just wondering whether jae and me still on each other's neck or not. written in a rush, so random, so whatever like usual. hahah. Jaesu was my first step into fic shot before things happened and.. history. XD

      “Come on, Suuu~~~”

Junsu slides his hoodie down his eyes and ear to block Jaejoong’s persuading voice. He’s really not in the generous mode to play along with whatever plan Jaejoong has in mind right now.

      “I need help.” Jaejoong isn’t backing down. “I need to make it perfect this time. Come oonn~~ help mee.. please.”

Just how many this time more does jaejoong mean as perfect? This slender man with semi womanly pretty look has like a full house of fast rolling ex dates and queuing ones ahead. Junsu doubts Jaejoong would stop playing around anytime soon which means the help he wants leads to long day doing Jaejoong stuff which he rather not get involved in.

      “Just this time.” Jaejoong persists. “If I could score it this time, I swear I won’t bug you anymore. Ever.”

Junsu throws his back onto Jaejoong’s face earning a pout from the pretty man.

      “You are so heartless.” Jaejoong grumbles loud. “All I ask from you is your honest opinion on my event plan. Why are you my friend again?” He pushes Junsu’s shoulder with a bit force.

      “I don’t want to be your friend either.” Junsu scoffs. “But I have no choice. We live in the same flat! Who could be sane ignoring your endless nag and stay unfriend when you just invade people’s privacy like it’s your own playground?” He glares at the pretty man.

      “Awww..” Jaejoong puckers. “I don’t know I’m that irresistible.” He chuckles. “Thank you, sweet Junsu!” He puts on his innocent puppy face on purpose. It works every time getting what he wants from people but hey, it’s Junsu.

      “I’m not sweet Junsu, Goddamnit!” Junsu’s nose flares. “Just.. Leave me in peace, okay?”

      “But I need to hear your opinion.” Jaejoong pouts. “I really need it, not sweet Junsu.”

      “Cross that sweet word out of my name!!”

      “Okay.. okay.. not bitter Junsu..

      “KIM JAEJOONG!!”

      “Present!” Jaejoong playfully raises his hand, amused and delighted. “At your service, sir.” He grins mockingly ingnoring Junsu’s upset look.

      “GO AWAY!” Junsu shrieks. “I want to enjoy today without any of your nag, alright?!”

      “Buuutttss…

      “YOOCHUN!!” Junsu calls Jaejoong’s roommate out loud showing his advanced irritation.

      “Chunnie is going to early make up morning class.” Jaejoong leans on Junsu’s back. “He won’t be back sooner than two or three pm. Got a killer lady professor to tame.”

Junsu wants to punch Jaejoong’s face. “Yunho? Heechul? Kangin? Earth people?”

      “Don’t be so mean, Junsu.” Jaejoong sulks. “Just tell me what you think and I promise you’ll get the rest of the day to your heart content. Uninterrupted.”

      “I’ll call Ji sung or Jong Ki.”

      “I’ll cook Ramyun. Big bowl filled with all meat and not too spicy. Okay? Okay?”

      “Not okay.” Junsu snaps. “Find someone else to entertain you, Joongie.”

      “You are available.” Jaejoong pushes more. “And have no classes for today. No plans either.”

      “I’m not willing and I do have plans. Isn’t it enough to leave my room now?”

      “Just ten minutes!”

      “It’s more than ten minutes already.”

      “Not ten minutes I need from you yet.”

      “Just leave!!” Junsu pushes Jaejoong out of his bed. “You have like the whole city under your sweaty palm. Don’t bother me.”

      “My palm isn’t sweaty.” Jaejoong protests. “It’s called gel lotion moisturizing and revitalizing the abused hand skin. You skipped your turn washing dishes most of the time I did them for you. My hands need it because of you”

      “Whatever.” Junsu rolls his eyes. He has to admit it’s true. Jaejoong often does Junsu’s share of washing dishes in their flat. Jaejoong can be kind too sometimes.

      “Ten minutes.”

      “What happens to respecting people’s will?”

      “What happens to caring and helping your friend in need?” Jaejoong almost laughs.

      “You are not that in need.”

      “I am!” Jaejoong insists. “You have no idea how long I’ve been thinking to finally do this, Junsu. it’s really important for me.”

      “If it’s that important, you shouldn’t hear my opinion. I’m not good at dating stuff.”

      “Exactly why you are so important here. This person isn’t experienced in dating too. Your opinion matters a lot for me. I need to.. no. I have to impress this person so I will be noticed.”

      “Is it a he or she?”

      “Can’t tell you.”

      “No help for you.”

      “It’s privacy.” Jaejoong refuses. He can’t tell Junsu now.

      “Hellooo..” Junsu points at his bedroom door. “Privacy much, sir?”

      “It’s different.” Jaejoong reasons. “Your bedroom isn’t that private. You share it with Leeteuk who is Kangin’s best friend who is also my best friend which makes you as my-

      “Can we go back to my ten minutes robbed privacy again?”

Jaejoong pulls on another melting innocent look. “I can’t tell you the person for now. if you agree to help and keep it secret from Yoochun and Yunho, I’ll tell you.”

Junsu rolls his eyes again. it’s super impossible Yoochun doesn’t know who the person is. They are like twin brain pairs communicating through Joongie-chunnie classified special language. “Yoochun doesn’t know?” He snorts in disbelief. “Which Park yoochun? The one sharing room with you? Or other park Yoochun I might have not met yet?”

      “Help me first then I’ll tell you everything.”

It sounds suspicious. First, of all people and friends jaejoong could ask better opinion or help from, why is it him today? Second, Yoochun doesn’t know? Like really?

      “Ramyun. Ramyun. Ramyun.” Jaejoong sings playfully.

      “Ten minutes.” Junsu has to give in. The sooner he agrees, the faster he gets his uninterrupted free day.

Jaejoong jumps in victory. “Yaayy. Junsu rocks!” He drags the poor victim out of bedroom. “Wash your face! I’ll make the ramyun. You are more agreeable when your belly isn’t empty.”

Junsu hears Jaejoong’s cheerful singing from their small kitchen. Jaejoong must be very happy or in a good mood today. Maybe it’s true but again, jaejoong is usually this happy when he goes out dating or seeing someone. He’s that happy till..well, at least till the dates turn plain uninteresting. Not for long though. Remember about the long queue of expectant dating candidates mentioned before? Junsu loses count how long jaejoong could manage a relationship, if you call it so, and how many ex dates he has encountered to this day. Just last month, he met a Go Sung Hee three times in their flat’s living room. Before that, he saw Wang Ji hye, Choi Seunghyun, Jin Yihan, Takeru, Paul, Jessica, Annette, et cetera et cetera. Can’t really blame him for his fast changing dating partner because.. Park Yoochun. Enough said.

Junsu goes to kitchen after showering and changing clothes. The smell of warmly steaming ramyun hits Junsu nose like long awaited rain in the drought. He quickly sits down and starts digging his treat passionately.

Jaejoong secretly smiles at the sight. Junsu is unaware of how cute he is. Cold at times, childish in front of certain people, too busy with his own mind to notice the ups and downs around him, dense, bad in subtlety, lazy, messy, hard to agree with yet so loving and caring when he wants to which is not often.

      “So.” Jaejoong pulls another chair close to Junsu. “I’ve been having big crush on this person since.. a year ago, I guess. I didn’t get it at first.”

Junsu nods, busy enjoying his ramyun.

      “I don’t go to same university with this person but I see this person often. Almost every day.”

      “Hm..

      “I want to talk to this person. Like really start good conversation with him but he seems uninterested in me. I’ve been itchy to get to know him and make him know me. I’ve gathered some info about what kind of a person he is so far, still not good enough to break the ice.”

Junsu’s face lifted up from his ramyun bowl focus.

      “It’s a he?”

Jaejoong looks unesy. “Err.. yes. A he.”

      “Do I know this he?”

Does junsu know? Jaejoong is not sure about it either. “You might. You might not.”

      “He studies where?”

      “Global White University.”

Junsu stops chewing. “What? That’s my campus!”

      “I told ya. You might know this person. Or not. He’s not a social one.”

      “Hm..” Junsu is thinking. He doesn’t know much about people from other majors. “My major?”

      “Could be.” Jaejoong shrugs. He’s getting fidgety.

      “You said you’ve been liking him for a year. No idea what his major is, huh?”

Jaejoong pouts. “I said I haven’t started good conversation with him too.”

      “For a year?”

      “Well..” jaejoong’s shoulders slump a bit low. “He doesn’t seem to notice me. I tried to get his attention but yeah..”

      “For a year?” Junsu repeats.

      “It’s hard, you know.”

      “Hah! Twelve months three hundreds sixty five days. Not even said hi? Hi, I’m Jaejoong. What is hard about it?”

Jaejoong is offended. “Do it first to Kangta. Let’s see how easy it is for you.”

      “Kangta is my biggest idol.” Junsu gives the troubled man a dirty look. “None comes to his level for me. Not even the most beautiful girl in campus.”

Jaejoong bites his lip. “Now you see why it’s hard.”

      “He’s just a man. You’ve dated a hundred people before.”

      “He’s not just any man for me.” Jaejoong shakes his head. “Yoochun doesn’t know because Yoochun will smack my head laughing his forehead off at my cowardice. I don’t tell anyone else about it either because.. I don’t want people to bother him. Yunho caught me once last week when I stared at this person too long. He didn’t ask me but I know he is wondering about it.”

      “Wow. That’s news.”

      “What?” Jaejoong is really offended now. “You think I couldn’t like someone sincerely?”

      “With all respect, Jae, you’ve long list of people you have dated we could print a book about it.”

      “That’s not true. I didn’t date all of them. Some of them are just group blind dates it doesn’t count as a real date.”

      “Or an album.” Junsu whistles. “A date is a date. With or without eyes.”

      “I really like this person and I mean it, okay? I like him. I like to know him better and see how it is to be with him.” His tone rises two notes higher. “It’s hard for me because I’m really worried and nervous of what he might think about me.”

      “Ah.” Junsu now completely leaves his spoon and bowl. “You didn’t really like your previous dates?”

      “I liked them too.” Jaejoong makes fists. “It’s just.. it’s different with this person. He is.. I don’t want to mess thing up with him like I did with other people I met before.”

      “But you were dating people this year.” Junsu frowns. “I don’t understand you. You said you like this person but you went out with other people.”

      “I can’t help it.” Jaejoong defends. “He’s too hard to reach. I’ve tried to dismiss my crush on him. It always goes back to me when I think I’m done with it.” He breathes harder showing Junsu the impact of Junsu’s words. “I tried to convince myself that he doesn’t even give a cent damn about me. What’s the use of liking someone who is oblivious of your existence? I failed. Can’t even understand why I’m so bad at it. Do you see me going out meeting people these past weeks? I don’t. I need to deal with this first. I need to tell him about my feeling to him and its impact on me.”

Junsu’s back moves making space from Jaejoong’s heatened defense. “Okay. Okay. So, what can I help?”

Jaejoong takes long breaths to calm down the raising blood pressure in him. “I want to confess to him.”

      “Alright.” Junsu nods. That’s just natural.

      “I want him to see me as a good person.”

      “You are not that bad.” Junsu sits still.

      “I don’t know.” jaejoong is helpless. “What if he doesn’t like smoker? What if he despises drinks? What if he sees me as a low player selling my heart and body cheap?”

      “Uhm..

      “What do you think, Junsu? If you were him, what would you think of me when I confess?”

      “Err..” Junsu scratches his hair. “Honestly, I don’t know either.”

Jaejoong’s usual bright glowing big doe eyes lose their spark.

      “I mean.” Junsu quickly patches up. “We don’t know whether he likes or dislikes your smoking, drinking, dating habits. He might not mind them at all when he knows you later on. You are good at cooking and cheering people up when they’re down. You always be a help to people. You are caring and loving. That’s really good quality in someone you can’t just easily find.”

Jaejoong smiles in hope. “You think so?”

      “You are.” Junsu assures. “I guess if he spends enough time with you later to see the possibility of you two being together, he’ll fall for you sooner like everybody does. That, if he doesn’t mind the smoking, drinking and all part.”

      “If he minds?”

      “Ugh..” Junsu is at loss. “Well.. You quit them?” He is not sure of what he is saying himself. “But that’s too drastic for a liking. Shouldn’t you be taken as the way you are?”

Jaejoong’s chest is filled with raining sand. “You think you could accept someone’s feeling if that someone quit smoking, drinking and playing with hearts?”

      “I haven’t met that kind of someone so I can’t say a thing about it. Sorry.” Junsu apologizes.

      “Say, for example, that one comes to you, would you give it a try?”

      “I don’t know.” Junsu is clueless how it is him now being the subject of their conversation. “I don’t think that someone would go that far for me.” Junsu gives off bad fail chuckle. “I mean, look at me. Haha. Nope.”

      “If, that person does come and willing to change for you, would you consider it?”

      “I’m not sure.” Junsu winces. “I don’t see why that someone has a liking on me if we are that different.”

      “So I guess I’m rejected.” Jaejoong sits so low on his chair, all hopes evaporates just like that in a second.

      “Hey.” Junsu punches Jaejoong’s arm. “He’s not me. Your crush might be charmed off his feet once you talk to him.”

      “Skinny chance he will.” Jaejoong plants his face on the dining table. “He doesn’t even realize I’m talking to him right now. How can I say I like him in shattered heart knowing he won’t even give me a chance to prove my sincere feeling.”

      “Just do it first.” Junsu cheers the sad broken hearted man. “Go confess to him, Jae. Don’t just give up. Come on. You can handle those crazy stalkers well. You can surely manage it.”

      “I just did.” Jaejoong bangs his head onto the table. Defeated, pride and feels wounded.

      “Huh?”

      “I just said I liked him.”

      “Eh? When?”

      “Just now.”

      “Wait. Wait. You said..

Junsu is stunned silent. Jaejoong confesses to.. him? Him? Junsu? Kim Jaejoong likes Kim Junsu? Really? Not a prank? Not a joke?

Jaejoong looks up seeing Junsu’s blank lost look. The confessing man looks so bad and defeated like someone has just crashes his head into hard dry mud.

      “I like you.” His voice is low and sad. “From long time ago but I just realized it last year. I saw people to avert my liking from you. I met them to see your reaction. To see whether you jealous or not. I really like you, Junsu, but I guess you don’t return the same liking.”

Junsu is still deep in buffering mode.

      “I sent everyone out from flat today because I want to confess to you. I don’t think I can’t handle it any longer. That Lee MinHo guy gets to my nerve every time you leave for campus with him. I can’t stand it. I have to tell you this. I like you, okay?”

      “But…

      “I have been trying to cut down drinking and smoking. I didn’t go out late much either. I want to see how it is if we’re together.”

      “But..

      “I swear Go SungHee is my last try of dismissing my crush on you. I haven’t seen anyone else since last month. I just need you to know that, Su.”

      “H-how..

      “I don’t know either. You just.. make me happy. Your complaints on my coming home very late drunk or scolding me when I brought home friends making noise and you had to study for exam the next day, I couldn’t erase it from my head however much I try. You just make me happy in an odd inexplicable way and I like it.”

Junsu blinks. Jaejoong likes him?

      “Would you.. think about it? About me?” Jaejoong pulls out his last hope.

      “This is not a prank, isn’t it?” Junsu hisses, biting his lip again.

      “No. It is never a prank.” Jaejoong crosses his fingers.

      “But.. your room is just across from mine.”

      “Should I move to Yunho’s room? You’d feel better if I do?”

      “No. I mean.. “ Junsu’s eyes carefully meet Jaejoong’s. “You could just say it to me before.”

      “I tried.” Jaejoong is tense. “Tried several times. Yunho caught me when I stared at you instead of watching TV in our living room. I tried harder since then. You just never took me seriously.”

      “I.. You.. you were dating SungHee.”

      “I wasn’t. I broke up with her a week after we went out. I just asked her to come over to see your reaction.”

      “You serious?” Junsu has hard time accepting it.

      “Serious.” Jaejoong heaves a deep sigh. “You can try me if you don’t believe.”

      “About that smoking, drinking, and dating part too?”

Jaejoong nods. “It’s really hard to quit smoking but I’ll try my best at it. Would you think about it?”

Junsu takes long minutes to answer. It’s a big shock for him, Jaejoong understands but it’s a heck pain on his side waiting for the answer too.

      “Okay.”

      “Okay?”

      “Okay.” Junsu sounds hazy.

      “Okay for what?” Jaejoong has to check.

      “Um.. I’m giving a thought about.. um.. about.. this.”

      “This?”

      “Us being together.” It tastes so strange on his tongue saying the words. Us being together.

Jaejoong is so hugely relieved. “Thank you.” he stands up slowly from his seat approaching Junsu. “I used to do this when you're still asleep in the wee hours of morning.” He leans down and kisses Junsu’s hair. “I really like you, Junsu, very much.”

Junsu’s cheeks do a perfect copy of ripe tomato.

      “I’ll be waiting.” Jaejoong takes the bowl, spoon, chopsticks and glass from the table. He hums his usual cheery happy song in thrice lighter mood.

He did it. Yoochun and everyone else could go home later. The later the better. For now, he wants to spend the rest of the day with Junsu alone. He’ll do his best to get Junsu’s heart.