Whispered Lullaby: Chapter 4

[hydraheiress]

i. story by: hydraheiress
ii. pairing: yunjae, yoosumin (kind of)
iii. genre: romance, drama, fluff, humor, highschool, fantasy
iv. length: 4/18
v. rating: nc-17
vi: warnings: hinted incest, mention of drug overdose, character death, sexual content
viii. summary: To Jaejoong, Appa Yunho was his everything. But what if circumstances one day will force his father to leave his side?
viii. chapters: [1] | [2] | [3] |



chapter four

Time spent inside Gwangju Penitentiary's cold, massive walls was a never-ending emotional torture for Yunho. His thoughts only ever revolved around his son. Days, weeks, months, even years had passed and yet it was still there, the desperation to hear his melodious laugh, to see his breathtaking smile, to be the sole recipient of his affectionate kisses and warm embraces.

He craved to be called Appa again; for Jaejoong to tell him how much he was loved. It nearly kills him every time he thinks of the past whenever Jaejoong would exclaim saranghe followed instantly by his whole body fitting snugly against his chest. All these memories, the longing to feel his son's warm breath by his ear and his small, chubby arms wounding around his neck one more time; it was just too much for him to bear. Most nights he cries himself to sleep.

The only time he felt a little better was whenever Ara visits him. It wasn't frequent but it was something that he always looked forward to. She was pleasant enough, telling him how Jaejoong was growing up well and how good he was doing in school. She only ever shared good things and Yunho couldn't help thinking that she was hiding something from him. But nevertheless, he was just grateful to hear any news regarding his son's life.

On his thirty-first birthday, two years after he was sentenced to forty years imprisonment, Ara brought him a picture of Jaejoong along with a birthday card he especially made for him. The stinging in his eyelids was almost instant the second he saw his son's crayon drawing of two stick figures holding hands on the cover, with the bigger one named 'Appa' and the smaller one named "Joongie'.

Happy birthday appa. Come home soon please?
Me and Yunniebear miss you so much already!
Love you forever, Joongie. =)

Tears fell one after the other, dampening the thin cut out bond paper as he read his son's birthday greeting; Jaejoong's very much childlike penmanship taking space all over the page. Yunho outright sobbed when he was told of the effort and love his little boy poured into making the card.

That visit was the last time Ara was civil around him.

Somewhere around his third year in prison, she came in crying hard, furious and blaming him for Youngwoong's death. Yunho was aware of his comatose state and it saddened him greatly that he was gone. He was after all a close friend, his sometimes lover and brother-in-law. But Ara confused him. For someone that claimed to hate her twin brother to the very core, she looked absolutely devastated and miserable with his demise; as if she couldn't continue on living without him in her life.

Yunho's already broken heart shattered all the more when she swore that he'll never see Jaejoong again. She blamed him for her brother's death and knew exactly how to cause him more pain. Yunho had hoped that her words were merely induced by grief, but to his despair, it was indeed the last time he ever saw her, the last time he ever heard anything about his son.

"What's with the long face Yunho? I would think you'd be happy that we're finally gonna be free men in a month's time."

Glancing up at his former boss, friend and cellmate for ten years in this dreary place, Yunho shrugged and resumed reading the letters that he's been writing his son ever since he was imprisoned. It was his only outlet, a form of solace from the creeping hopelessness that tend to swallow him whole with each day that passed; especially when Ara decided to never set foot in jail again.

Yoochun flopped down beside him. "Don't you wonder what Jaejoong looks like these days?"

Yunho forlornly stared at the ceiling. "Everyday." He looked at Yoochun, a small bitter smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Do you think he still remembers me?"

Yoochun hummed. "Yeah, sure. I mean, he should already be ten years old when your lovely wife stopped coming here, and he did make you that birthday card."

"I bet he's the spitting image of his Uncle." Yunho said with a resigned sigh. Yoochun's sudden silence at the mention of the late blond wasn't surprising anymore. He took his death pretty hard. Remembering Youngwoong's face, Yunho developed the urge to smack himself when he began feeling the telltale signs of jealousy again. "Can't believe I'm still jealous that my son didn't inherit anything from me and got everything from Ara and Youngwoong instead."

Still receiving no response, he glanced at Yoochun who to his mild surprise was looking at him with a stormy gaze. "Yoochun-ah?"

"Say Yunho." Yoochun began, lips pursing.

"Yeah?"

"What if you were told a secret," Yoochun trailed off and rubbed the back of his neck. "Nevermind. Forget I said anything. Go- continue whatever it is you're doing." He stood up and lumbered over to his bed, making himself comfortable. "I'm going to sleep."

With a shrug, Yunho went back to his letters. A broad smile spread across his face as he caressed his son's photo. Because of good behavior, him and Yoochun were pardoned and petitioned for an early release. He couldn't wait to get out and meet his son. He kissed the image and held it close against his chest, eyes fluttering close, feeling alive once again for the first time in a decade.

Joongie, appa will come home soon. Wait for me.

**

"Jaejoong ah, did you skip classes again?" The student cracked an eye open, gaze flooding with the school doctor's inquiring face. With a groan, he pulled himself up from his lying position on the bench.

"Seonsaengnim." Jaejoong side-glanced the other who took the space beside him. "What do you want?"

The bespectacled doctor chuckled and ruffled his hair. "Answering a question with another question."

"Quit it." Jaejoong grumbled, swatting the hand off his head. "Shouldn't you be in your clinic Junsu-ssi?"

Junsu stretched his legs in front of him and cocked his head back to look at the morning sky. "I was bored so I decided to take a little walk." he winked at the young lad. "Then I saw my favorite patient lazying around so I came here to check up on you."

Jaejoong snorted. "I feel so special."

Junsu turned sideways and regarded him playfully. "Yah. I'm a very busy man just so you know and yet I still find the time to spend it with you. The least you can do is show some appreciation."

Jaejoong's teeth gritted in annoyance. The doctor was really starting to get on his nerves. Just because he happened to save him that one time from trouble, he made it a point to look after him and irritate him on a daily basis. Jung Jaejoong didn't need a babysitter.

Halfheartedly glaring at the older man, an idea made itself known yet again. It won't be the first time Jaejoong acted on such an idea, but he was still gonna give it a go. Who knows, maybe under that angelic exterior, Kim Junsu would prove to be no different from the other perverted old men in his age bracket. There was no harm in determining early on if he was in the company of a possible pedophile.

Inching closer towards the doctor, Jaejoong looked up at him coyly under dark fringes, fingers innocently brushing against his thigh. "Appreciation seonsaengnim?" he said in a low seductive purr, purposely biting his bottom lip that he found out just recently had the effect of arousing dirty perverted creeps. "How about we lock ourselves in your clinic and I'll show you just how appreciative I can be."

"I'm old enough to be your father Jaejoong ah." Junsu deadpanned while removing the teen's hand. "You'd think after what almost happened, you wouldn't dare try pulling this kind of stupidity yet here you are batting your girly eyelashes at me again."

"My eyelashes are not girly." Jaejoong exclaimed, affronted.

"Sure." Junsu patronized.

A low growl rumbled in Jaejoong's throat as he pulled away from the older man altogether, looking peeved. "Just cut the crap Junsu-ssi. Don't pretend like you genuinely fucking care."

"I do care Jaejoong or have you forgotten who saved your delinquent ass from getting molested?" The spark of anger mixed with concern in the doctor's eyes had Jaejoong biting his tongue. But still, he didn't need anyone's protection. He's been taking care of himself ever since he was a snotty little kid.

"Who told you to rescue me anyway?" Jaejoong spat, fists clenching in his lap. "Maybe I wanted that. Maybe I was allowing it to happen. Didn't that ever occur to you at all?"

Arms crossed against his chest, Junsu assessed him austerely. "I highly doubt a seventeen year old boy would willingly want to be gang raped by men more than twice his age. And from what I remember Jaejoong ah, you were struggling and looked positively scared. Didn't look anywhere near consensual."

Jaejoong glared at him hard, jaw clenched before shooting up from his seat. "Just- stop! Alright? You don't know anything about me, so don't pretend to understand what's going on inside my head!"

"But I do understand." Junsu pressed on, standing up to his full height as well. He held the teen's arm. "I can see that you're a sweet kid no matter how much you might act tough. I know you became like this because of your father. He abandoned you and you're acting out just to spite him, but-"

"Shut up!" Jaejoong's eyes burned with hatred, effectively stopping the doctor's tirade. The familiar prickle of tears stung his eyelids, but he held it in just like the numerous times he's done so in the past. He was through with crying. "Don't talk about my father like you know him!" Jerking his arm from Junsu's hold, Jaejoong hissed. "You're just like the rest. What do you really know?!"

"Jaejoong ah."

Chuckling bitterly, he locked gazes with the doctor. "You have no idea how much of a sick fuck I am Junsu-ssi, Please, just leave me alone." Turning around, Jaejoong stormed off.

He might have been scared out of his mind that night, had desperately called out for his father's name the moment he realized what those old bastards intended to do to him, but maybe it happened for a reason. For the longest time he sexually longed for his appa. Among other things he's had several dreams of being intimate with him; of doing things a father and son never should.

Maybe almost getting raped by men old enough to be his father was karma's way of saying, Sorry kid, you know what they say. I'm a bitch.

**

The hand that Junsu was about to reach for him fell limply to his side. He watched the teen's retreating back until he turned a corner and out of sight before releasing a tired breath.

As the school physician, he was the one that always tended to Jaejoong's bruises and cuts whenever he was involved in a fight. At first it was the usual concern for a kid. He's had his fair share of rebellious teenage boys coming in and out of his clinic. He thought Jaejoong was simply the same as the others that were going through a phase, until that one time he saw him in the streets late at night.

Junsu was about to drive by Jaejoong and offer to take him home when he noticed four men, who to his calculations looked to be from their late 30's to 50's corner the pretty lad. He followed them silently until he saw Jaejoong being roughed up and ganged upon a dark alley. The sight of one of the men ripping the boy's shirt before shoving his repulsive tongue inside those plush lips while the others held Jaejoong down; it spurred Junsu to come to his rescue in a heartbeat.

As soon as they were out of harm's way, Junsu forced a confession out of the pale, shaking teen. It was then he found out how the kid had the habit of befriending men twice his age. He was aware of the story behind Jung Yunho's absence in his son's life. Junsu believed that the kid was simply seeking the company of a father figure. But with a face like Jaejoong's, it didn't surprise him at all that those men wanted something else.

"Jaejoong ah." Junsu muttered helplessly before carding fingers through his hair. "Why do you insist on hurting yourself kid, and why do you keep saying you're a 'sick fuck'?"

Junsu thought he was already able to understand the reason behind the teenager's actions. But judging from the emotions he saw in those glassy yes, his initial thoughts about the kid hating his father, which was the only reasonable explanation he could come up with, seemed to be farthest from the truth.

**

"Just one more week and we're out of here." Yoochun looked about the prison's recreational area grinning. "I sure am not going to miss this place."

Yunho glanced at him briefly before looking down as he continued on with writing. It was another one of those letters for his son that he couldn't send out.

Yoochun nudged the silent man. "Hey, Yunho. Let's go play ball for a bit. What do you say?"

"I'm fine." Yunho replied, never taking his eyes off his letters.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Chun. I'm perfectly okay sitting here. Now stop bothering me."

"Okay, suit yourself." Dusting off his pants, Yoochun jogged towards a group of inmates who were playing basketball. "Hey, you have a spot for one more?"

Yunho tried to drown out the noise, hand temporarily pausing from it's work. He sighed. Sometimes, it was still grating how Yoochun could act so carefree around him. For the past ten years that they've been stuck together, not once did he hear a single apology come from that man. They might be considered friends but at the back of his mind he could never fully let go of his hate for his former boss.

He blamed him. He wanted out of the gang, but Yoochun would have none of it. If only he had the decency to understand his concerns before, he wouldn't have been separated from Jaejoong and dragged to this hellhole, forced to spend every waking moment of his miserable existence always longing for his precious little boy.

He craned his neck to the side and watched him playing with the other prisoners at the makeshift court. Just the previous night, Yoochun promised that he was through doing illegal business, that once he was out he was gonna be a reformed man and do things the legal way. Yunho guessed Youngwoong's death was the pushing force that got him into that mindset. Maybe Yoochun did feel guilty for the things that happened in the past; but just wasn't that fond of apologizing.

Yunho still somewhat hated him however.

A frown creased his forehead when he caught sight of Kwon Munhee approach Yoochun. He used to be one of his men until he was kicked out when Yunho caught him stealing money from Yoochun's office. They never heard from him again until a week ago when he officially became an inmate; sentenced to life imprisonment for five counts of murder.

Yoochun had nearly exploded into righteous fury when Munhee opened his mouth a few days ago. Smug bastard that he was, he took his sweet time going into details as to what kind of treatment Youngwoong went through in the Harimao's hands. Munhee was the fucker that tipped the enemy off, the very reason why Youngwoong had been captured, raped and overdosed that night.

Yunho itched to kill him with his bare hands, but a flash of his son's face and the fact that he was gonna see him soon had him holding back. He didn't want to screw up his chance of finally being with Jaejoong again. But judging from the dark look and the killing intent that Yoochun was sending Munhee's way as the bastard laughed and taunted him, Yunho was quite sure that Yoochun's chance at a new life might just get screwed over instead.

After placing his letters back inside the worn-out envelop he always carried, Yunho got to his feet and rushed to Yoochun's side just in time to seize his hand from making a dent on Munhee's ugly mug.

"Easy, easy." Yunho soothed, right arm circling around Yoochun's shoulder while the other gripped his trembling, white-knuckled fist. "It's not worth it. We're going out in a few days and he's gonna rot in here. Let it go."

"Awww, isn't that sweet. You're just the perfect boyfriend are you Yunho? No wonder Youngwoong was so eager to take your dick up his ass." Munhee mocked, arms crossing against his chest, a smirk plastered across his face. "Guess he was used to getting screwed so hard, he definitely enjoyed himself. He even begged us to fuck him. He sure was a screamer." he laughed out loud, causing for the other inmates to crowd in with the scene he was making.

"Fucking bastard I'm gonna fucking kill you!" Yoochun growled, boring hateful eyes at Munhee as Yunho resolutely tried to stay in control over his own emotions and keep him from committing murder. It was obvious Munhee was just trying to rile them up.

"Fuck off, Kwon!" Yunho hissed and turned with Yoochun secured in his arms.

"Hey, Jung."

But before he could take a step, Munhee jerked him around, making him let his hold over Yoochun go.

"Yunho!" He heard Yoochun scream before he felt something cold drive through his skin, yet the sensation tremendously burned. A choked gasp fell from his parted mouth as sudden excruciating pain engulfed his senses. He looked down, barely making out the shape of a sharp objected lodged in his chest, directly where his heart resided. His vision dwindled and his surroundings went blurry.

"What..?" Yunho groaned, feeling warm liquid back up his throat and drip out of his mouth. The world tilted and he was suddenly looking up at Yoochun's alarmed face.

"Yunho! Yunho!" He faintly felt himself being shaken as his eyes fluttered open and close. Yunho clutched his chest. He felt cold, yet the wetness coating his fingers were too warm. It felt so tight, there was so much pain in his heart and he could barely breath, as if the very air from his lungs were being slowly ripped away.

Am I dying? The very thought brought tears of sorrow into his eyes. Wait, that couldn't be it. He was going to meet his son soon. He was finally gonna keep his promise. He was coming back to him. He can't die now. His son needed-

A barrage of hacking coughs rushed out of Yunho's mouth while the sound of Yoochun's pleading cries seemed to be getting farther and farther away. "Joo... ngie." Yunho desperately rasped, Jaejoong's beautiful face the only thing racing through his thoughts as the world closed in on him. Soon, complete darkness consumed his world as he went limp in Yoochun's arms.

At the sight of Yunho's closed eyelids and his lax stature, Yoochun felt unfathomable fear grip him whole as he resumed to shake him, frantically calling out his name. "Yunho! Open your eyes! Yunho!"

"What happened here?" Guards arrived and upon seeing the pocket knife buried in one of the inmate's chest, one of them crouched down and placed two fingers on the side of his neck checking for a pulse.

"This fucking bastard stabbed him!" Yoochun raged while looking up at the perpetrator. Munhee looked too pleased with himself even when he was apprehended and dragged away for solitary confinement.

"Bring a stretcher here quick." The kneeling guard ordered stiffly. Yoochun nearly felt his own heart stop at the next words that came out of his mouth. "He's alive, but barely. We're loosing him."

**

Jaejoong sauntered inside the principal's office, hands in his pockets and looking bored as always.

"Jung Jaejoong. Have a seat." The elder man gestured for the empty chair in front of his desk.

Plopping down haphazardly, Jaejoong let out a sigh and leaned back, raising a quizzical eyebrow. It wasn't the first time he was called to the old man's office. But as far as he can remember, he didn't do anything that week that could warrant his presence being needed. He did have his quiet moments.

The man sighed and looked at him behind weary eyes. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news-"

"Then don't bother saying anything." Jaejoong interrupted with an eyeroll.

Another tired sigh left the principal. "If you would just listen."

Shoulders hunched in a shrug, Jaejoong kept his mouth shut, eyes wandering the different corners of the office, making a blatant display that he couldn't care less about what the old man had to say.

"You're excused for the rest of the day and we've already called for your mother to fetch you."

That had Jaejoong whipping his head towards the principal. "What are you calling my mother for?" he queried, confusion evident by his frown. The door to the principal's office was opened, revealing his mother, Ara from the other side. Jaejoong stood up, looking quite surprised. "Umma."

After a short bow was exchanged, Ara went to her son's side and opened her arms to trap in an embrace. "Jaejoong ah." she murmured morosely into his chest, fingers gripping the flimsy fabric of his uniform. Jaejoong hugged her back, not really knowing what else to do. But he didn't like the feeling that was suddenly coiling around his heart. Would somebody fucking tell him what's going on?

"Jung-ssi, Jaejoong ah, I'm very sorry for your loss."

Jaejoong's confused gaze darted to the principal once again. He felt his heart ram against his ribcage, mouth lightly falling open at the implications those words brought. "What-"

Ara slowly pulled back and looked up at him with watery eyes. "Jaejoong ah. Your appa was stabbed in prison three days ago." she informed as he felt his whole world crash down on him. "He's dead."

**

The trip to the morgue didn't really quite register in his head.

Jaejoong was in too much of a shock to take notice of whatever was happening around him. His eyes were blank, the tears that he's tried his fucking best to keep bottled up for so many years continued to sting his eyes and trickle down his face completely out of his control. He barely recognized the feel of his mother's light squeezes on his hand as his thoughts only focused on his father; the very same man who was now lying in a cold, metal slab, covered in a white cloth from head to toe.

The moment the personnel that accompanied them pulled the fabric covering him to reveal his pale, ashen face, Jaejoong stumbled over the wastebasket and regurgitated what he had for lunch. The sight of his father's lifeless body was too much for his already broken heart to handle. Jaejoong gasped and panted, whole body trembling and shaking as he sagged down to the floor, onset after onset of tears streaming down his cheeks in absolute abandon. Screaming and punching the tiled floor repeatedly, he was completely engulfed in his sorrow that he noticed too late the thin, delicate arms wrapped around his frame as he was pulled into a warm chest.

"Jaejoong ah, baby." His mother's voice soothed, but it was far from enough to lessen the pain in his heart. She had no idea just how much he loved his father. Nobody could fully comprehend what he was going through. But nevertheless, he wept in his mother's embrace, burying his head against her neck as he clung to what little comfort he could find.

Eventually, his sobs subsided and he staggered over to the metal slab, leaving his mother on the tiled floor.

The raven teen forced himself to look down at the aged, yet still handsome face of his father, biting his lower lip enough to bleed. Fresh tears cascaded down his face once again. "You're the worst father in the world Jung Yunho." he bit out harshly, shaking hands balling into fists as he let the spark of hatred in his heart consume him. "You lied to me! Over and over again! I don't need a criminal and a liar for a father!" Furiously wiping at his cheeks, he cried out. "I hate you! I'm happy you're dead!"

But as soon as the words came out of his mouth, Jaejoong's expression crumbled and he fervently shook his head, whispering 'no' over and over again under his breath. "I'm sorry. Appa, I love you." he sobbed despairingly as he lifted the man's lifeless frame and pulled him into an embrace. "I love you. Dammit, I love you!" When hands landed on his frame and voices began telling him to let go, Jaejoong fought against their hold as he tightened his arms around his father, pleading desperate words that fell on deaf ears. "Please, wake up! Wake up! You can't leave me! Appa, wake up!"

"Jaejoong ah, that's enough. Please." His mother tried again, fingers curling around his arms as she tried to get his attention. "He's gone. Please let him go. Let him rest Jaejoong ah."

It took almost an hour before Jaejoong's tears stopped and he finally relented as they were ushered out of the dismal room. Red-rimmed eyes hazily looked about him as he was forced to walk on legs that felt too weak to operate. His left hand rose up to grab at his hair as his surroundings steadily went foggy. He blinked once, twice, groaning as he tried to get rid of the cobwebs in his vision but to no avail.

"Are you okay? Jaejoong ah?" came his mother's worried voice, but for some reason her words seemed distant. "Jae- what's happening to you?" Jaejoong only had a millisecond to glance at her concerned face before gravity pulled at him as he staggered forward. The last thing he saw was the fast approaching sight of the cemented floor before everything went black.

**

The spectral glow from the moon above the heavens seeped through the blinds of the cold building's windows. A tall, slim figure garbed in black walked around in the small room, his footsteps making minimal sounds on the floor. Stopping at one of the metal slabs, he glanced at the list he had in his hand, lips pursing while nodding his head. "Jung Yunho. Age, 40. Hmm, that's about right." He said as reached down to shake him. "Time to open your eyes Yunho. You've been sleeping long enough."

Slowly, almond orbs fluttered open at his command. The figure regarded the waking up mortal with a warm gaze. Special cases didn't happen often, but when it did, it was always his duty to right the wrongs of the angels that managed to mess up the flow of fortune and destiny.

He watched the mortal as he sluggishly sat upright, hand instantaneously resting at his chest where he was stabbed, the root cause of his death. "Jung Yunho. A pleasure to meet you." he greeted, gaze traveling from the still lying prone physical embodiment on the metal slab then at the already sitting up one in front of him. "Or should I say, a pleasure to meet your soul."

He chuckled as the man directed him with widened eyes, a harsh gasp falling from his lips as he quickly tried to cover his bare chest, no doubt realizing that he was in a very bad state of undress.

"W-who are you?" He asked, wary, frightened gaze fixed at him. "What are you doing here?"

The figure smiled and reached out a hand. "You can call me Max." he said grinning, a glint of something akin to mischief flashing in those impossibly dark mismatched-eyes. "I'm an Angel of Death and I'm going to make you an offer you can't refuse."

Next

--

A/N: Max is Changmin by the way people. Okay, so this was a hard chapter to write since it involved a lot of tears @_@ and I suck at emotions and stuff. I'm far from satisfied with this chapter actually. I feel like it's greatly lacking at something, which I have no idea what is. Ugh, so frustrating.

Anyway, hope you guys would still continue to read this and of course, comments are always loved like WOAHHH ;DDDD Unbeta'd yet again. So pardon the misspelled words and bad grammar. Don't worry about Jaejoong, he just fainted from the stress ;___; OMG! I'm so stuck with the other half of Project Yunho DDD; writing the smut parts are so hard. FKSHFKSJKJFSL!!! .__. Please bear with me people T^T

I need a new title for this fic O_O Any recs?