Denying 

Their relationship had always been weird, what with all the cold words and treatment. Outsiders will never understand but they don’t care.


“So what have you been doin’ lately?” Jaejoong asked indifferently as the cloud of smoke escaped out of his mouth and floated into the air. He is as apathetic and emotionless as ever with his bleached and spiked hair, several piercings on his body and the intimidating tattoos which scare everyone away.


“The boring stuff as usual, how ‘bout you?” Yunho was laying back cozily as he closed his eyes and enjoyed the peacefulness he rarely gets. It’s funny how they were so contrasting; Jaejoong had been the rebellious one who doesn’t give a damn and Yunho was always the good one who was dedicated to his work. 


Yunho scrunched his nose at the smell of Jaejoong’s cigarette and hesitates asking him to throw it away. He doesn’t though, considering that they only meet once in a while and it’s better not to anger the other.


Jaejoong snorted in reply, “It must being you, always having to please your parents and everyone around you. But what can you do huh? Our Yunho here is a -er and will do anything to please anyone”. His tone is bitter and a stranger would have been furious at his remark but Yunho stays as quiet as ever, not moving an inch as a strong gust of wind danced around the air and lightly messed with their hair. 


The corner of Jaejoong’s lips went up at Yunho’s silence.


_._


Yunho returns back to work the next day and he finds people gossiping about him. He brushes off the gossip and continues to walk to his office until the word Jaejoong spits out from one of his worker’s lips. He doesn’t stop to listen to what they have to say. He immediately confronted them with a voice that no one will dare to retort, “Don’t ever speak about Jaejoong.” His eyes scream dangerous and everyone flinched out of instinct. With that, he stomps back to his office and no one says a word anymore.

_._

“What exactly is your relationship with Yunho like?” His curiosity got the better of him as he finally blurted out the question he had been holding in for so long.


No one had dared asked Jaejoong this question before, knowing that it was a sensitive spot and Jaejoong applauded him inwardly for being the first to ask.


“Why don’t you make a guess?” Jaejoong answered back with another question, interested to know what people had been thinking of them.


“I’m not very sure, you don’t mention him very often but people always tell me not to speak about him in front of you so I’m guessing he is an important person in your life?”


“Oh please”, Jaejoong hissed, “Don’t make it sound like he’s my lover”. Jaejoong frowned in distaste; he did not like what he was hearing. It was probably because their relationship was meant to be kept as a secret and since this guy knew so much, it pissed him off. 

_._

They met in a rather strange way of predator and prey. Yunho had accidentally bumped into Jaejoong while walking and his whole gang was with him then. They were already preparing to beat him up but lucky for Yunho, his wit had saved him.


Yunho had a small smile decorated on his face as he reminiscence the past. The endearing sight was soon ruined by a frown as he contemplate how he was going to tell Jaejoong he had to go overseas for his work.


They don’t meet after a month, just a week before Yunho’s departure when Yunho was ready to tell Jaejoong the news. Yunho fidgeted continuously, walking up and down the road which was their favorite spot to meet up. He took deep breaths to calm himself down but the mental image of him breaking the news to Jaejoong made him flabbergasted.


Jaejoong arrived in his sleek car looking the same as ever. Yunho started to have butterflies in his stomach again and his chest begins to tighten uncomfortably, but he forces himself to get a grip and breathe.


“Hey” Yunho says in a shaky voice.


“Hey. Why did you call me? Just spit it out, don’t go around the stupid bushes like you normally do”. Jaejoong responded coldly, as usual.


Yunho takes another deep breath and scolds himself inwardly for being such a coward and weakling. “I will be going overseas for my work, I don’t know when I am coming back but I doubt it’ll be soon.” 


Jaejoong was about to take out a cigarette from his pocket but puts it back after hearing the news. He look fixedly at him for a moment, trying to take in the information. 


“When?” Perhaps the only word he could utter.


“Next week”. Yunho says, shocking Jaejoong even more if possible. But Jaejoong’s expression remains unchanged. This was what Yunho feared about, for Jaejoong to not have an expression. It was hard at first to figure out what Jaejoong was thinking, because he never reveals his emotions. You had to study and scrutinize his actions for a long time before understanding him and that was what Yunho did. 


It seems like they had return back to the time where they just got to know each other; Yunho could not figure out what he was thinking. Jaejoong finally snaps out of his trance and mutters, “That’s one of the greatest news I’ve heard today. I will be better off without you”


Yunho thanked him silently. At least he knew how Jaejoong felt. But it made his heart crumble into fragments. Jaejoong then begins to saunter back to his car, started the engine and sped away leaving smoke as a souvenir.

_._

It was finally the day of his departure and Yunho pondered if Jaejoong was going to come. He said his farewells to his family and friends, giving them a kiss on their cheeks somewhat like a symbol of closeness. Holding the luggage firmly in his hand, he waved them goodbye and begins to stroll towards the place for the checking of passports.


“Farewell loser, I hope you never come back”. He heard a voice and it was so familiar, so alike Jaejoong’s he had to turn back. Jaejoong stood there looking as cool as ever with his arms folded and his face smug. Yunho smiled in contentment, grateful that he could see Jaejoong one last time.


“Goodbye to you to Jaejoong”. Jaejoong scrunched his nose and frowned, dismissing the mushiness Yunho was saying.


“Don’t talk to me as if I’m your precious lover”. He then turned around, ignoring the glances of his family and friends and walked off. Yunho stared at his silhouette until it was gone from his sight and started walking again, this time with tears welled up in his eyes.


They separated like this, no hugs, no kisses, nothing. But it was the best Yunho could have received.


Jaejoong had sped off in his car and as the wind blew his hair away from his face, it blew the first drop of tears in years too. He finally reached his destination after minutes, got off his car, and steps foot on the same ground a week ago.

_._

-After 3 years-


Yunho walks out of the Seoul airport, looking exactly the same if not for a few wrinkles formed on his face. He loads his luggage into the boot of his car and drives off.


A person’s back could be seen as he stepped out of his car, a person so distant now but yet still so familiar. He strolls towards that person silently, trying not to disrupt the tranquility and peace.


“Why did you come back?” The person spoke in the same voice he heard just before he left and memories filled his mind. It was said in a tone wishing Yunho had never came back but he knew better. Butterflies fluttered around his stomach again. He swore it was a déjà vu, but this time it was filled with more positive emotions that lay deep and firm in the bottom of his heart. 


Jaejoong turned around and they came face to face with each other again. Jaejoong looked like he was more mature now, his face looked older too but other than that, he looked like the same old Jaejoong Yunho knew. Tears threatened to escape from his eyes but he forced them shut and took a few moments to calm down.


He opens his eyes and a picture of Jaejoong smoking came to his sight.


He had never been this happy before seeing Jaejoong smoked.

A/n:let me tell you an interesting fact about Jaejoong here! Do you notice that he only smokes when he sees Yunho but not when he is sad? In conclusion: Jaejoong smokes when he is happy here:D