Kyuhyun handed out. “Ah, is it alright if I come in at this time starting today? I want to take Tae Jin and Soo Jin to school every day and start my day having a meal with them.”
Yoochun blinked. “Sure, just inform Kyuhyun about the change of schedule.”
“Thanks.” Yunho smiled at the workers that walked pass the two of them. “And tomorrow is the twins’ talent show. You wouldn’t mind if I take the day off, right? I’m planning to take them to the amusement park afterwards.”
“Don’t you have a meeting in the afternoon?”
Yunho was scanning the files Kyuhyun gave him as they walked. “Take over for me? It’s the same divorce case you offered to handle last week.”
“Okay, who are you and what have you done to Jung Yunho?” Yoochun demanded, as they stopped in front of Yunho’s office.
“Hmm?” Yunho looked up from the papers he was reading. “What are you talking about?”
Yoochun folded his arms across his chest. “You’re changing your work schedule, you’re actually smiling at the employees, and you’re taking a day off! Are you sure you’re my best friend?”
“There’s nothing wrong with me.” Yunho gave the files to Yoochun so that the latter can look through it later. “I just realized that I needed to set my priorities straight.”
++++
“You look lost in thought.” Seunghyun placed two bottles of water next to Jaejoong. “Here. You might want to give those to the twins after their practice. They’re probably parched.”
Jaejoong snapped out of his reverie and smiled at Seunghyun. “Thanks.” The two of them were at the auditorium, watching the students of Class 1-B practice their performance for the annual St. Catherine Elementary School talent show. This year, the class was going to sing “Amazing Grace” with the class adviser accompanying the students by piano.
Jaejoong watched from his seat as the students’ voices floated through the auditorium, the piano’s melody in the background. His eyes rested on Tae Jin and Soo Jin, who had been all smiles since they woke up and found their Uncle Yunho waiting for them at breakfast. The two broke out even bigger smiles when Yunho announced that he was going with Jin and Jaejoong to take them to school. The hug that they gave Yunho before they entered the school was so warm and tight that Jaejoong had felt like an intruder.
“Your charges are different today,” Seunghyun remarked. “They’re actually behaving for once.”
It was true. The twins had not played a prank on him this day. “They’re just in a good mood.” Jaejoong smiled. “I want to see them like this all the time, really. It’s quite nice.”
“You’re the first nanny that has ever said that about them,” Seunghyun told him. “I don’t think no one had last long to see them so carefree before.”
“I’m just lucky, I guess.” The children’s voices was drowning the sound of the piano. Jaejoong thought the teacher’s key was too high for the students to reach. But thankfully, the children were still in tune and they weren’t grating to the ears.
“I think they’re going to stay here until after lunch,” Seunghyun was saying. “It’s a good thing I don’t have classes at the university this afternoon.”
Jaejoong looked at him. “You’re a college student?”
“Yeah, Seungri’s the son of my next-door neighbors. Both of them work so they needed someone to take care of him while he’s in school. I offered to do it as a part-time job since all my classes start in the afternoon. ”
“Then who takes care of him after school is over?”
“I drop him off the day care his mother is working at then go straight to Seoul National University.”
“You’re a student of Seoul National University?” Jaejoong asked him eagerly. “What’s your course?”
“I’m a Psychology major. I’m in third year now, actually.”
“Really?” Jaejoong practically squealed. It was a stretch, a really long one, but he had to try. “Say, do you know anyone working at the Office of the Registrar?” Their visit to Seoul National University the day before had not gone too well. The Office of the Registrar refused to let them see any of the records from twenty years before, especially if Jaejoong cannot even tell them the name of the person he was looking for.
“One of my friends works there.” Seunghyun tilted his head inquisitively. “Why do you ask?”
Jaejoong bit his lip. “Do you think you can help me get students’ records from twenty years ago? I can’t tell you what it’s for, but I would really appreciate it if you could help me.” He had only known Lee Seunghyun for two days but at this point, there was no harm in trying.
“Sure. I can probably ask my friend for a copy.”
“Would your friend get in trouble?”
“I think it’s too late to ask that,” Seunghyun laughed. “You don’t have to worry. I know how strict SNU could be with their students’ profiles and records. As long as you promise me that you won’t do anything illegal, I won’t ask any more questions about it.”
“I promise!” Jaejoong beamed at him. “You’re a cool guy, Seunghyun.”
“Call me TOP.” Seunghyun grinned. “Most of my friends do.”
++++
It was the day of the talent show. Jaejoong, TOP, and the rest of the other kids’ nannies were backstage at the auditorium, looking after their charges, making sure that they stayed in one place and that their costumes were in one piece before their performance.
“Stop peeking!” Jaejoong pulled Tae Jin gently away from the stage curtains. There was another class was dancing ballet on the stage. “Your class is going to perform after this.”
Tae Jin pouted adorably at Jaejoong. “I want to see Uncle Yunho!”
Jaejoong shook his head and chuckled. “You will see your Uncle Yunho in the audience later, don’t worry.”
“Really?”
“Really.” Jaejoong’s eyes twinkled. “Didn’t you and your sister accompany him to his seat before you went here?”
“But what if he gets away because of work?”
“He won’t.” Jaejoong bent down to Tae Jin’s height and whispered conspiratorially in his ear. “I’ve told Jin not to let your uncle go until your performance is over.”
Tae Jin looked at him suspiciously. “Promise?”
“Pinky promise.” Jaejoong held out his pinky to Tae Jin. But before Tae Jin could link his pinky to Jaejoong’s, TOP came rushing toward them, his left and right hands holding on to Seungri’s and Soo Jin’s.
“Is something wrong?” Jaejoong picked up the ribbon that just fell from Soo Jin’s hair. “Soo Jin, do you want me to fix your hair for you?”
In response, Soo Jin tugged her hand away from TOP’s and went quietly to Jaejoong’s side. “We have a problem,” TOP said. “Their class adviser fell down the stairs this morning. She broke her left arm. Class 1-B has no pianist.”
Soo Jin buried her face on Jaejoong’s shoulders, who was still at a crouch. “Uncle Yunho wouldn’t be able to see us perform.” She said softly.
“Don’t be silly,” Jaejoong pulled Soo Jin away from him and smiled. “You’re going to perform soon. Let me tie your ribbon for you.” Before Soo Jin could protest, Jaejoong was already fixing her hair. “Now, you look prettier. Tae Jin,” He motioned to the boy who was standing beside him, still looking confused. “Go with your sister and Seungri. Tell the rest of your classmates to get ready for the performance. You’re going to be up next.”
“Okay!” Tae Jin did as he was told, pulling Soo Jin and Seungri along with him. Jaejoong watched them go before turning to TOP. “We have some work to do.”
++++
Yunho glanced at his watch then back at the program he was holding. Beside him, Jin was fidgeting in his seat. He wasn’t the only one. The rest of the audience was becoming restless and the auditorium was slowly becoming noisy. “Hey, aren’t the twins’ class supposed to be performing now?”
“They should be.” Yunho frowned. “I don’t know what the delay is all about.”
“Relax.” Jin noticed the stiff expression on Yunho’s face. “They’re with Hero. I’m sure they’re safe.”
“I wouldn’t bet on that.” Yunho said wryly. “Sometimes, I think the new nanny you recommended is more trouble than he’s worth, especially if you take my kitchen into consideration.”
Jin laughed sheepishly. “Sorry about that. Hero’s just not an expert in the kitchen.”
Before Yunho could say anything else, the lights dimmed and a man walked on stage. The man looked like a fish out of water, with his baggy jeans and black leather jacket. He cleared his throat. “I apologize for the long wait. Due to unforeseen circumstances, there would be a small change in Class 1-B’s performance.” He bowed his head. “I’m Lee Seunghyun and thank you for waiting.”
The guy who introduced himself as Seunghyun turned around and held up both his hands. With that, the curtains pulled open, revealing twenty children all dressed in white, wearing wings on their backs. Tae Jin and Soo Jin were standing at the middle. On the right side of the stage was a grand piano. Seunghyun looked at the pianist and nodded. As soon as Seunghyun moved his hands, the pianist started to play.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see…
The children’s voices filled the air, loud and clear. The audience had gone quiet, listening to the song, the piano accompaniment slow and strong in the background.
Jin wiped his eyes. It couldn’t be his imagination. The pianist definitely looked like -
“Jaejoong.” Ryo watched the Crown Prince playing the piano. “He’s not doing a good job of playing incognito, that’s for sure.”
YamaPi sighed. “He’s never been subtle.” The two of them were standing at the back of the auditorium, away from the crowd.
“He’ll have to be.” Ryo smirked. “Especially now that we’re around.”