Of Love and Life, Chapter 02

[twinkletofu]

TITLE : Of Love and Life
PAIRING : Yunjae
RATING : PG 13
LENGTH : Chaptered
GENRE : AU, Romance, Fluff, Drama, Mild Angst
DISCLAIMER : I do not own anything except the plot.
SUMMARY : It was a normal day for Jaejoong when fate decided to pawn him on his game.

chapter 02

“Jaejoong was stunned.

Really stunned.

He was staring on the hanging paintings when he heard footsteps approaching him. He cocked his head a bit and saw somebody he thought he will never see again. He cannot be mistaken though. He saw his full 6-foot frame walking towards him, very much the same like that certain day in England. That face, that aura, that guy.

“Did I scare you?”

“Um no – “

“So you’re the new one?”

Jaejoong didn’t know why but he’s tongue tied.

“The new artist.”

“Ahh yes…”

Weird, Yunho thought. He was walking around the house when he heard her mom laughing with another person. He knew her mom. She is full of enthusiasm but with a stranger? That’s really odd. But what he saw really surprised him. It wasn’t the usual weird artist her mom brought home but someone hmm, special.

Yunho kept his stare on the guy standing in the middle of their living room looking at her mom’s prized paintings. He studied his side profile, from that golden brown hair to his all too casual get up. He’s really pale, he thought, almost glowing as the sunlight kissed his skin. Yunho noticed how Jaejoong’s loose shirt hangs on his shoulder and those tight jeans hugging his long skinny legs. He closed their distance and the latter seemed to notice his presence and faced him. Yunho saw the stunned look on Jaejoong’s face and the last thing he wants is to scare his mother’s guest.

“I’m Jung Yunho, my mom is your client.” He said in his all-too professional voice and offered his hand to him.

“Umm..” Jaejoong realized that the guy was holding out his hand to him so he shook it quiet fast “I’m JJ.”

Jaejoong pulled his hand from Yunho’s and set his cup of coffee on the table. Yunho kept his eyes on Jaejoong’s face, studying every little detail he can. He admired his doe-eyes and the moles that only complemented his face, his nose and that naturally pouty mouth. He also noticed how his golden brown hair suits him. He noticed them all. He’s too beautiful for a man. Almost unearthly. Untouchable.

Then he continued his gaze down to his neck and to his collar and saw something familiar. In a split second, he was beside Jaejoong, clutching the necklace on his right hand. Jaejoong was terrified as hell then he met Yunho’s piercing eyes.

Jaejoong knew something was wrong. Something is wrong.

“Where did you get this?” Yunho’s voice is cold as ice and Jaejoong can’t help but shiver in fear. They were really close, their bodies almost touching but Jaejoong could only care about the shift on Yunho’s mood. He was totally fine a few minutes ago but now, he feels like he can just throw him out of the house.

“Huh?”

“This necklace? Where did you get it?”

Yunho tugs on the necklace and Jaejoong felt the silver chain digging on his skin. He wanted to explain himself but before he even got the chance to talk –

“I’m pretty sure this necklace is mine. Did you steal it?”

“ – what?!” Jaejoong’s face is a mix of shock and disappointment. How can he ask him that? He closed his eyes and huffed.

“What the fuck?” Jaejoong cursed under his breath.

The tension was unbearable but Jaejoong cannot back down. He stared back to Yunho hoping that his eyes can drill a hole on him.

“What’s happening?” Mrs. Jung broke the tension between the two guys. Yunho let go of the necklace as soon as he saw her mom. She looked over Jae and shot Yunho a curious glance.

“Mrs. Jung, I’m sorry but I have an emergency. I really need to go now.”

Jaejoong was really thankful that Mrs. Jung understood him, gave him a cheque for payment and never pried for any details. She gave him a huge hug and patted his back.

“I still want to talk to you.”

“We’ll meet again Mrs, Jung. Don’t worry.” He really felt bad that he had to lie but he cannot deal with Jung Yunho anymore.

He hugged her again and left the room without even sparing Yunho a glance. He power walked to his car as soon as he got out and he was only a few steps away from his black Audi when somebody yanked his arms.

“Where do you think you’re going? You haven’t answered me.”

“Fine.” Jaejoong was beyond annoyed. He pulled off the necklace without bothering to unclasp it from his neck and shoved it on Yunho as rude as he can. “There’s your necklace.”

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Jaejoong answered back, emphasizing the word you. “Last time I checked, I paint things, not steal.”

Yunho kept rooted on his place as Jaejoong drove off. Then everything dawned upon him.

“Shit.”

▪▪▪

“Hey calm down,” Yoochun continues to unload Jaejoong’s groceries while Jaejoong pace around the kitchen. He haven’t seen him like that for the longest time and that only means one thing, Kim Jaejoong is fucking pissed. “Seriously Jae, stop pacing around, you’re giving me a headache.”

“Chuuuuun! He’s – “ he stopped to think, “ he’s a total douchebag! He’s really annoying! He’s stupid, he’s so full of himself, he’s… urgh, see? I can’t even describe him properly, that’s how pissed I am!”

Yoochun knew his best friend and he just smirked on his actions. “I know.”

“Thank God I like Mrs. Jung! I would never want to sell my works with the likes of him.”

“Okay, stop,” Yoochun stopped what he’s doing and faced Jaejoong “Hun, you probably won’t see him again. Don’t get caught up with him or whatever.”

“But Chun! He asked me if I stole the necklace!”

“See, he asked you, not tell you you’re a thief.”

“Same thing! He’s implying it – Wait, are you siding with him? Tell me who’s your friend now?”

“I don’t even know how he looks like. How can I be siding with him?”

“Fine!” Jaejoong felt defeated. There’s no way he can win an argument with Yoochun. “And you just called me hun, spare me the nightmare Park Yoochun.”

Yoochun just smiled at him and went back to stuffing his groceries of his fridge. “You love it.”

Jaejoong just rolled his eyes and started helping Yoochun. They are his groceries anyway.

▪▪▪

Changmin was sitting on their family sofa with legs stretched while typing things on his laptop when his brother entered the room. He sat on the separate chair beside the sofa and pulled on some papers to read. He set his can of beer on their table and flipped the papers, "Hey Min, what are you doing?"

“Nothing much. Why?”

Changmin kept his eyes on his laptop while his brother continued to scan the papers he is currently holding. They just sat there in silence, both busy with whatever they are doing, then Changmin took off his eyeglasses and looked at Yunho.

“You saw the painting?

“Not yet. Did mom hang it already?”

“Yes. You should see it, hyung.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. There’s something with the painting. You should go see it.” Now he’s interested. His brother has never been interested in any of their mother’s art collections but hearing him taking interest on the work is something.

“I thought you saw it already?”

“No, I just saw the painter, not the painting.”

“Ohh, is he some sort of weird old dude mom always invite here?”

Yunho smiled on his memory of the brown-haired painter. Weird? Old? He’s totally far from it, he thought. He wasn’t aware but Changmin noticed the slight changes on his face.

“He’s feisty.”

That made Changmin cock his eyebrow. “That’s not a valid physical description, just so you know. And why are you smiling?”

“We got into an argument.” Changmin thought his brother grew two heads that time. When did his brother paid attention to anyone, let alone start an argument with someone?

“You what?!”

Instead of giving him an answer, Yunho pulled something from his pocket and showed it to his brother. It was the necklace.

“Hyung, I thought you lost it?”

“I thought so too. Then I saw the painter wearing this but I can’t be wrong. I knew it’s my mom’s.”

“So, you got into an argument because of that?”

“Well, yes. I asked him if he stole it.”

What the hell happened with the ever well-mannered Jung Yunho?! Changmin thought to himself.

Yunho saw the look on his brother’s face. He knew why. He felt the same after Jaejoong left. “That’s pathetic, I know. I lost control.”

“If I were him, I would’ve punched you.”

“He pulled this and threw me my necklace. He broke it, see?” He pointed on the broken clasp. “We’re even.”

“Hyung, what planet are you from?”  Yunho just stared at him, curious at how Min was acting. “You basically told him that he’s a thief! He pulled that out of frustration. That’s far from even! Tell me you apologized.”

“Uhhh, no?”

“Oh God, hyung, what will I do with you?!”

▪▪▪

It was Saturday night when Yoochun decided to drag Jaejoong to Absolute 9096, a local pub in downtown Seoul, a place he established a few years after graduation. The whole place screams sophistication and elegance. Socialites flock to Absolute 9096 for their doze of casual nights without the blinding disco lights and ear-deafening party music.

Yoochun made sure they were both dressed to impressed. He was wearing a black cardigan over his designer suit and his best friend is wearing a stylish semi-formal black top and dark gray pants.

Jaejoong stopped in front of the pub and faced his best friend, “Why are we here again?”

“Because it’s Saturday.” Yoochun answered him as if his answer made sense to Jaejoong.

“And?”

“You’re my friend and you’re going to help me.”

“Hmm?”

Yoochun knew he had to fill him with details, he decided to just drop the bomb. “We’re going to sing.”

As friends they are used to their random request but stubbornness kicked in, Jaejoong decided to drive him nuts.

“I don’t want to sing.”

“Yes, you do. You will,” Yoochun answered back, conviction evident on his voices.

“Why?”

“Because you’re my friend and friends help each other.”

“I don’t want to be your friend.” Oh, how he loves teasing him.

“Kim Jaejooooong!”

“I am not convinced. Humor me Chun.”

“My 9096 people wants you!”

“No they don’t! They don’t know me and look, I haven’t sung in what – months?”

“Yes you do, you sing every morning!”

“That’s not counted!”

Feeling defeated, Yoochun knew he needed to tell him the truth if they want to be inside as soon as possible. They can both be stubborn sometimes.

“Crap. Truth, That fucking band decided to ditch me last minute. I need someone to perform tonight. Come on. Let’s sing, hm? Just like the old times.”

“I’m not old!!”

“Yah! What’s with the selective hearing?”

“I don’t want to sing, my vocal chords are feeling lazy tonight.”

“Oh dear God –“

Jaejoong was amused at how his best friend is acting. He knew he is being a brat and he will say yes to Yoochun in the end, it’s just that he loves teasing a desperate Park Yoochun. He had to stop himself from laughing when he saw how Yoochun is trying so hard to stop himself from pulling his hair out.

“Jae…” there he goes, Jaejoong thought to himself.

“Hmm?” he side-eyes his friend knowing too well what will happen next.

“Help your poor soulmate please?”

That got him, all the time.

“Okay, let’s go.”

“That’s it?”

“What? You don’t want to? Fine, I can just go home or something.”

“No, let’s go. Go go go!!” And Jaejoong just let himself be pulled by Yoochun.

▪▪▪

A limo pulled out in front of Absolute 9096. It was a sight to see, really. A stretched black limo looked definitely odd in the middle of a busy street in Seoul. Two men dressed in semi-formal designer outfits got out of the car, dismissing their bodyguard with a nod.

“Tell me what are we doing here Min?”

“To hung out of course. Look, we spent the whole week working; why not take some time off? And my favorite band’s going to perform tonight. You’ll enjoy.”

“When did you start getting interested with bands huh?”

They continued to talk as they entered the place. It was peaceful inside. The music playing on the background drowns the noise inside. It was odd for them to go to such place. Since they were part of the renowned Jung family, the descendants of the royals, Changmin and Yunho, as well as other members of the family hardly goes out, except for family gatherings and outings, that is.

You don’t want to? I’ll just go home or something

Yunho cannot believe what he heard. It was really odd how every bit of noise inside seemed to tune down and he heard his voice loud and clear. There he is. Yunho glanced on the pale guy standing beside the bar counter. With Changmin beside him, Yunho strutted towards him.

“You’re here.”



Next: Chapter 03 >>



Author's note: Yoochun and Jaejoong look exactly like this when they went to Absolute 9096: http://i.imgur.com/Asexrw4.jpg They look gorgezz right?

Anyway, thank you to everyone who commented on the prologue and the first chapter! I was surprised that somebody did read this thing. Idek man, I'm became all emo-chun-al last week haha.

Author's note 2: Anyhoo, this is a rushed update. I only started this yesterday and I really want to post a new chapter before Sunday ends. You see, my favorite band was here for 5 freaking days and I'm still having the biggest post-concert depression of my life that I can't do anything except watch fancams and stuff haha. Better chapter next time! Oh and I have also decided that future ratings will change depending on the chapter. Thank you x