twinkletofu | Pursuit of Happiness, Chapter 05 + Epilogue

Title: Pursuit of Happiness
Pairing: Yunjae
Raiting: PG 13
Length: Chaptered
Genre: AU, Angst, Drama, Slight Mpreg(?)
Disclaimer: I do not own anything except the plot.
Warning: Mpreg is mentioned but not detailed.
Summary: This is the chaptered version of the oneshot Ignorance is a Bliss.

They were once together, happy and contented. But nothing's perfect and so their lives.
Follow their pursuit of happiness and their own happy ever after.

chapter five

The sight of an empty room made Jaejoong pale in an instant. He stood frozen at the door with Yunho behind him, equally shocked. He did not let go of the door knob, his knuckles turning white as he grip it harder. He muttered his daughter’s name, hoping that she’s lurking somewhere. When he heard nothing, he immediately let go of the poor knob to check inside the room.

‘Jiyool, baby?’ Jaejoong called her out but the obvious tremble on his voice betrays his calm façade. He called her again and again but no one answered. Thinking that she might be there, Yunho went straight to the bathroom and opened the door but she’s not. They are frightened more than anything. Jiyool is smart for her age but she’s a kid nonetheless. The hospital is big – definitely too big for a toddler like her and this made both men fear for her safety.

‘T – This is your fault Yunho!’ Distress took over Jaejoong and he could not help but blame the man who insisted to talk to him. Ironically, the other man couldn’t help but feel the same way towards himself either. Had he not insisted to talk outside, Jiyool will probably be there inside the room with the raven-haired man.

‘I told you I can’t leave her alone! If only – No, this is my fault. If I didn’t go with you, she’s -‘ Jaejoong was a mumbling mess, his tears threatening to spill. Where could her daughter go? And with everything that happened, he’s afraid. He didn’t want to think the worst but he couldn’t help but think that they took her away from him.

He turned his face towards the man standing beside him. He wanted to look back at his black orbs that held concern on his eyes but all he can see is the man’s manipulative parents; flashes of Jung Minsook on his mind made him tense.

Yunho saw how Jaejoong is awfully trembling and though he’s feeling the same, he couldn’t let his emotions take over him. Putting his emotions aside, he promised to be the support he needed. The pillar he could lean on this time.

‘We will find her.’ Yunho tugged on his wrist as he assured the smaller man. ‘Now come on. Let’s look for her.’

‘What if… ?’

‘No what if’s Jae. We will find Jiyool. She’s going to be okay.’ Yunho left the room with Jaejoong on his side. His hand found its way on the raven-haired man’s hand but he did not protest. Jaejoong felt Yunho gripped him a little bit harder, reassuring him that everything’s going to be alright.

They searched around the children’s wing but when they did not see her, Jaejoong insisted to ask the nurses for help. He gave them the information they probably will need before searching again with Yunho.

▪▪▪

‘Honey, I need to do something. I’ll be back.’

Jung Minsook left her husband’s room with a soft click on the door. She pulled out her white hankie from her purse and clutched it with her hand. Her heels clicked against the white floor of the hospital, too shined that she can see her reflection on it.

Remembering that she needs to phone home, she pulled her phone out to call but instead, she bumped onto someone. She looked down and saw a kid standing with tear streaked face and wobbling lips looking at back at her.

She looks oddly familiar.

The little kid’s face made her stop on her tracks. Her doe eyes glistening with more unshed tears and her small hands clasping the edges of her hospital gown. She must be a patient, Mrs. Jung told herself. Turning her full frame towards the little girl, Mrs. Jung slightly bent down to talk to the toddler standing before her.

‘Are you lost?’ She asked her with genuine concern in her voice and the kid replied with a timid yes. The lttle girl wiped her eyes with the back of her hands as she steadied her breathing. ‘Who are you with? Your mom?’

‘Ne…’ she softy answered her ‘I can’t find Mama’

The little girl’s lips wobbled but she did not cry, in fact, she looked okay compared to the crying toddler Mrs. Jung saw earlier. The older woman was amazed at how she easily controlled herself, not wailing like other children. She was easily drawn to her and she wants to help.

‘I’ll bring you to the nurses so they can look for your mom. Is that okay?’ The child nodded at her as her hair bobs up and down. Satisfied with her answer, Mrs. Jung asked her again, ‘Tell me your name so we can give it to the nurses.’

Feeling that she can trust the poised woman talking to her, the kid told Mrs. Jung her name, ‘Jung Jiyool.’

Earlier that day, Jiyool woke up in a room without anyone on her side. She looked around and called for her mama but he’s not anywhere. Thinking that Jaejoong only went somewhere, she pulled the blanket on top of her and jumped off the bed. Walking around the hospital, she noticed how how busy the hospital was. She continued to walk round to look for Jaejoong but she could not find him.

Overwhelmed with everything, Jiyool started crying.

Jiyool wandered around the hospital, going from one floor to another, just to look for her mom. That’s when she bumped into Jung Minsook.

‘Come on.’ The poised woman held her one hand out and Jiyool shyly grasped it. The little girl is too trusting, Minsook thought but she’s happy nonetheless. Although she’s too busy to do things not part of her schedule, she could not leave the little girl alone in the hospital. She’s missing and she couldn’t deny the attachment she felt every time she look at her eyes.

She offered to take her to the nurses’ station but before she could even make it there, she saw her son walking with a distraught man on his side. He saw her son holding Jaejoong’s hand, the latter making no protest on him, and she remembered their heated argument the night before.

Yunho saw her mom going their way and he was shocked to see her with Jiyool holding her hand. Jaejoong saw them too and oh the things that flocked his mind. He began to panic and Yunho felt the tension on him.

She’s with Yunho’s mom. She’s – Don’t tell me…

‘Jiyool-ah!!!’ Jaejoong immediately pulled out from Yunho. He ran to grab his baby and went back to Yunho’s side, standing behind him while hugging his daughter tight. The same person who threatened his daughter’s life, why must she be with her?

‘Mama…’ Jiyool wrapped her arms around his mama’s neck and buried her face on it. When the little girl started crying, Jaejoong cannot stop his own tears either. What if she did something to his baby? ‘Shhhhh, don’t cry. I’m here.’ He wiped her daughter’s tears and whispered to her though his state is absolutely worse than her.

‘Son?’

Yunho didn’t know what to do. There’s his mom standing with a confused look on her face and there’s Jaejong and their daughter, both crying on his back. Seeing Jaejoong pale at the sight of her made Yunho coil inside. How terrible did her mom treat Jaejoong for him to tremble instantly on her presence. The smaller guy with the toddler on his arms stood behind her, trying to use him as a shield to her prying eyes.

‘You are his mom?’ Yunho’s mother couldn’t believe that the kid she just talked to is Jaejoong’s daughter. And now she could see it. Jiyool looks a lot like him, the eyes, white porcelain-like skin, the facial features, all the same but she could see her subtle resemblance to her son. That’s why she looked oddly familiar – because she’s Yunho’s. She looks the same to her son when he’s of the same age, especially that wobbling lip when they cry. Yunho and Jaejoong’s features perfectly mixed and Mrs. Jung couldn’t help but adore the little kid she just became fond of.

She tried to approach them, stepping little by little towards both men. But her son’s dark features told her not to. She insisted but Yunho stopped her and ushered Jaejoong towards the opposite way – far from her.

They went back to Jiyool’s room. Jaejoong carried her daughter and put her back on the bed. Sighing, he brushed her fringes away from her face and stared at her before he speaks. ‘Jiyoolie, why did you left? Are you okay, hm? Were you scared? I’m sorry mama left.’

Questions flowed out of Jaejoong’s mouth but he needs to make sure his daughter is fine as he is half blaming himself of what had happen. Seeing him too worried, Jiyool’s lip started wobbling, her tears threatening to spill in guilt that she left her room. ‘Sorry mama…’

Jaejoong thought he might have frightened her daughter with the way he acted and asked questions. He felt bad when his daughter apologized when it should be him apologizing. ‘It’s okay baby…’ he assured her before kissing her forehead.

Yunho stood on his spot, near the door, frozen. He stood there watching Jaejoong and his daughter and he couldn’t explain everything he’s feeling inside. They look perfect, both of them, he thought and he still could not believe that Jiyool is his daughter, his own blood. Theirs.

Jae, he softly called the raven-haired man’s name, sure that he can only her himself but Jaejoong heard him. Jaejoong almost forgot Yunho and when he turned his head, he saw him standing not close, yet not so far. Realizing this, Jaejoong muttered a quiet oh and stood up from his place. He went to Yunho’s side and brushed his arm with the palm of his hands. ‘Go’ he said and Yunho did.

Yunho walked towards her, his steps slow and Jiyool stared curiously at him, probably asking himself why the ahjusshi she knows is acting like that. He sat beside her and stared at the little girl more. ‘Yun ahjusshi?’

Yunho didn’t notice his tears streaming down his cheeks until Jiyool spoke. He continued looking at her, studying every feature on the little girl’s face. He stroked her cheek with his hand and when he couldn’t stop the emotions building up inside, he hugged her.

‘My baby…’ he whispered with his broken voice. He hugged her tighter, whispering those words repeatedly, ‘Jiyool. My little baby…’

Jaejoong was hugging himself while crying at the sight of his daughter and her father. He never thought he would be able to see this; never thought that Yunho would get to know their daughter and though his mind is protesting because of his paranoia, he just stood there eyeing the two. Yunho’s husky voice mixed with pain and regret made him cry harder that he had put his hand on his mouth to stop his sobs.

Jiyool looked at Jaejoong, confused. ‘Mama, ahjusshi is crying’

Jaejoong knew he had to do this and so he went beside them and held his daughter’s hand. He looked at his daughter’s father and with the way he looked at him, he knew he needed to do this.

‘Jiyool baby, do you – can you remember what I told you before?’ Jaejoong asked slowly, his words slow as he is searching for the right ones to use. ‘I told you that papa is just busy with work so we couldn’t see him yet, right?’ Jiyool nodded at him. Jaejoong saw Yunho staring at their daughter intently, waiting for any reaction from the little kid. ‘From now on, you can call Yunho ahjussi, papa.’

She looked so confused and Jaejoong was lost with his words. How on earth can he explain this to a toddler? Yunho saw this and he decided to talk to her instead.

‘I am your papa, Jiyool.’

Pregnant silence filled the place, both men waiting for Jiyool to speak. ‘Are you really my papa?’

Yunho nodded at her and when he did, she started crying. Her father hugged her again, ‘Baby, why are you crying?’

‘Sungwon said I don’t have a papa’ Her broken sobs filled the room and both men felt bad for their daughter. For Jaejoong, it was the first time to hear her tell something like this. She never complained or asked why his father is not with them, the little girl appeared to him contented with what he’s telling, and it broke his heart to know the truth.

‘No baby, he’s wrong. I’m your papa.’ Yunho told her again as he cup her little face with his hand. ‘You understand me Jiyoolie? We will explain everything to you when the time comes. I’m your father Jiyool and I won’t leave you again.’

▪▪▪

Yunho insisted to drive Jaejoong and Jiyool home. The whole ride has been quiet, except for the soft snore that came from their daughter. She was safetly fastened on the back seat while Jaejoong was suffocating on his seat beside Yunho. A few turns and they arrived at Jaejoong’s apartment in no time. Yunho was fast on his heels, he opened the backseat’s door to pick Jiyool up even before Jaejoong can go out of the car. He carried Jiyool on his arms and brought her straight to their room, leaving Jaejoong trailing them behind.

The raven-haired man stood outside the room, waiting for Yunho to come out, and when he did he just stood there not knowing what to say. Yunho stood in front of him, eyeing the worn out man down. He cupped Jaejoong’s face with a hand, his thumb stroking the other man’s cheek and it made Jaejoong all tingly. He longed to be touched, not by anyone but by the person he vowed to love forever and now when he did, Jaejoong felt butterflies and fireworks on his stomach.

‘Come stay with me, Jae’ Yunho told him in a whisper but loud enough for Jaejoong to understand. His husky voice pleads but Jaejoong is determined to stand by his decision. He turned his head away from him, ‘I can’t Yunho. I – I’m sorry.’

‘Why, Jaejoong? What’s your reason?’ It has been like this, Jaejoong refusing Yunho and he doesn’t know why Jaejoong is so adamant to stay away from him. ‘I just can’t okay. Please don’t ask.’

‘Look at this place, Jae. I can give you and Jiyool more.’

Realization hit Yunho when he saw Jaejoong’s face. His words, though he didn’t mean to sound rude, definitely came out wrong for Jaejoong. ‘Are you insulting my place?’

He regretted telling him that, he is desperate to have Jaejoong and Jiyool back but he doesn’t know what else to say. ‘That’s not what I meant.’

‘I knew it Yunho. Sorry if I can only afford this for Jiyool. I’m not as rich as you.’ Jaejoong lashed out. ‘That’s not the point!’ Yunho bit back, his patience running out. ‘I need my daughter. I need you. I can’t go back to my life when I know I have you two. Can’t you understand that?’

‘I will not agree to anything!’ Jaejoong started pacing around but Yunho grabbed his wrist and it made him stop. ‘Listen to me Jaejoong. We’ve already wasted so much time. I know we both suffered and we took our daughter’s chance of having a complete family for years. Remember her telling something about that Suwon kid? I won’t let her suffer anymore. She doesn’t deserve this. I love her, we both love her and she deserves more.’

‘ – but you parents, your mom’

Yunho pulled him into his arms, hugging him tight and crushing the other man’s body on his own. He understood where Jaejoong is coming from and he couldn’t blame him. He hugged him tighter, silently promising that everything will turn out right.

‘They wouldn’t hurt you. They can’t. You and Jiyool, I won’t let them hurt you both. Not them, not anyone.’ Jaejoong buried his face on Yunho’s chest, he felt really weak on his presence, like the man is sucking all his energy so that the only thing he could do is lean on him. ‘ I already gave up on giving Jiyool the perfect family.’ He whispered to him honestly.

Soothing the trembling man’s nerves, Yunho kissed him on his forehead and run his hand on his back up and down.

‘Life isn’t perfect Jae. We don’t have any control of what life brings us. Things happen, good or bad.’ He pulled Jaejoong a bit to cup his face again with his hand before he continued ‘But what makes it perfect are the memories we chose to treasure. We can create memories and we could start now. With you, me and Jiyool, we have a lot of time ahead of us. Tell me, are you going to be selfish and deprive your own daughter of the family she deserves to have?’

‘I don’t know’ and Jaejoong really did. ‘I’m scared Yunnie’

▪▪▪

It has been weeks since Yunho learned the truth. He spent every single day with his daughter and Jaejoong trying to make up for all the years they spent without him by their side. Jiyool easily warmed up to him, they’ve been close and he spoils her rotten. Jaejoong and Jiyool still lives on the small apartment and Yunho spends most of his time there. Yunho never asked Jaejoong again to stay with him since that day they told Jiyool that Yunho is her father.

Yunho came back to the old him, smiling all the time, but now due to the thought of his daughter and the man she calls mama. He was sitting on the couch on his parent’s home while looking at filed papers when his mom saw approached him. He knows she’s aware of what he’s doing but he will not let her blow everything up.

‘Are you planning anything, son?’ she asked him curiously and Yunho nodded in reply. ‘Are you leaving?’

He answered with a cold yes, still not paying her a single look. ‘Why do you have to?’

Yunho felt like laughing at the irony of things but he stopped himself from doing so. ‘You know what, mom, I still can’t get over the fact that you did that to Jaejoong.’ He glared at her, his features darkening to his every word and he saw hurt on his mother’s face. ‘I’m sorry but I couldn’t have you near Jaejoong and Jiyool again. You’ve hurt him too much. You even threatened my baby’s life. I can’t even stay on the same place as you without feeling mad at what you did.’

He folded the papers back and stood up to leave his mom.

A few days after, Jaejoong was surprised to receive a call from Yunho asking him to prepare with Jiyool and he will pick them up. He wanted to ask why but just kept quiet and obeyed the man. After dressing himself and Jiyool, they waited for Yunho to arrive. They rode his car and Jiyool was really ecstatic to see him again. The whole drive was a bit a long and Jaejoong stopped himself from asking where on earth they are going. And soon they stopped in front of a highly walled house.

Are they visiting someone? Jaejoonng asked himself. Jiyool ended up sleeping on their way and Yunho carried him on his arms as soon as they arrived. Yunho pressed the keys on the gate’s digital lock and to Jaejoong’s surprise, the gate opened.

Following Yunho and Jiyool, Jaejoong eyed the house from its lush garden to the magnificent interiors. He praised everything on his mind. It was beautiful and elegant yet it was cozy on his eyes.

‘Do you like it?’ Yunho stopped on the middle of the living room and asked him.

‘W – what?’ He was too engrossed that Jaejoong didn’t hear what Yunho asked him so repeated. ‘The house, do you like it?’

‘It’s beautiful.’ And it really is. Even the color palette used on it suits his taste.

‘It’s ours.’ Jaejoong’s jaw almost dropped when Yunho told him this. ‘Jae, live with me. The three of us, here.’

‘I –‘ he was lost for words, who wouldn’t, and he looked around. ‘Jaejoong, please.’ Yunho pleaded again. ‘It’s only us here. No one will hurt you and Jiyool. Please Jae, say yes.’

Jaejoong knew he can’t continue being selfish anymore. Yunho never asked him again since their last conversation about it. He’s been contented with spending time with her daughter and every time he will leave, inevitable awkwardness creeps between them. The raven-haired man missed the other and he’s going crazy at the thought of not being on his presence. He wanted to touch him, to tell him he loves him with all his life and yet he couldn’t, not when he refuse the offer he’s giving. His daughter grow attached on his father too and he knew Yunho is right. He can’t deprive his daughter more of the life she deserves to have.

‘Yes, Yunnie. We will stay with you. Thank you.’ Jaejoong went beside the man as he promised him this. ‘I’ll do anything for you Jae.’ Yunho held the other man with his free hand, the other holding Jiyool, ‘I love you.’

‘I’m sorry for everything. I love you too.’ Jaejoong softly brushed his lips on Yunho’s, squeezing their daughter between.

‘Mama, bed…’

Turning her head on the crook of Yunho’s neck, Jiyool mumbled on her sleep. The reunited lovers almost laughed when they heard their little girl’s words as if foreseeing their future together.

----------- o x o x o x o ------------

epilogue

Yunho jerked awake when he felt someone jumped on him. Groaning, he opened his eyes and saw his little girl sitting comfortably on his stomach, making him her personal cushion.

‘Morning, papa’ Her face is like sunshine that brightens up his day and he couldn’t help but smile along with her. ‘Good morning baby.’ he replied to her without moving on his place. ‘Do you really have to sit on me?’

Jiyool shifted on her seat. Crawling from her position, she sat on the bed beside her father while waiting for any reaction from the man. ‘Are you mad?’

Feeling bad that he quite disappointed her, Yunho grabbed her and playfully wrestled her on the bed. He kissed her on the lips and told her, ‘Of course not.’ Giggles erupted on their room and Yunho couldn’t help but think of how perfect their lives are. They’ve been living together for months and he can never be thankful enough. He knows life has so much to offer and though their lives isn’t perfect, he won’t regret any decision he made. There are still issues to fix; the things with his parents to deal with but for now, he is satisfied being happy with the two person he longed to be with and vowed to protect.

‘Where’s your mama?’ They were sitting on the bed, breathless from their little tickling session, when he wondered where Jaejoong could’ve went. ‘He’s cooking papa. He told me to call you.’

Nodding at him, Jiyool asked if he’s not really mad at her and he told him no. He wondered why his daughter is asking him again when he already assured her he’s not mad at her. ‘Really? Really? Really?’

‘Yes, really.’ He grinned back. ‘So papa, can you keep a secret?’

Jiyool, breakfast is up! What’s taking you so long?

They heard a distant shout from Jaejoong and Jiyool grinned more at her dad. ‘Don’t to tell mama I told you, ‘kay?’ Yunho held his pinky fingers out, the father and daughter intertwined their pinkies. ‘Promise.’

Jiyool closed their distance and lean on her father to whisper. Giggling before she could even start, Yunho noticed how similar his two loved ones are, their laughs and the glint on their eyes, no doubt that she has taken up so much from the beautiful raven-haired man.

‘Mama said Jiyool is going to be a big sister soon’ and it took Yunho not long to figure out what she just told him.

______________________
author's note: Hello everyone! Here's the last chapter and the epilogue. It finally came to an end. I'm sorry for giving you the cliffhanger last night and no, Mrs. Jung did not kidnap Jiyool LOL. Anyway, thank you for reading this from the start! If you have questions, feel free to comment below.

Also, today is Yunjae's 6th anniversay. I made a short poem last night when they trended for YJ's 6th anniversary and I'm thinking of sharing it to you all. So here it is:

Y our other half, it's me.

U nited together, that's how it should be.

N o matter what they say or what they do,

J udging our every action, I know there's you.

A t this age and time, I know you will too,

E verything you do, I will protect you.

Forgive the greasiness haha. Again, thank you for reading Pursuit of Happiness. 'Til next time!