| Fan Fiction |
by Cool_1312 and aronist_ed
2027, Sureana Beach
“One step…two steps…three steps…uhm…”
6 years of age, Hye Jin looked up from her red flowery shoes, frowning as she scrunched her nose. Unable to think of the next number, she turned to her left, meeting a pair of deep brown eyes. “Appa…what’s after three?” She whispered to the man who was crouching next to her.
Smiling, he gave the toddler a kiss on the cheek before whispering a simple ‘four’. Giving a noisy kiss on the man’s left cheek; she continued her game, taking steps after steps, being oblivious to her surrounding as she concentrated on what she was doing.
Standing up, he turned around, glancing at the woman sitting on the bench who was peeling the skin of an orange. She looked up and their gazes met. Taking the empty space beside her, his eyes began to focus once again on the toddler who was by now playing with the sand. It was a Saturday and they were at the beach, one of the many outings they loved to have.
“Tired?” She smiled as she handed him a piece of the fruit she was peeling.
Park Yoochun gave her a smile as his eyes turned back to the girl who was chuckling, probably talking to Sunee, her imaginary friend. “She’s the only thing that keeps me moving. Without her, I wouldn’t know what I could have done.”
Ji Nye nodded silently as she munched slowly on the juicy flesh. She knew of his past, the past that had given him unforgettable scars. He had made it clear when he had said that the past should never be spoken of unless necessary. And until today, they never found the need to delve into the past.
“I’m thankful.” Ji Nye whispered as a breeze passed them by. “You took us in without any questions, giving her love when no other would. I owe my remaining life to you.”
“We found each other when we need someone to turn to.”
“And for that, I’m glad that I found you.”
Twenty years.
Twenty years had passed since that fateful day when the leader of the formidable gang had given up and surrendered to the police willingly. It was a win like no other, that he knew. There was nothing more that he would like to do than to continue his work as the Deputy Commissioner. But things changed and continuing life as it was before couldn’t be done, not after what had happened.
“Ji Nye…” Yoochun spoke, breaking the comfortable silence between them as the sun set down behind them, giving a beautiful background to a perfect couple that people have called them as. “…is it worth the wait?”
“Do you think it is?”
He chuckled, shaking his head bitterly. “I’m not sure”
A knowing smile. “Don’t think, Chun-ah. It’s better to know. Never doubt what’s in there, in your heart.”
_______________________________________________________________________________
2008, Singapore General Hospital
“I want Yoohwan to follow me back to Russia.”
He could see the determination in those eyes, seeing how much the other man would readily give up his whole life just for the sake of his younger brother. “So it’s not Junsu’s fault?” He asked instead of giving an answer.
“He’s never at fault. Even Hazied-” Kim Junho sighed. “It’s just a business he inherited from our father. All these years, he tried his best to make it into a legal enterprise just to see it backfired. It’s no use. Hazied has been known as an underground group for decades, it’s too late for any changes.”
He frowned. “You are saying that he didn’t commit any crime?”
“Well-” Junho ran a hand through his hair. “I can’t say he didn’t because he did. But it was all because he didn’t want his two older brothers to suffer. Our family is a complicated one. Although I’m the oldest, I have to say I’m the most protected one and Jaejoong, well he was the rebellious son. He wanted to be a cop; demanded that he would let nothing (even the family’s reputation) to hind him from being one. Junsu knew that, that’s why he decided to take over the family business so that it would appease our father and he did, even if it was only for a few years. Our old man died a few years back but he kept on repeating about how he wouldn’t acknowledge a failure for a son. It’s hard but I think Junsu knew about it. Words always travel fast in prison. I just hope it wouldn’t hurt so much. He had gone so much just for our sake. I didn’t want him to be hurt anymore.”
“But you should know that falling in love with my brother would only make things a little bit more complicated.”
“Who could stop love? I mean really, Yoohwan just crept into my heart and made a nest in there.” Junho smiled ruefully. “But I wouldn’t change anything for the world.”
Yoochun could only remain mute as he thought back of how happy he felt when the hospital called him to announce that his brother had just woken up from his coma. Junsu’s sudden surrender was quickly buried at the back of his mind as he booked the next flight out of South Korea to Singapore.
There was nothing else, nothing else in his mind but his brother.
But he had never quite expected to see Junsu’s brother locking lips with his own brother. He was surprised. So surprised that he could only follow Junho dumbly to the garden, sitting down beside him and listening to what the other man had got to say.
“Junsu was in the same position like you did a few minutes before, just that it was a lot more dramatic than a kiss. I thought he was going to kill me. There was a gun in his hand at that time.” Junho spoke as he shook his head.
He nodded. “He didn’t mean any harm.”
Junho was surprised. “And here I thought, I knew him well enough. And yes, he didn’t mean any harm. I regretted that, to doubt my brother even though it was just for a moment. Junsu was disappointed when he realized that I was thinking that far ahead. I could see it in his eyes and well, that was one of the regrets that I just had to live with. In truth, he tried to help us. We all knew that he was putting his whole life on the line but he did so without any hesitation. But we didn’t know that Yoohwan had a plan of his own.”
“Yoohwan should have told me. I could have-”
“You couldn’t.” Junho interrupted, smiling when he saw the confusion on his face. “You are the Deputy Commissioner, the person in-charge of catching the brother of the man that he had fallen in love with. Yoohwan would never dream of putting you in a spot. I wouldn’t want that for Junsu either. That’s when I had decided to break it up with him on that day but well, he just had to tempt me and you know what had happened next. Junsu saw us and he decided that we should stage our own deaths.”
“It’s not a smart move. Even if the both of you ‘are dead’, there would still be a matter of Junsu taking the rap for your deaths.”
“He didn’t care and at that time, I didn’t realize that too. Maybe Yoohwan did. Maybe he realized how much danger this relationship is putting all of us in.”
“And he scarified himself.”
Junho thought back of the years where he lived in absolute solitude. It didn’t help that there was no one to talk him out of his depression. He was in the worse state than ever until his brother relented and brought him over to Singapore. “I worked as a nurse here. I got a bachelor degree during my university days. I took care of Yoohwan, it helped me to get back on my feet but then you ordered for your brother to be transferred to a ward with a tighter security.”
“The mission is getting dangerous; I just don’t want to have a repeated episode.”
Junho nodded. “Nobody could blame you. Then Junsu met me and he decided that I should stay as far away from Yoohwan. I agreed just because he looked so exhausted. I didn’t want to stress him out all the more.”
“I think that’s when we both realized that there’s a third party was involved. I didn’t know your brother had to handle so many at a time.”
A glint of pride crossed Junho’s orbs as he smiled fondly. “My brother is a complicated man; he has mind of his own. Always did. Nobody could really understand but I guess he himself knows best. He’s a strong man, someone that you should be proud to fall in love with.”
“You know?” He asked quietly.
“From the moment this conversation leads to my brother, your eyes unconsciously light up. Just like mine did whenever I’m around Yoohwan.”
Yoochun’s hands balled into a fist as his lips trembled. “There’s so many things that I still couldn’t understand.”
“Life is a long journey. You’ll get the answer soon enough.”
He looked up. “Take care of Yoohwan for me. I’m not sure whether Russia would be the right environment for him but if that’s what he wants, I wouldn’t object.” He spoke after a moment of silence.
“Just like that?”
“Just like that. I didn’t want to see him suffer anymore. He had gone through so much and so did you.” Seeing the guilty look on the other man’s face, Yoochun smiled as he pat the other man on the shoulder. “Be happy. I’ll always be there for you, body and spirit. I have to go now, I need to get Yoohwan’s statement and do a report so that Junsu wouldn’t be charged on this mater.” Yoochun replied, smiling as he stood up.
“Take care of my brother!” Junho blurted out. “He did a bad job when it comes to that area.”
“I will.”
And Park Yoochun walked away.
_______________________________________________________________________________
One moment he was right there, in Seoul and the next he wasn’t.
Things were wrapped up. At least a dozen of cases surrounding Hazeid were closed, the two special units were moved to other departments and everything went back to normal. Everyone thought that it was over. Yoochun had thought the same. He thought that he could start anew now that he had avenged his brother but he found out that he really couldn’t do it. Everything was nothing but a facade. A façade that he put on to push the feelings and emotions to the back of his head.
It was useless. Without Hazied, everything seemed meaningless. Everything that seemed to matter was turned into dust. He couldn’t take it anymore. New cases were challenging, of course it was, but everywhere he went, he could still imagine being attacked by the past gang, to imagine what would happen should Junsu reinstated himself back to being the leader.
All these thoughts, it had consumed him for years. Though his work was never affected, his heart was. It wasn’t healthy, everybody knew that. And just when he was about to give up hope, just when it became too dark to see, a light illuminated out of nowhere, bringing him something that he could hold on to.
Hye Jin became the reason for Yoochun to quit his job and moved to a quiet countryside. She became everything that had actually mattered to him. But somehow he knew the truth. That no matter how close the toddler was to him, no one would be able to touch the deepest part of his heart.
Could love really affect him that much?
_______________________________________________________________________________
2008, Washington DC, US Army Headquarters
Eyes focused on the screen in front of him, he continued typing onto his laptop, pausing once in a while to look at the file beside him. The headquarters office was packed with agents, voices filled the large space but everything was shut out the moment he closed his door. An hour after entering his office, he was still stuck in his chair, typing word after word, his forehead creasing just to straighten a moment after.
“What are you doing here?”
Looking up, he saw his two ex-comrades at the doorway with a frown on their faces. Lieutenant Shim entered his office with Inspector Kim following closely behind him. Removing his framed spectacles, he watched as the other two men took the empty seats in front of his table.
“I need to do a report since Junsu’s case would be heard in the court tomorrow.” Yoochun could only give a nod of assurance when he saw the worry evident in Jaejoong’s orbs.
“So it’s true then.” Changmin spoke, his voice firm and steady. “Junsu wasn’t the one at fault for your brother being hurt.”
He nodded. “Looks like it.”
Jaejoong coughed, clearing his throat as he looked at the man sitting across him. “He might get a lighter sentence, right?”
The voice was hesitant, that couldn’t be denied but there was just a slight hint of relief. “From my years of experience, I think Junsu would at least get 20 to 30 years of imprisonment.” He replied.
The inspector’s shoulder slumped upon hearing the news. “That’s good.” He muttered softly as though consoling his own self.
“What are you going to do?” Changmin asked a moment later.
He turned to the youngest man in the room. “I’m going to pack up and leave.”
“Where?”
“Anywhere.”
“Who’s going to be here when you are on vacation?”
They still didn’t know, he thought. Or maybe they refused to. “It’s not a vacation.”
“You love him, don’t you?” Changmin spoke bluntly. “Everyone knew that. There’s no need to quit just because of that.”
Yoochun raised his eyebrow. “He’s not the main reason to why I decided to quit the force.”
“Then what is?”
“I-I” The word got stuck in his throat.
Could he afford to forget everything and continued his post as the Deputy Commissioner? No, he had already decided that he couldn’t. That it was too painful to do so. That this was the last resort that he would take.
Jaejoong’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “20 to 30 years is going to be a long wait.”
“I don’t know-” Yoochun spoke, a tear falling down his cheeks as his vision began to blur. “-if I should wait.” He still didn’t realize the tear that had fallen as he stood up from his chair before walking slowly towards the window. “I haven’t decided yet.”
“The answer is right there.” Changmin’s voice echoed.
“And still, I doubt.” Yoochun whispered as he leaned his forehead against the cold glass window as his closed his eyes. It was so hard, to know that no matter how much love he had instilled on Junsu, he might never get the chance to know whether the other man really did love him or not. “Maybe I will.”
And he wanted to; he wanted wait so that he could at least find out the answer.
_______________________________________________________________________________
2027, Inusia Prison
“Sign here and here.”
The ink of the pen stretched over the dotted line as the user pursed his lips. Wordlessly, he took the plastic bag that was handed to him by the same guard, not bothering to re-check his possessions. Walking down the hallway with high walls on either side of him, he silently heard his footsteps echoing down through the walls.
The guard by the gate gave him a brisk nod, pressing a red button before the high gate was opened slowly. Sunlight spilled in, so bright that he had to close his eyes for a moment. His eyes began to tear as he took a step forward, out of the dungeon that had kept him for 20 years. “Good luck.” The guard whispered before the gate was closed once again and he was left outside, alone.
Smiling, he wiped the happy tears away. He was a free man now and he couldn’t be any happier than this. Turning to his left, he took a step forward just to hear a loud screech of tires as a red car stopped beside him. His features immediately hardened upon seeing the driver of the car when the window was rolled down.
“Climb in.” The driver replied as the passenger side of the car’s door was pushed open automatically.
“Thank you but no thank you.” He replied; his voice as cold as ice. “I would take a cab.”
“Would you like to climb in on your own or would you need my help in doing so?” The driver stopped him on his tracks once again. “Because I’m not feeling patient any the moment.”
“I have done my time. You can’t threaten me anymore, Park.” He grounded out, still refusing to enter the car.
It didn’t take long for Park Yoochun to exit his car. Walking to the other side of the vehicle, he reached the other man within seconds. “You are always testing my patience, Su.” He gritted.
Grabbing Junsu’s arm without any warning, Yoochun pushed the other man into the passenger’s seat, ignoring the oblivious protest. Slamming the door close, he walked back to the driver’s seat, entering the car before driving away. The ride was silent as Junsu looked out the window, refusing to acknowledge the other man’s presence.
“You should stop sulking. It doesn’t suit you.”” Yoochun muttered as he drove into a mansion’s pathway an hour later.
“I’m not-” Junsu turned to face the other man just to notice the other’s grin.
“Good, I’m afraid that you had gone mute on the way here.”
Controlling his anger, he looked at his surrounding. This time, his whole body stilled as he realized where the vehicle had stopped. “Turn the car around.” He spoke softly.
“I won’t.”
“Fuck Chun, I’m not playing!” He shouted harshly.
“Me neither.” Yoochun replied before exiting the car. Walking to the passenger’s side, he wrenched the car door opened as he stared into the other man’s eyes. “We need to end this, once and for all.”
_______________________________________________________________________________
2008, Washington DC, US Army Headquarters
The Commissioner of US Army took a look at the letter that Yoochun had just given him. Putting it down without bothering to see the contents, he looked at the other man. “A vacation might do you good. Resignation might not be the only solution.”
Yoochun shook his head slowly. “I don’t want a vacation. My relationship with my members isn’t good because I’m too careful to put my trust on them. It’s not good when I couldn’t even trust them to do a simple job. I…I can’t do this anymore.”
“How about your old team? Would assembling them once again make you stay?”
“I am moving back to South Korea, Ant.”
“You are giving up your residency here?”
Yoochun nodded. “It’s not worth giving my insanity over. I’m losing my mind. I need to go.”
“What about him?” Anthony spoke, referring to the delinquent who had been sent to imprisonment for 20 long years. “Wouldn’t you want to be here when he’s out?”
Yoochun smiled as he sighed softly. “20 years is a very long time, don’t you think?”
A sigh. “This is your final answer?”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, it’s not your fault.” A visible pause. “Well then, good luck.”
“Thanks.”
_______________________________________________________________________________
2027, Kim Family Mansion
The walls of the mansion were still the same as Junsu had last seen it. Exiting the car, he walked to the front garden. It was then he realized that it was different. The usual flowers beds had been changed. There were red flowers instead of the white lilies that represented his family’s name.
Entering the mansion, he took a step forward towards the large living room. “So I take it that you didn’t press any charges against me for raping you?” Junsu whispered as he turned around to face the other man.
Yoochun was patting the family dog as he squatted beside it. Ruffling the German shepherd’s fur, Reined, he could only smile when he heard about Junsu’s question. “You seemed to be forgetting that I had just done the same thing.”
Junsu snorted. “Right, so we are considered even then.”
“If you would like to think of it that way.”
“We are one hell of a twisted couple.” Junsu muttered as he ventured deeper into the mansion as Yoochun and Reined followed. “It had changed. A lot.”
“Twenty years is a long time for it to fight changes.” Yoochun whispered as he gave the dog a last pat before it toddled away to the back garden, possibly going to play with the gardener.
Junsu stilled as he tried his best to hold back his tears. “So you’re the owner of this mansion then?”
“Moved in last week with my daughter.” Yoochun replied casually. “Her mother is gong to move in this week. Soon enough I guessed.”
Junsu knew that it was coming; he never really had expected the other man to remain faithful to him after all these years. But it ached. It ached to know that even after all of this, his heart was still willing to beat for the man standing right behind him. “She’s one pretty lucky lady then.”
“I guess so but she keeps on saying that I’m a lucky bastard for having her."
I bet she was, Junsu thought silently. “What’s her name?”
“Ji Nye.”
“Oh.”
Yoochun couldn’t help but hear the disappointment in the voice and even though he wanted to act a little longer, seeing the look on the other man’s face just made it a little bit harder to keep up. “Su.”
“Yea?”
“Ji Nye’s not my wife.”
Junsu immediately nodded his head, not really catching what the other had said. “Wait…WHAT?”
“She’s my brother’s widow and no it’s not, Yoohwan. I’m talking about my adopted brother.” Yoochun replied after seeing the worry in the other’s eyes upon hearing Yoohwan’s name. “He died due to lung cancer. I have always told him that the cigarettes would kill him someday.”
Junsu turned away, not willing to hear the fondness the other man had when talking about another person. “What am I doing here, Chun?” He whispered as he took a long around the mansion once again. “What am I doing here?” He repeated, more to himself.
“Your brother told me that you sold it in haste before surrendering yourself.” Yoochun replied. “I thought you might want it back after you get out.”
“I don’t want it back.” Junsu’s voice was strained when he faced the other man once again. “Too many memories I don’t want to remember.”
There was pain in that voice, too many emotions Yoochun never knew the other man could hold. What is it with the both of them? To love a man either of them didn’t know nothing about? “I heard about your father.”
The bitter chuckle was enough to say about it all. He turned around, eyes barely recognizable. “Everybody heard about him. Including his likings to force what he loves into all of us.”
“You save your brother’s lives.”
“I just want to inherit the family business.” Junsu shrugged it off.
Yoochun’s eyes hardened. It was still there, the need to pretend so that others wouldn’t be able to get deep enough to care. “I’m sorry that Keita and Yunho were there to do that shit to you. Even my brother who messed this whole thing up. Hell, I would even apologize for letting Jaejoong into this mission the moment I knew that he’s your brother. But really, there’s no need to hide. You and I both know, everything that happen till now-” He sighed. “You are grateful that it happened, right? That you knew everyone care enough for you to stop doing what it is that you are doing. You can’t be what your father wanted you to be.”
“That life is my past.” Junsu uttered. “I don’t have to talk about it anymore.”
“Yes, you do. You never really did tell anyone how hard it was, wasn’t it? To have a brother that wants to do things his way and another that you just need to protect. Even though you are the youngest doesn’t mean that you didn’t have to take lead.”
Silence as Junsu’s hands balled into a fist.
Junsu turned side-ways, his eyes falling on the family portrait of the Kim family. “My mother died early. Many said that it’s because of my father, because he’s too strict, too demanding but none of it is true. My mother loved my father just like my father loved her. They were a perfect couple, always ensuring that their children would want or need nothing. Life’s good until she died. My father-” He walked towards the painting, staring at the father that he used to know. “He got rich because of Hazied, wouldn’t want anything to happen to it. When our mother died, he gave the rest of his life to the gang. It’s a dangerous life to lead but the three of us never really did know about it. That’s how he showed his love for us. Then everything changed when Jaejoong-hyung wanted to become a policeman. You need to know, even though the three of us weren’t involved in the running of the gang, we knew about it as much as our father did. We lived under the same roof after all. My father was livid, saying that he would disown him if hyung even tried to apply for a police post.”
“And Jaejoong was disowned.”
“No. He didn’t get disowned.” Junsu smiled, almost as though he was remembering the good old times. “One thing that you should about our father was that he loved us very much. But Jaejoong-hyung left anyway though Junho and I both know that he would never betray us. He might be a police man but he’s still our brother. With two sons left, our father’s hope was with us and I couldn’t let Junho to take over so-”
“You did.”
“I did.” Junsu was looking at him straight on, eyes to eyes. “And I never regretted that decision one whole second. It’s my destiny.” And I’m thankful that I could meet you along the way. “Now that you know about my past, I think it’s time to say our goodbyes.”
“Yea.” Yoochun whispered quietly. “I hope everything goes well for you.”
_______________________________________________________________________________
2027, Jeju Island, 4 months later
He could hear the waves crashing into the sand as he leaned against the doorway of the rented cottage. It was a well-deserved vacation after he took a managerial post at a normal container-freight company for four months now. Ordinary life after an extraordinary past of being a Deputy Commissioner was unbelievably refreshing.
The last meeting with Kim had released him from the chains that kept him grounded. As though he was freed from all shackles necessary. It made him felt refreshed, rejuvenated at being given a chance to reborn.
And now with a new lover by his side, he knew he didn’t need anything else.
“Hey.” A pair of arms wrapped around his waist.
He smiled. “How about going for a dip?” He whispered. The other man smiled, his black hair glinted as he stepped out onto the sandy beach. But just as soon as the other man wanted to take another step, he instinctively latched his hand around the other’s wrist.
“Chun?”
“I love you.” He whispered, almost a ghostly whisper but it could be heard all the same.
A grin. “I love you too.”
Hand in hand, Park Yoochun and Kim Junsu walked towards the sea with the sun shining high above them.
[End of Kim Junsu and Park Yoochun’s story, ‘To erase the tainted’]
_______________________________________________________________________________
Special Story 1
With Kim Jaejoong and Jung Yunho
In ‘Untouchable’ [Timeline: 2027]
The club was booming with the latest techno song as Kim Jaejoong entered the noisy dim space. Pressing against sweaty bodies, frowning when some made unwanted advances towards him, he walked quicker to the other corner of the club. Realizing that the person he was supposed to meet was already there, he hurried over to take the empty seat beside the said person on the red couch.
“And here I thought you aren’t coming.” Jaejoong smiled.
“Why bother coming here every night, dragging your best friend if you couldn’t even be bothered to be early for once?” The other man rolled his eyes in annoyance.
“I’m sorry.”
“So where’s your other half-soul?”
A resounding smack could have been heard if not for the over-the-top volume of the music as Jaejoong’s hand found the back of the other man’s head. “Shut up, Min.”
“Really? Shessh, and here I though you would just love to listen to how stupid you had become.” Changmin muttered as he stood up slowly.
“Where are you going?”
“Hyung, this is still technically a club no matter what your intentions might be. So if you would just let me go…” Changmin’s reflex was quick but not quick enough for Jaejoong’s hands. “Hyung, I want to dance; I’m tired of sitting around, doing nothing!”
“You have been drinking, haven’t you?”
“You are being ridiculous.”
“I am not.” Jaejoong replied calmly.
Changmin rolled his eyes. “Hyung, I really feel like dancing. Can you just let me go for five minutes? I promise I’ll be here when it’s time to go home. You want my pinky promise?” He spoke sarcastically.
Jaejoong could hear the sarcasm all too well but didn’t say anything as he let the other’s arm go. Muttering a thank you, Changmin entered the dance floor, ignoring any touches on his body as he started to dance, moving further into the sea of bodies. Jaejoong knew how much trouble he would be in if Yoochun ever knew that he was forcing Min to follow him to this club each night. But then, the other man was thousands of miles away so what he didn’t know definitely wouldn’t hurt him.
“What the hell are you doing here again?” A voice drawled.
It was loud but still, Jaejoong could hear the voice as clear as the way Changmin was shining in the middle of the dancefloor. He could feel the hot breath on his nape as the figure beside him leaned closer towards him. Jaejoong turned side-ways, staring into a pair of familiar eyes. “Am I not allowed to be here? This is a public club after all. I believe I do have the right to be here after paying my entrance fee.”
“Fuck that. You come here every single night with that little best friend of yours who would drink and dance while you do nothing but to stare into space. In exactly about now-” He looked at his watch before the dance floor. Jaejoong followed the other man’s actions as he saw Changmin being pulled out of the dance floor by yet another familiar man. “-that would happen.”
“YOU ARE NOT THE BOSS OF ME!” Changmin shrieked and with each word, he poked Furuya Keita’s on the chest.
“Well, if I am, you wouldn’t be leaving your crib tonight.” Keita replied; his expression blank as he held onto the other man’s arm tightly, refusing to let go. “Stop fooling around, the people here are only looking for sex.”
Changmin could only snorted, once again he found himself having to try to twist someone’s hands off his arms. “And how old am I? 12? 14? What? Didn’t you look for me for sex too? What’s the difference between them and you?
The moment Changmin had uttered those words; Jaejoong knew that it was time to leave. Shooting up, ignoring the other man’s groan when his shoulders hit the other man’s nose, he quickly grabbed hold onto Changmin’s other arm. Muttering a soft apology, Jaejoong pulled the other man away and out of the club. Changmin followed but not before muttering a few words of curses to Keita which the other man replied with a curt goodbye.
Finally breathing the cold misty air instead of the heavy smoke in the rowdy, Jaejoong smiled. He could never really get used to the club’s air no matter how many times he had been there. It smelled heavily of sex and smoke which wasn’t his ideal type of place to be.
“Can we go now?” Changmin muttered as he walked towards the car parked in the club’s alley. Unlocking it, the both men entered the warm cocoon of Jaejoong’s Lexus.
“Do you have to be so vulgar every single time you meet Keita?” Jaejoong asked softly as he started the engine before the car roared into life.
“Well, he’s the one who started it. Why must he always treat me like a child? I’m 39 years old and I can dance with whomever I want!” Changmim’s lips jutted as he stared out the window.
Jaejoong smiled. “Love makes you do crazy things.”
“He doesn’t love me.”
“Oh really?” Jaejoong replied, acting mildly surprised.
“Stop it, hyung.”
“He still loves you.”
Changmin closed his eyes as he shifted closer to the other man, wanting some warmth. “I don’t love him anymore.”
“Well, that my dongsaeng, you have to decide for yourself.”
----
Checking his reflection on the rear view mirror, Jung Yunho took a deep breath before he walked away from his car. Walking towards the condo’s lift, his grip tightened on the bouquet of blue dahlia. Staring at the flowers, he was torn on whether to throw it away or to hold on to it. Why did he buy the damn flowers anyway? It’s not like Jaejoong was some kind of girl who would coo over this bouquet.
But he knew why.
The flowers reminded him of the other man. He reprimanded of the way the other man was calm and steady, how the other’s aura was as blue as the sky. It always goes back to him, Yunho thought silently as he entered the lift, pressing the number seven. But then again, life went on with or without the other’s presence in his life.
Standing in front of the door of the person he wanted to meet, he took another deep breath. Pressing the small red button, he heard the short melodic tune being played before the door was being pulled open slowly. Silence. “What are you doing here?”
Yunho had expected the question the moment he had decided to pay the other man a visit but he didn’t really expect the other man to have a ladle in his right hand. And who could miss the black cat on his white apron? “Are you busy?” Yunho asked.
“Well…” Jaejoong chuckled nervously as he let the other man in. “Not really. Just cooking some soup for Changmin.”
“HYUNG! WHERE’S THE CORN? I CAN’T HAVE CHOWDER SOUP WITHOUT CORN!” Changmin shouted as he ran out of the kitchen. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Yunho behind Jaejoong. Seeing the apologetic face on his hyung’s face, Changmin muttered darkly that he was going to get some corn. Brushing past Yunho, he took a last glance at the couple before slamming the door behind him.
“He’s not usually that rude.” Jaejoong replied as he ushered Yunho to the living room.
“He’s just pissed off at Keita.” Yunho answered bluntly.
“Well-l, yea…”
Seeing how uncomfortable the other man was, Yunho pushed the bouquet of flowers towards the other man. Once again surprised, Jaejoong could only accept the flowers while looking at Yunho with slight hesitation. “I’m not saying that you are a girl or anything but well, I thought the flowers are beautiful and maybe you would like them in a vase or something.” Yunho replied awkwardly.
“Thank you.” Jaejoong smiled. “I’m going to get a vase.” Turning around as fast as he could, he walked to the kitchen, trying to hold back a choke as the tears began to fall. Safely in the kitchen, he put the ladle and the flower on the kitchen table. What did Yunho want now? Did he want to mock him for being so stupid as to visit his club every single night?
“I didn’t know that the flowers could make you cry.”
Jaejoong stilled when he realized that the other man was just behind him. Wiping his tears away, he turned around, regaining his composure. “There’s just dust in my eyes.”
“If you want to look at it that way, then sure, there’s dust in your eyes.” Yunho shrugged.
“Why are you here, Yun?” Jaejoong sighed as he slowly edged himself away from the other man. “I don’t think you are here just to give me flowers.”
Yunho looked away. “I don’t want you to come to the club anymore.”
“Why?” Jaejoong didn’t meant to get so angry but the way Yunho had phrased it just made him think as though he was not even fit to enter the club at all. “Why couldn’t I be there? And who are you to stop me from going there? As far as I could recall, I own half of the club.”
“I’m going to pay you back soon enough.” Yunho answered lowly. He remembered how the club was going to bust when Junsu had surrendered to the police. Not ready to let the club go just yet, he tried very hard to think of ways to solve the financial crisis. That’s when Jaejoong came to help at the nick of time. In the end, they held a joint hold on the club itself.
“I don’t want the money.”
“Then what the hell do you want, Jaejoong? You and I both know how much you hate going to these kinds of clubs so why would you even bother going there each night?” Yunho hissed.
“Fuck you; I don’t need to answer anything.” Jaejoong whispered before turning around to walk away but Yunho blocked him, forcing him to a corner. “What now? You are going to get violent on me?” Jaejoong didn’t see that coming. After all, he really shouldn’t have uttered those words. He could see the glint of regret in the other man’s eyes before Yunho backed a step. “I’m sorry.” Jaejoong replied, guilty.
“Nah, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have come here in the first place. I just want to let you know that even if you want to go to the club, you shouldn’t bring Changmin with you. At least that’s what Keita had wanted me to say. I’m going to go now.” Yunho replied and this time, instead of Jaejoong, he was the one walking towards the kitchen’s door.
“WAIT!” Jaejoong shouted and once again, Yunho stopped in his tracks, turning around. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t raise my voice.”
Yunho’s shoulders slumped. Why must this be so hard? Yes, he did say what he was send here to say (including Keita’s warning to force Changmin to stop parading around in the club) but nothing on what his heart had wanted him to say. “Do you remember the first time that we meet?”
Caught off-guard, Jaejoong watched as the other man turned around once again. “I don’t see-”
“Do you?”
“I-I…yes.”
Yunho nodded. “It’s beautiful isn’t it? I mean, you are.”
Jaejoong felt as though the final piece of the puzzle had finally appeared after a long search. He felt it, the emotions running deep inside. “You still love me.” He whispered. There was no denying it; it was something they both felt, something that didn’t need an answer. “Me too.”
And there it was; something slippery, something fragile.
Something untouchable.
[End of Kim Jaejoong and Jung Yunho’s story, ‘Untouchable’]
_______________________________________________________________________________
Special Story 2
With Shim Changmin and Furuya Keita
For a love like this [Timeline: 2027]
Something in the air was not right tonight, Changmin thought silently as shifted uncomfortably on the blue couch. It’s an hour of patience as he waited for the older man to come and pick him up for the party they were supposed to attend. Jerked out of his sleepless slumber, he groaned as he clutched his fingers around his ringing phone. Frowning, he pressed the green button, muttering a soft hello into the receiver.
“Min-ah!” Jaejoong shouted, the loud booming music of the club that he and Yunho had jointly owned evident in the background.
“Don’t tell me that you are still in the club.” Changmin muttered hoarsely. “You are supposed to be here an hour ago!” He shouted, venting his frustrations.
“I’m sorry. There’s a big hold-up in the meeting.” Jaejoong replied. “My car got smashed…”
“Are you alright?” Worry replaced his anger when he heard of Jaejoong’s car being destroyed by a few drunken men.
“Well, Yunho took care of it.”
“I’m sure he did.” Changmin couldn’t help but replied sarcastically, remembering Jaejoong’s new and helpful lover.
“Anyway, someone would be picking you up. Let’s meet at Junsu and Yoochun’s mansion, alright?” Jaejoong shouted once again and this time, Changmin felt as though he had just walked into a trap.
“Wait hyung-g…I could get a cab…”
But the other man had already hung up the phone and Changmin was left with the irritating monotone sound. Pressing the red button, he stood up. Well, he sure wasn’t going to wait for some babysitter to pick him up. He was old enough to go to the mansion without having someone to drive him there. Walking towards the door, he swung his door open as he put on his shoes.
But someone was already there.
“You know-” Changmin replied as he raised his eyebrows. “If you are going to talk to yourself in front of my apartment, at least do it inside. I don’t want the neighbours to call me just to say there’s a crazy man outside my door.”
“Let’s go.” Furuya Keita muttered, ignoring the sarcastic comment.
“And what if I refused?”
“I’ll still say ‘let’s go’.”
“You are such a…never mind.”
Keita didn’t say anything as he watched Changmin locking the door quickly. Sticking his tongue out before moving towards the lift, Keita could only shake his head in amusement at the other man’s childish action. Walking right in front of Keita to prevent the other man from seeing him being nervous, Changmin’s phone rang once again as he pulled it out of his pocket. Keita could see the sudden stillness of the other man. Walking beside him, he snatched the phone out of Changmin’s grip.
Pressing the green button, Keita could hear the familiar voice. “Call him again and I’m going to make sure you will never be able to pick up the darn phone ever again.” And just as quick as that, he clicked the red button before giving the phone back to Changmin.
“What did you do?” This time, Changmin didn’t even shout at the other man, just looking innocently shocked. “How did you know that guy?”
“Yunho is my best friend just like Yoohwan is. Do the math.” Keita uttered as he entered the lift, waiting for the other man to enter it as well. Changmin followed and waited for the door to close once again.
“I didn’t tell this to Jaejoong.”
Keita snorted. “And you think he wouldn’t notice how you had been getting strange phone calls late at night? He asked Yunho to check it out which in turn, asked me to since I’m better at bugging phone.”
“You bugged my cell phone?”
“Well, just for a day. It was simple enough to know that you had a stalker.”
“I could handle it myself.” Changmin replied as the lift door opened once again, the both of them stepping out into the cold night. “You didn’t need to do that for me.”
“Yea right, that’s why he was still calling you two weeks later.”
“Thanks.”
Keita didn’t expect the other man to thank him. Hell, he even thought that Changmin might scream at him for interrupting his life. “You are welcome.” He muttered softly before he unlocked the door to his car.
Getting in, Changmin sat quietly in the passenger’s side. “How did Jaejoong know that it wasn’t my lover or someone important?”
“Funny, I had asked him the same thing before I bugged your phone.” Keita replied before he started the engine. “He said that you are still madly in love with me to involve yourself with another man.”
And Changmin didn’t bother to say anything after that.
----
There was something that Changmin didn’t quite understand as the car took another turn, going into a gas station. Keita was always stealing glances at him when he thought that Changmin wasn’t looking. Changmin didn’t want to delve much into it but it was getting hard not to. “Could you stop doing that?” He demanded suddenly.
Keita took a quick glance at the man beside him. “Do what?”
“Looking at me like that.” Changmin muttered. “You looked like a pervert.”
“Me? Pervert?” He laughed as he exited the car.
Changmin followed as the both of them walked into the warm convenience store. “Well, it’s not hard for you to look like one.”
“That’s harsh.” Keita frowned as he grabbed a few food items before walking towards the cashier. Just when he was about to pay, Changmin lunged a basket full of titbits. The cashier girl gave a small chuckle.
“What?” Changmin muttered when the other man looked at him with a frown.
“You are going to eat all of this?”
“No.” Changmin replied sweetly. “I’m going to throw them out the car window every hour or so.”
“Why aren’t you paying then?” Keita asked.
“Don’t you think it’s rude for the girlfriend to pay for all of these?” Still smiling sweetly, Keita had to choke back a gasp when Changmin just stood beside him, refusing to take out his wallet to pay for the items that he had selected.
“You are definitely not my girlfriend and besides, you are a man to start with.”
“Just pay it. You wouldn’t want me to complain to Jaejoong-hyung, would you?”
Keita didn’t reply (he didn’t give a damn about Jaejoong or anyone) as he turned towards the cashier girl, giving her his credit card. She gave him a smile as she swiped it before returning it back to him. Didn’t want to let the chance go, Keita reached out his hand towards the cashier girl just to find Changmin wrapping his hand around his waist while the other hand grabbing the plastic bags. With that, Changmin quickly led the other man out of the store which wasn’t really difficult since he was much taller than Keita.
“Jealous?” Keita uttered, rolling his eyes in annoyance when they were both back in the car, warmed.
“Nope.”
“Well, you should have at least let me say hello. It’s rude not to.”
“You should stop flirting.”
“Like you don’t.” Keita turned the key as the engine of his car started. “And by the way, why didn’t you get a car licence? Isn’t it easier to drive around on your own?”
Changmin shrugged. “What’s the fun in that? Blackmailing people into driving me around is too good to pass it up.”
Keita rolled his eyes. “And how could I forget the ‘I’ll help you to appease hyung if you be my driver for a week’ plan? Yunho still grumbles about it.”
Grinning, he munched on another chip. “Now, isn’t that fun?”
“It seems as though we have switched roles. You being the funny guy while I’m being the strict one.” Keita spoke. “I read somewhere that a person who acts like another person is someone who is missing that person.”
“Now you are talking nonsense.”
“I’m not.”
Changmin sighed as he shifted so that he would be able to reach Keita’s cheek before pressing a wet kiss. “Next time if you want to say you love me, just say it straight away, would you? It would have been much better than that crap.”
Keita grinned. “Will do.”
[End of Shim Changmin and Furuya Keita’s story, ‘For a love like this’]
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[End of Tainted By You, a joined production between enchanted1312 and arsonist_ed, proudly brought to you by Yoosu, Jaeho and Keimin. All rights reserved. Re-edited as at 18 August 2008]
Wow, I guessed this is the end, huh? All I can say was that it had been truly a fine ride while I was writing this, right from the very first chapter till the last chapter. This last chapter was quite long since I figured that I owed the readers at least a Jaeho and Keimin ending. Well, I guessed I had put a happy ending for every single four pairings in this fiction and I really hoped you like this chapter. For those who had been with me from the first chapter, I would really want to thank you and for those who had met me half-way through, my heartfelt thanks too. Hereby, this fiction had officially ended. ^^
On Yoosu, why I described Su as a new lover was because from Yoochun’s POV (and ours), we have finally know the real person behind the tough leader of Hazied (about his father and his family’s situation). So for me, it’s like loving a totally new person. I changed Keimin and Jaeho’s endings too just for the fun of it! I just love Keimin’s story by the way, they were so cute! XD
Last comments are definitely loved!