Jaejoong stood at the centre of the apartment, heaving a huge sigh as he took in the new surroundings. He had unpacked the last box, finishing unpacking everything in his new apartment. It was tiring after hours of cleaning and organizing the place--he could finally rest and take a breather.

It was certainly a good move, Jaejoong thought as he felt the breeze hit his skin softly. He had let the door to the veranda opened, letting the cool air in. Jaejoong laid on the wooden floor, closing his eyes. He felt his body goes lax, all the strain on his muscle ebbing away as he concentrated on the sound of the crashing wave.

He had to thank his mum for getting this place for him. It was perfect. He loves it so much that he didn't regret his decision to move here. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, where he could live his life peacefully. It was what he wanted for so long, away from Seoul and having to live his life without the scrutiny of others. His thoughts were interrupted when he felt his phone vibrated. Jaejoong took out his phone and he saw as the pop-up notification appeared on his screen. His mum had texted him.

Mum: Jae, how is it there?

Jaejoong pursed his lips, thinking about the ways to word his reply. In the end, he settled for: Good, mum. I like it here.

He put his phone on the coffee table before walking to the kitchen, checking for something to eat. Jaejoong frowned when he found nothing to eat. He only had some side dishes from his mum in his fridge and nothing else, not even rice. He looked at the time and decided to go out for some grocery shopping. Jaejoong walked back to the main room, picking up his wallet and keys. He checked that he had every item with him before slipping into his jacket.

He did one last check before walking out the house. He made sure the door was securely locked before walking off around the town. He might as well enjoy himself before doing his shopping.

The town was a quaint place and everyone seemed to know each other. A close-knit town. He decided to walk into a small restaurant. The owner greeted him, a big smile on his face. They had a little conversation after the owner introduced himself. He mentioned about him being new here and the owner was welcoming him cheerily. He smiled, thanking the owner for his warm welcome and asked him to take of him. Then, Jaejoong sat on a corner table, ordering the first item his eyes caught on. There weren’t a lot of people around. He looked out of the window, watching the scenery outside. He was too engrossed while watching the people passed by that Jaejoong didn't realise that his food had already arrived. He said a quick ‘thank you' and mouthing a little prayer before eating his food.

After having his late lunch, Jaejoong walked around the town, getting familiarised within the area. As it was a small town, everywhere he went he was welcomed warmly by the townsfolk. Everyone seemed to know that he is the new resident of this town. Jaejoong noted the sky before checking the time. It was this late, he frowned after he realised it was already five. He needed to do his shopping before it gets dark. He asked some uncles who were passing by for the direction of the nearest market, thanking them when they offered to walk him there. They had a chat along the way, the uncles telling Jaejoong bits and pieces of the town's history and its people.

Not long after, they had reached the marketplace and Jaejoong thanked the uncles. He reassured them after they offered to go with him around the market. Noting that he probably had interrupted them on their way home, Jaejoong politely declined and promising them the next time. The uncles seemed satisfied with Jaejoong's reply as they relented to his request. They bid goodbye soon after. Jaejoong then watched the retreating back of the uncles before he walked inside the market.

It was the usual traditional Korean marketplace. He walked through, eyes wandering along. Jaejoong quickly ran a list of items that he wanted to buy in his head before his eyes caught sight of a line of various fish, put on a display. Jaejoong walked closer to the shop, eyes raking over the fishes.

He was debating what kind of fish should buy now. Something that is delicious and fast to cook. Jaejoong was too occupied with his thought that he didn't notice the appearance of a person. He let out a startled gasp when that person greeted him. A deep, masculine and a little bit too cheery voice for his liking. Jaejoong looked up and their eyes greeted each other.

It was the softest, most beautiful pair of dark chocolate brown irises he had laid eyes on. Jaejoong stood frozen, unable to mutter any words to the person in front of him. He was definitely taller than him. A good few inches gap. They exchanged a few words, greetings that consists of: “are you new here?” and “welcome to the neighbourhood.”.

He was being too friendly--well everyone who worked with dealing with people is too friendly, it is their job. Jaejoong nodded and give the fishmonger a one-word reply. But that didn't deter the said man friendliness if so, it only made the man more excited to be friends with him. He paid the amount for the fish, and headed back home, making no stop on his way back.

Yunho--as what the fishmonger had introduced himself earlier--had put an extra fish inside his bag. Jaejoong frowned as when he looked at fish like it was an offensive sight to him. He stared at the offensive fish, debating on what he should do with them. He could save it and return it to Yunho the next day. But, what would a fishmonger, who sells fresh fish, do with a fridge-frozen fish?

Jaejoong sighed as he placed the fish on the bowl. It should be okay, Jaejoong thought, to cook them and gift them to Yunho, to thank him for the fish and his overly friendly welcome gesture. This place was such a friendly and welcoming place, that Jaejoong felt overwhelmed with the gesture. He missed the cold, distant, all-to-yourself people in the city.

But, this was what he wanted, a life away from those people. A life away from the pressured life as the Kim family’s only heir and son.

+++

Jaejoong handed the food container to Yunho.

Both of them stared at each other, silent look and gesture being exchanged between them. Yunho arched his eyebrow, looking confused while he alternated between looking at Jaejoong and the wrapped container, in the light blue cloth with a single yellow flower drawn on it.

“It’s the extra fish, you gave,” Jaejoong muttered, avoiding Yunho’s eyes while he explained, “as a thank you.”

Jaejoong glanced at Yunho, and the fishmonger smiled, wide, at him. He took the container and opened it. His smile got wider upon seeing the dish inside the container. A stew.

“This is my son’s favourite,” Yunho exclaimed, “thank you.”

Jaejoong nodded before he said his goodbye in a hurry and left. He didn't wait for Yunho's reply or he didn't want to deal with him any longer. Jaejoong sighed. There was something about Yunho that seemed dangerous--like his mere existence intimidate him, the warning signs flashing, blaring so loud in his mind. He felt that he would cross that line if he interacted with Yunho for any time longer than necessary.

+++

It had been a month since Jaejoong moved here, settling in nicely and he was getting comfortable with the townsfolk. He made good friends with the granny next door and the elderly couple across his house. Both elders often invited him to eat at their house, or they would give him some food. While he always tried to refuse their gift, telling them not to trouble themselves with him, both elders would scoff at him and told him it was no trouble, and they saw Jaejoong like their own grandchild.

Thus, Jaejoong would sometimes cook, when he had time, and invited his neighbours over for dinner. Soon, it had become a routine and he would cook on Saturday and they will have dinner together at his house. It was one of the things that Jaejoong like since he'd moved.

It was a Sunday morning, and he decided to take a walk around town, familiarising with the road around the town. The weather was cool, breezy, and the sky was a deep shade of blue--beautiful and vast. The scenery was something you couldn’t see in the city.

Jaejoong sat on the bench, deciding to take a rest and he looked around the park. He hadn't had a chance to explore, due to his schedule--he was busy with unpacking and rearranging his belongings, school's works, managing his transfer documents and things related to his work.

Now, everywhere he went, people would greet him as Teacher Kim, or the handsome teacher--that would happen when everyone in the town was a close-knit community. Everyone knows everyone and the news travelled around fast.

And that was how he knew that Yunho, the fishmonger--also a local celebrity in this town due to his handsome looking face--was a divorcee and his wife had left him and their son for a better life in the city. Jaejoong thought about the irony of the situation--where he escaped the city for a better life and Yunho’s wife went to the city for the same reason as his.

He nodded and smiled at Yunho when their eyes met and Yunho did the same--a form of unspoken greeting exchanged between them. Yunho took something out of the bag he brought with him--food for the bird, perhaps--before Yunho sat on the railings, and Jaejoong watched as the birds surrounded him--the seagulls flew around Yunho while he threw their food at them. It was a magnificent sight. The food thrown was mimicking the falling rain, and the birds flutter their wings, and everything moved in slow motion, as Yunho sat, at the centre of the whole imagery. There was something beguiled about it--and how ephemeral everything was.

Jaejoong stared at the man, unable to tear his eyes away.

+++

It had become another routine for him, or somehow became one for them as they would often meet, coincidentally, at the park. Yunho giving the birds their food, accompanying his child played around the park and Jaejoong sat on the bench, usually reading or taking pictures. They greeted each other with their unspoken greeting, a smile and a nod before they do their own things, aware of one another. Jaejoong would stop doing his thing and took a pause, before he glanced at Yunho, embedding the sight on his mind yet again. He hadn't dared take a picture of him, afraid that it would be too much, and afraid if it was crossing the boundary that they had.

Afraid of what would be instigated from it.

He knew that the more he observed Yunho, the harder he would fall for the man. Yunho was kind, a man of principle and he was everything that Jaejoong admired in a person. Admire, something he would do in secret. No one would know, but him.

And, there was something satisfying in watching Yunho from afar. Jaejoong couldn’t describe it, words became nonexistent. And, he didn’t want to destroy their serendipitous weekly meeting.

+++

It had been a year since he moved here, and things had been wonderful ever since. He was living a peaceful, mundane life he had always wanted and Jaejoong loved every single moment of it. Everyone oozed with kindness and happiness. Everyone here was family--it made Jaejoong’s heart full and content.

Jaejoong was reading Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore when Changmin came up to him.

"Mr Kim!" the little boy called out to him, and he came running. Changmin, or Jung Changmin--Yunho's son.

“Hey, Changmin,” Jaejoong put down his book, sliding the bookmark between the pages he had been reading. He turned his attention to his student, as Changmin sat down beside him on the bench. Jaejoong shared a look with Yunho, and the handsome fishmonger gave him his ever dazzling beautiful smile.

“Aren’t you bored?”

“Huh?” Jaejoong titled his head, looking at the boy with confusion. Bored?

“Reading the book? It’s so boring, and they don’t even have pictures,” Changmin explained.

Jaejoong laughed.

“It’s not. I like to read, you know.”

“Playing is more fun, teach.”

“It’s but reading lets you go on an adventure,” Jaejoong said and he watched Changmin’s round eyes widened, sparkled with excitement.

“Really?”

“Ask your dad, he would know,” Jaejoong winked.

The little boy thanked him and said his goodbye before Changmin went running to his father. Jaejoong watched as Changmin excitedly told something to Yunho, causing Yunho to stare at him. Jaejoong blinked at the sudden attention from the man, as he fiddled with his fingers, unsure on how to react.

Yunho then laughed before he turned back to look at Changmin, ruffling his son's hair before he told something to him. Jaejoong watched the son-father duo from afar, admiring the whole situation, looking at their dynamics. Even without a mother-figure in his life, Changmin has grown up splendidly. A snarky yet kind child, intelligent, and friendly, a kid with a good upbringing--and Yunho did everything, on his own.

Jaejoong watched as they threw the food up, as the birds took flight once again. Then, Changmin ran towards him again, excitedly telling him that his dad will be buying some books for him and he asked if Jaejoong could read to him sometimes. Jaejoong nodded, and Changmin held up his pinky at him. Jaejoong smiled as he laced his pinky with Changmin’s smaller ones, sealing the deal.

Changmin was bidding him goodbye, and Jaejoong caught Yunho's gaze. They smiled at each other and Jaejoong bowed at him from his position, bidding the other goodbye. Yunho bowed back at him before he held Changmin's hand. Jaejoong watched as the duo walked away from the park, disappearing from his sight.

Jaejoong sat back on the bench, picking up where he’d left and continued reading his book. A particular line caught his attention.

‘Silence, I discover, is something you can actually hear.’

+++

Jaejoong was reading a book for Changmin. He had dug his bookshelf for something that he thought could draw some interest out of his student. He held his worn-out copy of The Little Prince, careful as he flipped over the old, yellowing pages.

Changmin commented on the condition of the book and it drew a smile on Jaejoong's face. He fondly told the younger, about the times he read this book when he wanted to feel young when he wanted to go back to the time when he first started reading a book. It was his first book, Jaejoong had said with proudness singing in his voice.

He started reading the story to Changmin, telling him about the journey of the Little Prince. His voice swaying along, travelling up and down, going high and low, as he imitated the movements using his voice, making the story a crystal clear pictures on their eyes as it came alive in their imagination. Jaejoong’s heart swelled with happiness while he watched little Changmin’s eyes, sparkled, and the ‘oh’s and ‘ah’s forming on his mouth at each adventure they went on with the prince.

“Changmin!”

A loud voice pulled the two away from their world of adventure. Jaejoong's eyes found Yunho, standing at his usual spot, looking like he always does, handsome. He waved at the two, and Jaejoong observed the lines of his white t-shirt wrinkled as he raised his hand--how that piece of clothing clung perfectly on his statue-like figure.

Look away.

The voice in his head warned, prompting Jaejoong to tear his gaze away, blinking copiously while he took a deep breath. He can’t believe he was ogling his student’s father. Changmin’s small voice got his attention, and he put on a smile as he looked at his student. Changmin told that it was time, he had to go with his father. Jaejoong didn’t realise they had been reading for so long. That was one thing with reading, they made you lost track of time. Jaejoong shook his head, promising Changmin that they would continue later, at any given time.

Changmin smiled, exclaiming loud and setting their Sunday morning as their special reading time. Jaejoong nodded, thinking about how it is a fixed meeting--between him and Yunho's son. Jaejoong sent Changmin off, watching the little figure ran to his dad before his eyes met Yunho's. And, like usual, they had their silent, unspoken exchange. A smile and a nod, with a meaningful gesture, projected on their gaze.

Jaejoong waved goodbye at Changmin and the latter waved back, jumping and yelling: "See you next time, Mr Kim!"

It made him chuckled. He was, truly, a ball of joy to be around.

He froze when he and Yunho looked at each other. Jaejoong clenched his hand, before he put it up, biting his lower lips as he waved, for the first time, back at Yunho. He could see the mirth expressed on his irises, smiling broadly--the broadest one Jaejoong had ever seen--at him. Yunho waved back, with the same excitement eluded from his son.

Jaejoong chuckled. Like father like son indeed, he thought. The duo walked back to their car, and they waved back again to him, their action mirroring each other down to a tee. Jaejoong waved back again, and his hand hurt from all the waving but he didn't care. It was something that he would do again, no matter how many times it took or the pain that his arm would feel later.

The feeling he felt inside was warm and beautiful.

+++

“What can I get for you, Teacher Kim?” Yunho asked from behind the counter. He wiped his hand using a small, grey cloth before casting it aside. His smile never leaving his face as Yunho walked closer to Jae.

Jaejoong, startled from Yunho sudden appearance, stood up straight. Mrs Han--Yunho's longest employee--excused herself before she tended to the other customer. Yunho was smiling so brightly at him. Jaejoong felt his brain went into overdrive, rendering its useless. He stared at Yunho unable to respond, frozen in his steps.

Yunho moved closer, and Jaejoong swore his heart was going to jump out from his chest. He blinked, and blinked, and blinked before he yelped and took a step backwards. Jaejoong immediately covered his crimson-stained cheeks, knowing his betraying body won't hide his flustered face, no matter how many times his mind ordered his body to calm down.

“I...urgh--”

“--I wanna thank you for Changmin.”

Jaejoong blinked.

“For getting him into reading,” Yunho explained after he saw the confused look on Jaejoong’s face.

Jaejoong nodded, once, twice, bashful as he refused to meet Yunho’s eyes. He couldn’t think properly now, as if his brain suddenly stopped functioning, rendering him a frozen mess. Jaejoong berated himself, he was being ridiculous acting as if he was still in high school, and the man in front of his was his stupid high school crush.

I’m a grown man, god what am I doing right now, Jaejoong sighed.

He went back home soon after buying a fish, refusing to spend more time than necessary around Yunho. Or, he might do something that would embarrass himself in front of that man. Jaejoong hastened his steps, walking straight home without looking back.

Little did he knew, he missed that fond smile on Yunho’s face as he watched his retreating back.

+++

Jaejoong put away his book only when he felt a presence sitting beside him. He glanced to his right, and he almost gasped out loud when he saw the stranger to be Yunho. They were staring, eye to eye. How long had he been there, Jaejoong bit his lower lips.

Yunho was staring at him, even after he was caught red-handed by Jaejoong. It was weird and unsettling. Jaejoong put the bookmark between the pages he was reading, before he put the book aside, tucking it close to him to make sure it won't fall to the ground. Jaejoong cocked his head, hoping that Yunho got his signal if he didn't get the huge question mark and confusion looming on his face.

They just stared at each other, no words were exchanged, nor didn't Yunho showed any kind of emotion on his visage. It was making Jaejoong unsettled as time went by. He turned his head away, his eyes darted to the fabric of his t-shirt. There was nothing interesting about it. It was his same old piece of clothing. The colour was fading, as some brown spot began to appear. He would have to throw this t-shirt soon. But, this was better than to be focusing on Yunho. Better this than to observed the brownness of his iris, the way his cute mole always get the best of Jaejoong's attention, and the soft curves of his lips. Jaejoong shut his eyes closed, scolding himself for even thinking that way about the father of his student.

Should he get up now and leave? Would it be okay to just leave? Wouldn’t it be weird?

Should he say something first?

Come on, Jae! He is the one who invaded your personal time.

Jaejoong fiddled with the hem of his shirt. To the hell with it.

“Is something wrong?” he asked.

Jaejoong didn't look at him, even when silence filled between them. It was deafening, and that was saying something. Usually, he would prefer the company of silence, because it was comforting and nice. He liked the silence because he could listen to his thoughts. He liked the silence because he could focus on his surroundings.

But, he didn’t like this kind of silence where everything was so suffocating, swallowing him whole.

“If you wanted to be alone, I’ll leave now.”

“Stay...please.”

Jaejoong glanced at the man beside him, wondering what on earth could be wrong with him. They had gone far from their usual polite, basic greetings between each other--nothing more and nothing less. And, now, suddenly, Yunho was here, sitting beside him, and he had something troubling weighing on his mind. And that same person was asking for his comfort, his company and it was driving him insane. Jaejoong frowned.

This was more than he could comprehend. No sane person could process it.

He wanted to ask for more. He wanted to clear the confusion in his mind. He wanted to get rid of the ‘maybe’ that was beginning to creep into his mind.

There were so many questions to be asked, to be answered.

But, Jaejoong held his tongue, leaning back onto the bench and let the questions be buried--for now. He picked up his book, reading back at the page that he'd bookmark earlier. He was reading, the same lines over and over. Jaejoong was stuck on the same page. He sighed; he remembered yelling at the character for being stupid before, getting so invested for not telling her love interest her true feeling, by letting the chance slipped away again. They were talking about phototaxis and moths and Jaejoong was lost.

He needed to read the whole thing again.

It was when he was truly getting annoyed with the main character for being so stupid, and oblivious--Jaejoong was ready to groan out loud when he felt Yunho's head resting on his shoulder. His whole body was frozen. He hadn't dared to breathe, it was like the mere action would snap something in him--and Jaejoong didn't want that to happen.

His mind blared with all sort of alarms, and at the same time, it was blank. He didn't know what to say, or how should he react at this moment. Did he read a guide on how to handle when something like this happened?

What the was going on?

He wanted to push Yunho away. He wanted to stand up and leave.  But, what he wanted the most was--he wanted answers.

Jaejoong took a deep breath. He could do this, Jaejoong clenched his fist.

"I'm sorry, Mr Jung, but what're you doing?"

He could hear Yunho letting out a huge sigh before he felt Yunho's head leaving his shoulder. He turned his head slightly to look at Yunho. Yunho sat up straight, his head gazing up, watching as the clouds floated by, the sky blue and soft as birds occasionally flew past them. Jaejoong saw a smile curved on his lips, and he wondered what was on Yunho's mind right now. What was he thinking?

“You must be perturbed by me,” he said, without looking at him. Jaejoong stood silent, letting Yunho be with his thoughts, giving him time to organise his words. He waited for Yunho to say something more, watching the movement of his lips, wanting to spill more but didn’t.

Jaejoong, again, bookmarked the page, casting his book on his lap as he turned his whole body to face Yunho.

He heard Yunho sighed before their eyes met, once again. Yunho closed in the distance between them, leaving Jaejoong startled again by his sudden demeanour.

Jaejoong blinked, once, twice, thrice and more, unable to move away.

He saw Yunho smiled, so beautifully. His eyes twinkled like he held the stars in them, the way his eyelashes fluttered, and the curve of his eyes forming to a small curve, and the curve of his lips, the widening of his mouth as he showed the straight line of his white pearly teeth. He was paying too much attention to him, more than what it deemed to be appropriate.

And, he knew, that, the crush he had on Yunho was turning into a serious one. And he didn’t know if it was a good thing or not.

+++

He didn't know how he ended up spending time with Yunho as now they were sitting inside Yunho's house. Yunho was in the kitchen making something for him to drink after he told Jaejoong to make himself at home.

Jaejoong looked around the house while staying rooted on the sofa, unable to make himself wander around the living room. He looked at the book on the table--the Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane--the one that he'd gifted to Changmin.

Oh, Changmin, speaking of him Jaejoong hadn’t spotted him since he set foot inside. Where was he? Was he not home?

He turned his head around, looking for the little guy.

“I hope you’re okay with tea and scone?”

Jaejoong whipped his head, watching Yunho in front of him with a tray on hand. Yunho placed the tray on the table, giving Jaejoong his drink. Jaejoong uttered small thanks before he took a small sip, testing the temperature. He watched, over the mug as Yunho settled on the sofa adjacent to his. He also drank his tea, ignoring Jaejoong’s stare on him.

“Where’s Changmin?” Jaejoong asked. He observed Yunho as he took another sip before lowering the mug on his lap, his hands wrapped around it, reeling on the comfort of its warmth.

“He’s...with his friends.”

Jaejoong nodded and he took another sip.

“I bet that you’ll want an explanation,” Yunho drawled. “About my action at the park earlier.”

Jaejoong nodded again, keeping his mouth closed. Yunho took a deep breath as he closed his eyes. Jaejoong stood still, watching as Yunho’s eyes fluttered back open. Then, he placed his mug on the table before doing the same thing to Jaejoong’s.

“It wasn’t supposed to be that way...not how I’d plan it.”

Jaejoong arched his eyebrow. Yunho chuckled at Jaejoong's confused expression, as he propped his arms on his lap, resting his head on his hand. Jaejoong held his breath when Yunho looked at him with the fondest expression he'd ever seen.

"I guess, I can't be dilly-dallying this any longer," he smiled. His eyes were never leaving Jaejoong’s, and his smile only gotten wider, fonder.

Jaejoong gulped, nervous and afraid of what was about to come. He didn’t know if it was a good thing or not.

“Kim Jaejoong,” Yunho said his name. Jaejoong liked how it sounded--he liked how beautiful his name rang in his ear. “I like you.”

Jaejoong’s eyes widened. He was staring, watching Yunho like he’d sprouted another head. He could feel himself getting hotter, bubbling up, from his toes, up, up to his head. Jaejoong could feel his face getting red, redder and leaving him a blushing mess. He could feel his brain went into override, rendering him useless.

Did he just--and did Yunho just confessed to him?

Yunho--he must have sensed the chaos in his mind-- scooted closer before he had Jaejoong's hand in his. Using his thumb, Yunho rubbed circles on the skin of his hand. The action itself was soothing, but it wasn't enough to calm Jaejoong's disastrous state of mind.

“I like you, for a long time...but I never had the courage to tell you about it.”

It wasn’t a dream.

“Actually, I’d make a bet with Changmin...that, if he finished the book by this week, I would tell you about my feelings.”

Huh?

“A bet? With Changmin?” Jaejoong could feel his brain slowly came back to function. “Changmin knew?”

Yunho chuckled, and Jaejoong didn't notice when he closed in their distance. When did he get so close? Jaejoong stared into his eyes.

“Yes. I’ll never hide anything from him…and we’d know about your crush on me for a while now.”

“Oh my god.”

This was the worst case scenario. He thought he was so inconspicuous about that, apparent he didn’t. It was out in the open, and he was as inconspicuous as a toddler hiding the fact that they ate cookies when there were crumbs all over their face.

“How long?” he asked.

Yunho pursed his lips, trying to remember the exact time when it started.

“Around the time…when you and Changmin had a reading date together?”

Jaejoong frowned. He and Changmin started reading together three months ago. That--was a long time ago.

“What?”

“This was all…Changmin’s idea really.”

“What?” he yelled, shocked by that extra information.

“We really, really, really like you,” Yunho shrugged, both hands up, and he was grinning so wide.

“This is so embarrassing,” Jaejoong groaned. He wanted to bury himself right now, erase his existence from this room. How could he ever face the sneaky little brat after this? How could he be played by a kid?

Yunho got up from his eat and then he kneeled in front of him, while still holding Jaejoong’s hand in his. He was still grinning, so bright that he could replace the sun, and Jaejoong couldn’t help himself as he started to mirror Yunho’s expression.

“So, can we stop this whole awkward charade between us and start again?” Yunho asked, hopeful and eager to know his answer.

Jaejoong just stared at him.

“Please,” he drawled.

“Just for the record, don’t tell that I know about your plan to Changmin,” Jaejoong grinned.

He remembered the time he spent shying away from the man in front of him. He always ran at the sight of Yunho, always sealing his lips closed and only greetings were send across. He thought that it was ridiculous, and all the time he spent waltzing along, running in circles and avoiding from his feelings was for nothing.

If only he could be braver and plucked the courage to make the first step.

If only--Jaejoong laughed--but he won’t have any other way. It just perfect, and he thought that this was so him and Yunho. It was a big deal after all. The things that he’d done would only serve as fond memories of his idiotic self. He leaned in, and kissed Yunho softly, briefly and he hoped that his feelings, his thoughts, and his everything were relaid with the touch. Everything, the moment, the surrounding, the lights that peered into the room were perfect.

They soon parted, and forehead resting on the forehead, nose brushing with the nose, breathes heaving, mixing together and lips lingering, still fresh from the soft sensation. Jaejoong watched, as everything moved so slowly, like the shot you would see in a movie, like the way you could see clearly the tear-shaped water falling down from the sky, Yunho. The light softly hit his skin, giving the ethereal glow, the way his eyes glinted, dark and full of desire, and the way Yunho’s eyes lingered on his lips, before trailing up to meet his eyes.

Jaejoong watched the way Yunho’s lips curved into a smile, before giving him a peck on the lips. He thought that there was nothing more he wanted in life than to be here, with him, in the small town, in this mundane life, and in his life. Jaejoong cupped Yunho’s cheek, rubbing his thumb around it.    

“And, I like you too...like a lot.”

end.