Chapter 7

The Reason for Saving You

Wednesday, 9:00 AM
27th floor of Kim's Company

"So why do you need me today?" Junsu asked his father as they walked side by side in urgency.

"Today, we're merging companies with the Shim Estates. Mr. Shim will be with his son and we're going to be signing contracts that would require your signatures in it as well."

"Merge? We don't need to merge," Junsu furrowed his eye brows.

"We don't need to. You're right in that case," Junsu's father agreed, "but it won't cost us nothing. You see, Mr. Shim is an old friend of mine. I trust him as much as I trust you." Mr. Kim recollected some memories of the past. "Their company has just started and I'm going to offer them a hand until they can manage. Have you met his son?"

"No," Junsu replied.

"He would be the one in charge and not his father. By looking at him, he reminded me of you. He has capabilities to become successful in this world and I have a strong intuition that they'll be on top just like us as time passes by. I'll invest in them for the near future. They'll be big I tell you."

Junsu exhaled loudly. Praises from his father are not easily earned. Mr. Shim's son is probably an amazing person. "This better be quick," Junsu nodded as they turned a corner, "I need to get to back to classes by lunch time or so."

"However you want things to get done is fine by me," Mr. Kim said. "But you have to do them properly."

Both of them stopped in front of room 278B. They adjusted their ties and stood up straight. Finally, they opened the door. Inside, two people stood still. There was an unknown lean but tall man standing beside Mr. Shim. They were waiting at the other side of the table.

"Ah, hello there Mr. Kim. It's a pleasure to be doing business with you," Mr. Shim smiled when both the Kim's finally set their attention on them. "You must be Kim Junsu, am I correct?" He reached out a hand to the seemingly cold man.

"Hello Mr. Shim," Junsu took his right hand and placed it on top of his. They shook hands. In the business world, handshakes had hidden meanings but only some knew what they meant. If you're hand is on top, you are in charge of the one on the bottom. It may seem like a simple gesture but to the Kim's, it is a big deal. They are always on top. They were always the best. They never loose. "I suppose this man would be your son?" He looked at the tall man's direction. By just looking, Junsu could tell that the man was pure brain— intelligent, sharp, and precise. He needed to be careful around him.

"Ahh yes, I almost forgot. My apologies." He turned back to his son. "Changmin, please greet our new business partners."

Changmin stepped forward. "Kim Junsu I presume," Changmin reached out his hands for a greeting, his palm facing down. He scanned the cold hearted man in front of him from head to toe within seconds. It was best to know what you get into before you take action.

"I assume you're Shim Changmin," Junsu said the other man's name as he nodded professionally. Changmin's hand shake was tricky. With the other man's hand facing down already, Junsu's hand would be at the bottom. He didn't like that but the competitive man grabbed it anyways. He wasn't going to lose a battle over power. And so with his left hand, he placed it on top of Changmin's. He used both hands. In the business world this meant, I'll let you think you rule the situation but know that I'm the one in charge. "Let's sign some papers shall we?" Junsu added to lighten up the situation.

Changmin showed a business man smile. 'He doesn't like to lose.' Changmin made a quick mental note in his brain. Of course he knew how the code of handshakes in the business world worked. He tested the well known Kim Junsu to see if he'd really lose a battle over power. What he got out of that little stunt was that Kim Junsu always needed to be on top.

They’re going to be great business partners.

The four men took a seat. Mr. Kim and Junsu on one side and Mr. Shim and Changmin on the other. After an hour of discussing, the papers were signed. Each party was satisfied.

There was no need to chat some more and so Junsu stood up to end the meeting.

"With these signed contracts," Junsu conquered, "we will help each other out. If there are any suspicious movements, with what is now "our" money without letting us know, the contract is terminated. The party who broke the rules would have to pay one billion dollars. Even though we are partners, we are definitely not on equal levels. And with this, let's end our meeting." Junsu bowed to both Mr. Shim and Changmin and walked away. He was in a hurry to get to school.

"You have a perfect business man by your side Mr. Kim," the old man said, "you should be proud."

"Well yes, and I'd like to chat with you some more but I also have plans for today. So if you'll excuse us..." Mr. Kim spoke in a commanding tone.

"Oh yes, we'll be going as well then. I'll be looking forward to our next meeting."

Mr. Kim left.

"Just like you said father," Shim Changmin said. "That Kim Junsu is one of a kind. He doesn’t let any slip up happen. We should be thankful for their help."

"Yes, you, me and our company are in good hands now. Make sure to help them if they need our assistance.”

“Yes father,” Changmin replied.

***********

The ten year old Yoochun opened his eyes. He was alive? The smell of disinfectants, and medicine surrounded him—the air that he breathed. His whole body stung. Everything was still black but now, it was because they were covered by what seemed like eye patches. Where was he? Where was his Mother?

Suddenly, his head felt like there was a gigantic hand squeezing his skull. Pictures and pictures of the accident flashed through his mind—his father's evil face, his mother's agony, fire, burning, blood. Everything—every single piece of that accident scarred his memory like flying daggers stabbing him. He got up, or at least he tried to. He needed fresh air, not this type of sickening oxygen. He quickly shot up, his body reacting badly to the sudden movement. "Ahh..." the small child groaned.

"Doctor, your patient has gained consciousness." There was an unknown presence that was with him this whole entire time.

Within seconds, he heard the click of the door knob and the closing of the door. Footsteps followed.

"Yoochun, how are you feeling?" the doctor checked up on him. "Don’t panic okay? I'll be taking off these eye patches over your eyes. Then you tell me how your vision is right now."

The doctor started to remove the pieces of cotton that covered his eyes. But as he took them off, Yoochun started to speak. "Where's my Mom?" he asked a bit flustered.

The doctor ignored the question by asking another one. "Can you see, Yoochun?" Both the patches were off now.

Yoochun ignored the doctor’s question as well. "Where is my Mom?" This time he asked more firmly. His eyes stared deeply in the doctor's own eyes trying to look for the answer. At the back of his mind he knew. But he didn’t want to admit it.

"Let's have you recover first okay?"

"Where is my Mom?!" the question was now a demand.

The doctor felt helpless. He just couldn't tell the young boy that his mother had died. They couldn't save her. When they got there her heart simply just didn’t beat anymore. "If you take a look at yourself, maybe you will know?" the doctor calmly told him. He led him to the nearest mirror beside his hospital bed. Yoochun closed his eyes. His vision was still a little bit blurred. He wasn't used to the light yet.

The doctor carried his small little body carefully on top of a stool so that he will be high enough to at least see his own self. "Here we go."

Yoochun opened his eyes. He looked at his face. What was he supposed to look at? What was he supposed to find? His ears? His nose? Lips? His eye—"

Yoochun gasped for air when he looked at his own eyes. He found the answer to his own question. Finally, his vision started to focus a bit. "Mommy...?"

His eyes were not dark brown anymore...not brown but blue...? It looked like his Mother's eyes.

He couldn't breathe. Flashbacks of his mother started to play in his mind. It was of times when he was scared and his mom would be there for him, hugging him, making him feel safe. It was with these eyes, she was able to do that—these same eyes.

He grabbed the mirror with both of his hands. He definitely knew where his mom was. She was ... He didn't want to say it. Tears began to fall out of his eyes. The doctor grabbed his hands to comfort the child but he just slapped it off.

"NO!" Yoochun freaked out. He grabbed the vase on the sink and smashed it against the mirror. Shards of glasses flew everywhere as the vase was smashed onto it. He kept on shattering the clear glass till there was no vase left to smash the image that he has seen with his own... his mother's eyes. The mirror wasn't smashed enough because he could still see himself. In his eyes, he could see his deceased mother. It hurt so much. He wanted to die. And so he started smashing the mirror with his own fists, hoping to erase what he is now seeing—blood seeped out of his knuckles.

"Yoochun!! Stop that this instant!" the doctor yelled. He took out his walkie talkie. "Emergency, bring the needles here as soon as possible!"

He took the out of control boy around his arms but Yoochun just grabbed his right arm and started shaking it like crazy. "You should've just let me die with her!!" He fell on his knees but with his right hand still holding on to the doctor's hand. "You should've just let me die...!!"

Without a word of warning, more doctors came and controlled the situation. Each and everyone got a part of his limb. He tried to wriggle out of them but he couldn't. A needle was pierced through his arm and suddenly, he found himself sinking back into the darkness. "I want to die..." were the last words that came out of his lips.

Then, everything went black.

"Yoochun-shi! Yoochun-shi!" Junsu squeaked out. "It hurts!"

Junsu shook the sleeping man awake. They were on a field just beside the school. Junsu had found the sleeping man lying down on the grass and thought he'd come and say hello. He had a rough start this morning with Yoochun at his house and they ended up getting to an argument. Junsu didn't really get why the man was agitated and defensive against him. He really did just want to check up on him not using Kim Junsu but using Xiah Junsu.

Getting there, he thought that Yoochun was just enjoying the view of the clouds but when he actually sat beside the man, he found out that he was sleeping. It was hard not to trace the handsome features of Yoochun's face. He couldn't resist. And so, when he was about to touch his face, Junsu himself was shocked by the hand that grabbed his wrist. It was the sleeping man's hand.

"What the hell?" Junsu gasped out loud. Was he not really sleeping? He looked at the man. To his surprise Yoochun was still sound asleep. But before he could remove the hand around his wrist, the grip started to become tighter and tighter.

And so that's what happened. Now, he just yelled for Yoochun to wake up. Of course, it's easy to break this wrist lock but if he did, he would be breaking Yoochun's arm. Nope. He didn't want that.

"Ahhh... Park Yoochun! It really hurts!" the geeky Junsu was going teary eyed from the pain. He felt his wrists about to dislocate. This man had a very tight grip on him. "YAH!" Another squeak came out form his mouth. "I need these hands!"

Yoochun opened his eyes. His mind was full of pain from his past which appeared to him in his dreams. He started to think about the present time and got his mind off the clouds. Then, after a few seconds, the pain filled eyes were now filled with shock and confusion. He saw Junsu. Why was he here so close to him and why does it feel like he was going to cry? He just looked at the man who was facing him.

"Yoochun-shi, your hand..." Junsu whimpered out. He looked at the "object" he was grabbing. It was Junsu's wrist.

"Ah, I'm sorry. I'm sorry," he repeated it again and again.

Once Yoochun let go, Junsu turned his back to Yoochun and started massaging his aching wrist.

"I'm really sorry."

It was quiet for a while. Junsu just focused on making the red mark around his wrist go away.

"Nurse's office?" Yoochun offered.

"I should be fine. Just a sprain," Junsu answered.

Yoochun just looked down. He was still gathering his thoughts together. Of course, Junsu noticed him spacing out. He remembered Yoochun's current state from this morning when Yoochun left the room.

"Did you have another nightmare again?" Junsu asked him worriedly. He gasped at his slip of the tongue.

Yoochun looked at him with a confused but suspicious look. The word "again" suddenly confused him. How did he know he was having troubling dreams lately?

Junsu put on his poker face. He asked his question again but this time correctly. "Did you have a nightmare? Is there anything bothering you?"

"Oh," Yoochun looked down again.

He must have been hearing things.

"Well-" Junsu was about to say something but a ringtone erupted from nowhere.

Yoochun was surprised but he quickly took the phone out of his pocket. The caller ID said "My Love".

"Who's My Love?" Junsu asked himself. He got a bit disappointed and maybe more jealous.

Yoochun took the call in one ring. "Hello?" Junsu heard him say. Another hello followed and another and another.

Who the hell would call and hang up? Junsu wondered.

Yoochun gave up and he ended the call.

"Girlfriend?" Junsu asked innocently. He needed to know. He couldn't help but feel a little bit jealous.

"Boyfriend." Yoochun stood up. "He hanged up though."

Junsu pouted more on the inside. "Did you guys fight? Maybe he's hiding something from you."

Yoochun just smiled at him. No matter how personal the question was, he couldn't help but feel that it was just an innocent question coming from the new student.

"Xiah Junsu right? Weird," Yoochun commented as he raised his brow, "I met a man this morning too. He's a Junsu like you."

Junsu chuckled. "What a coincidence."

"You weren't in first block this morning."

"Something came up." Junsu lied. He smiled at the thought that at least Park Yoochun noticed his presence.

Yoochun looked at his cell phone clock. Twelve forty five in the afternoon. Time for lunch. "Ahh, well I guess I'll go and eat lunch now then. I'm sorry about your hand." Yoochun bowed but only a little bit.

"It's alright, I won't sue you."

"Good, I won't be able to afford it anyways." Yoochun smiled and turned back at Junsu. He shrugged his shoulders, placing his hands inside his pockets and began to walk off.

‘He wouldn’t be able to afford it?’ Junsu thought about that statement for a bit. That man really didn't have much money to live off of.

*****

"Ahh, there you are Junsu!" Jaejoong yelled from across the hallway. He ran up to the smaller man but slowly and carefully. He tried to cover up his wounds. "What were you up to? I was about to go beat the hell out of Choi Siwon without you."

"Even if I was here, I won't help you," Junsu added in. "I was digging up some stuff about Choi if that’s what you were wondering about. How are your wounds? Healing nicely?"

"It's fine. I covered my cuts with makeup," Jaejoong told him. "Argh, that Choi Siwon. If you saw him grin at Yoochun this morning... I swear, I was about to go and beat him up myself. Not being able to do anything right now—it feels like we're losing. And you know, I hate losing."

"Good thing I wasn't there," Junsu adjusted his thick framed glasses. “Don’t worry Jaejoong, we just need to find a reason behind why Kim Junsu needs to punish Siwon. Xiah Junsu already has one but not Kim Junsu.”

"You should've seen Jung Yunho too!" Jaejoong added in.

"Jung Yunho?" He asked out loud. That name sounded familiar.

"That guy you called last night," Jaejoong told Junsu. "The one who you busted my real identity to last night. Usually, nobody knows Kim Jaejoong."

"You should've just told him to keep his mouth shut," Junsu looked at him.

"He hasn’t spoken a single word about it though. He probably thought I’d kill him or something,” Jaejoong shrugged, “Do I look that scary to you?”

Junsu just laughed. "See what I mean when I ask myself that question?"

Junsu was slow at reacting. “But not at all Jae, you're the nicest guy in the whole world."

“You’re lying aren’t you?” Jaejoong looked at Junsu's sarcastic straight face.

“Nope. Not at all,” Junsu chuckled.

"I'm heading to the cafeteria. Come eat with me," Jaejoong offered.

"Yeah, I'll go. I just need to use the washroom," Junsu answered.

"See you there then."

Both went their own separate ways.

As Junsu walked to the washroom, he saw two men talking ahead of him. They looked really muscular. After a second, both stopped walking to pick up a call. Junsu just kept on walking. He was about 20 steps behind them but even though it was none of his business, he couldn't help but just hear their conversation.

"Hello Siwon-hyung?" the student answered.

Choi Siwon huh? He thought. This might be interesting. He walked slower. He grabbed a book from his hands and pretended to read it.

He continued to listen as the student spoke. "You want me and Kangin to guard the front of the boy’s washroom? In the first floor? Why?

Junsu started to wonder. Well that was weird. Why would Choi Siwon want two goons to guard the front of the washroom? He passed the two guys now but he just started to walk in a slower pace just to listen to their conversation that involved Choi Siwon.

Eventually, his question was answered.

"You have Park Yoochun blindfolded inside the washroom stall? Oh sorry! I'll be quiet. Yeah. We'll be there," the bigger man confirmed.

To seem like he was innocent and didn't hear anything. Junsu just acted like he was so into this book he was "apparently" reading—so much that he didn't pay attention to his surroundings.

Both men looked back at him but he wasn't to be suspected. He was a geek. No one would recognize threat in a wimp anyways. As the two students turned a corner, he stopped walking and closed his book.

There was only one thing he knew. Park Yoochun was in trouble again. According to what he heard, they were going to the boy’s washroom in the first floor. Junsu shook his head in a displeased manner and made a 'tsk' sound. He started to head towards the direction where the two students headed.

"Consider yourself a lucky guy Yoochun. You have incredible luck from above. It takes a blue moon for Kim Junsu to save you once so saving you twice, now that's some miracle."