Three

Before All The Longings

 

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"Hyung!"

Joonmyeon looks up from his book to see his junior jogging towards him. He scooches a little to the side as Chanyeol takes a seat beside him, trying to catch his breath. He pulls out his water bottle from his bag and offers it ot the younger, only to get a headshake instead.

"So, how was the presentation?" Chanyeol looks at the older with interest, fully knowing how important the presentation was to Joonmyeon. "You skipped our outing so many times for that. You better pass it or I am going to feel so unfair."

"The result is out next week but we got a pat on our back after that. I guess we pass."

His hand lands on the older's shoulder and he nods, satisfied. "Then, let's celebrate! Your friend's club, tonight?"

"Tomorrow is Tuesday. I have classes. 'You' have classes."

"Ah, hyung. Just until like, one or two. Then I swear we go."

"Twelve." Joonmyeon stares straight into the other's eyes. "Take it or leave it." The younger is biting his lower lip with eyelids fluttering unsure. "Well?"

"Twelve-thirty!"

His gaze still doesn't move from the other's face as he lets out a deep sigh. "Fine. But my watch. It strikes six and I'm pulling you out of there." Joonmyeon gets a tight hug from his junior before he returns back to his book, only to notice something seconds later. "Where is Baekhyun? He's not going for lunch?"

Chanyeol shrugs.

Joonmyeon recognizes the face the younger is making. "Let's go find him then we eat."

"I'm no hungry."

He sighs at the younger that is looking away from him. Baekhyun and Chanyeol have been friends since the moment he knew them. The pair has similar personalities, being the reason for both why they clicked so much and why small arguments would become so big. They were fine last Friday. "What is it?"

Chanyeol gets up but his wrist that Joonmyeon managed to catch prevent him to move any further. "Hyung, let go."

"Stop being so stubborn and tell me what happened between you two."

He faces the older that is calmly looking at him. "Why don't you ask him instead? He started it!"

The wrist gets yanked from his grip and Joonmyeon can only watch the younger walking away from him before he turns at a corner and out of his sight. He has lost count how many times the fight between them had occured but he knows if he doesn't meddle into it, they might never talk to each other ever again.

He fishes out his phone from his jeans pocket and searches for Baekhyun's number, his finger almost tapped on it to dial when an incoming call from the person himself changes the screen. He slides the greed icon and puts the device against his ear. "Hey, I was about to call you. Where are..." He frowns at the answer coming from the other side of the phone and he looks around the place before spotting Baekhyun coming out form the corner on his left, the opposite direction where Chanyeol had disappeared to, and walks toward him.

Baekhyun smiles weakly when his eyes meet with the older's concern ones. He watches Joonmyeon packing his things before standing up, leading the way towards the cafeteria. "What did Chanyeol tell you?"

He stops, letting Baekhyung to catch up with him before continues to walk, side by side with the younger. "That it's all your fault." He turns to his junior that has his gaze fixed on the cemented floor. "Was it all your fault?"

"Maybe, if I know what I did wrong."

Joonmyeon frowns. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Baekhyun walks toward one of the empty tables and takes a seat a the long chair, facing upfront at the older that is sitting across of him. "He has been avoiding me since we went out last Saturday. He wouldn't answer my calls or reply my texts. I don't know what I did wrong."

"Where did you guys go last Saturday?"

"We just hung out at the mall." Baekhyun tells what they did that day. Movies, lunch, bowling, accompanied Chanyeol shopping for sneakers, arguing over a place for dinner. "We didn't go to dinner."

Joonmyeon knows that argument was full with whines and pouts and wasn't the reason for the cancelled dinner nor the fight they are having.

"Chanyeol was upset after coming from the waffle place. He declined every time I offered a bite and... he said he need to go."

The waffle place always has a long queue and it is always the taller what would buy the snack for them; by his own will but most of the time by force, to which he and Baekhyun would get a long pout but never a cold shoulder. How did Baekhyun manage to upset Chanyeol from afar?

Baekhyun purses his lips. There was a sale at a nearby store and the waffle place become too crowded with other people. The queue became so long that he changed his mind and kept walking but Chanyeol already had a few other people behind him when he noticed the taller isn't beside him.

"Where did you wait? Did he think he lost you?"

He shakes his head. Often he would wait by the many benches not too far from the stall but he stayed close to ease himself from the guilt of having his friend queuing that long for him. Wished he had queued up with him. "When he came to me, he looked angry and just walked away. I couldn't even say goodbye to the guy that waited with me."

Joonmyeon's ears perk at the younger's last words. "You waited with someone?"

Baekhyun nods. "His sister was queuing not far from Chanyeol. We waited together almost from the beginning."

Joonmyeon lets out a deep breath as everything has fallen into place. They might be in different majors but they have been together since their orientation days and as far as he knows, both haven't been dating anyone for all those years. It is either Chanyeol not realizing what he was feeling or he didn't know what he was feeling. He looks straight at the younger. "I'm going to pick you up at nine tonight. You both need to talk."

 

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"You are not seriously going to live with her, right?"

Yifan scoops another spoonful of rice into his mouth, eyes fixed at the older as his mouth chews.

"Just stay at your house. What's wrong with your house?"

He swallows. "Mom already put the house on sale. She wants to move with dad."

Grace's eyes widen at the new information. "I talked to her yesterday. She didn't mention any of this!" She gets a shrug and sinks deeper into her chair. "Then, where did you sleep last night?"

"At the house. She knew about me returning home and was going to fly back with me but..." He stares into his cousin's eyes. "I think I'm going to follow her."

She purses her lips. Her plan was to ask Yifan to handle one of her shops and by provoking Bella with that, they would slowly break apart and she doesn't have to see that woman again. Bella deciding to fly here just to be with Yifan didn't cross her mind and now she has to choose between the two living here together or they living apart over there. Such rotten choices.

Yifan empties his glass of water and fixes himself in his seat. "I'm thinking this Friday." He gets a pair of eyes zeroed at him and ignores it. "I'll check everything before telling her tonight. Bella can stay here with you and you guys can fight your little fights without me."

"But, Yifan!"

He pushes the chair back and stands up, walking towards the cashier as he leaves Grace with her thoughts. With his mother moving to Canada, he has no reason to come back here. Maybe visiting Luhan and Minseok once in a while but flying them there instead is a great idea too.

He fishes his ringing phone from his pockeg as he pushes the glass door open, exiting the restaurant and heading towards the stairs for the subways, the phone against his ears. "Hey, yeah, I'm on my way. The third car? Yeah, okay."

He hangs up and looks around the platform, calculating where the third car of the train will be stopping and hurries when the sound of the train approaching fills the underground train stop. The door opens and his eyes immediately spot Minseok among the other passengers.

Minseok smiles as Yifan making an effort going through the crowded space to get to him and he manages to catch the taller from bumping his head with someone's shoulder. "You know you can just wait over there."

Yifan shrugs as his hand takes over the overhead handle his friend was holding on to and lets Minseok finding balance with his arm instead.

"It's been so long since we ride together."

"3 years."

Minseok nods. Yifan was so kind to accompany him to the mall and markets looking for stuff for his art class. The taller didn't think much when he asked to borrow his car but as soon as Yifan knew his destination and purpose, he suggested the subway instead. 'Unless you are buying a ton of woods, I don't mind going with you.' "The train is cheaper anyway."

"So, what is it this time?"

"A statue made out of wires and steel."

"Interesting." Yifan gets a giggle that he hasn't heard for a long time as no matter how many times Minseok explain his art project to him, he just wouldn't get it. "So, when will the honeymoon be?"

Minseok looks up and smiles. "When are you leaving?"

"Hm? Probably Friday."

"Then, Canada sounds nice."

"Minseok."

He fists the taller's shirt as more passenger coming in and he being forced to move from beside Yifan to his front, getting his face planted on to his friend's chest even with the slightest movement. "Luhan said he is so busy and told me to go alone." The taller's suprised eyes turn into an annoyed ones and he smiles. "Of course I wouldn't do that. He said the earliest he can get is next month. I don't mind. We see each other at home anyway."

Yifan's arm instinctively wraps around his smaller friend's waist when the subway train suddenly halt before moving smoothly again. He gets a pinch on his cheek and ignores the judging stares coming from the nobodies. He kisses Minseok's hair and lets himself being led unboarding the car before a sigh reaches his ears. "What?"

"I'm a married man now. Hug is okay but no kissing. Won't Bella get jealous too?"

"No."

"Well, no kissing from now on."

Yifan rolls his eyes at the smaller that hooks his lean arm around his own big one as they walk towards the exit. "Which way?"

 

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"Are you sure it's fine leaving them just like that?"

Joonmyeon nods as he pushes Jirayu to walk. Chanyeol and Baekhyun need to settle their fight by themselves. If they still haven't patched things up by the time he came back, then he will think of something.

Jirayu opens the door to one of the private rooms and holds it for Joonmyeon to come in, telling the younger to sit wherever he wants before closing the door. He walks to the sofa and takes a seat beside Joonmyeon, smiling at the person in front of him. "Joonmyeon, this is Harit. Harit, this is Joonmyeon."

Joonmyeon leans over the table to accept the hand that being offered, smiling politely as his eyes examine Jirayu's friend. He has a cute forehead. "Joonmyeon. Nice to meet you."

"Harit. Nice to meet you too. Jirayu told me so much about you. He said you can do this in a month."

"I will try."

"See? See? Joonmyeon is like the most awesome programmer you will ever met."

Joonmyeon pushes the older with his houlder as Jirayu keeps poking his side with his fingers. "Hyung, stop it." He hears a small laugh coming from in front of him and he is slowly regretting his decision to accept the new project.

"About the payment, can I ask for a bit less? I know this is rushing but I have somewhere else that I need to use the money for..."

His eyebrows come together before he glances at his friend. "How much did you ask him?" The three fingers Jirayu hold up makes him let out a sigh before turning back to face Harit. "Please don't listen to him. You can pay me as much as Jirayu hyung pay me for the current project I am doing for him."

"But Joonmyeon, that is not enough! I gave you like, four months but you'll be dong this for half than that!" Jirayu looks at his friend. "It's already a good deal, Harit. Take it or leave it."

"Are you even my friend?"

Joonmyeon sighs as the two friends throwing nonsense back and forth and he pulls Jirayu's arm, stopping the bicker and gaining the older's attention. "Don't you have boss work to do? Some club owner paperwork to sign or something?"

"No. I completed all that this afternoon so I can sit and accompany you."

He takes a deep breath before standing up, pulling the older with him as he leads him towards the door. "Then, make me some drink or something. I am thirsty."

"Oh, right, right! Then I'll go tell the boys to make yesterday's fruit punch."

Joonmyeon nods, smiling as he opens the door for Jirayu before quickly closing it and returns to Harit that is looking confused at the situation. "Let's finish this before he comes back."

Harit smiles as he listens to Joonmyeon talking about the paperworks and the payment. "Are you sure?" He gets a raised eyebrow. "I don't know much about the coding but a month is really short. And you asked just a little."

"Ah, no. I'm already thankful that you chose me. I don't know what Jirayu hyung told you about me but I am serious with all the project I take. I hope you can trust me."

"I do." It earns him a small smile and Harit purses his lips, listening closely as the male continues talking about their project. He knows nothing about coding but the interface Joonmyeon is drawing is understandable. "It looks great."

"If you like, I can show you the past projects and I can adapt something from those and finish it sooner."

"Yeah, I would like that."

"Then..." Joonmyeon pats all the pockets he has before looking at Harit. "I left my phone with my friends." He pulls closer on of the papers that are full with drawings and instructions and writes his phone number, sliding it across the table. "I have classes until evening but free at night and the weekends. I hope you understand."

Harit nods as he stares at the row of numbers. "Being a final year student is no joke." He earns that small smile again.

"Then, if you would excuse me, I need to check on my friends." Joonmyeon exits the room after exchanging smiles with the male, ignoring Jirayu that tell him to stop as they pass by each other. His feet stop by themselves when he arrives at the main lounge,eyes seeing the table that is supposed to have two people sitting there being cleaned by the staff. He walks closer and taps the male, making him turn to him.

"Oh, Joonmyeon. I thought you already left and forgot your bag."

He smiles weakly as he takes his bag that being left by the chair. "Has my friends gone long?"

"I'm not sure about the smaller one but the tall one just left maybe, ten minutes ago?"

Joonmyeon thanks the older and purses his lips at the information. They didn't make up.

 

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Lielee
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AshXIII #1
Chapter 7: Yes, Yifan. Just tell yourself that you are sending her off because Bella might nag too much. Hahaha, you know you want to know where she (and by default Joonie) lives. And probably to catch a glimpse of your ex.
ephemeral24
2410 streak #2
Chapter 28: ahh... it's done!
i was wondering where Yifan took Jun and where they did it... i mean, he couldn't have kicked out Bella/Sophia... i mean with a knocked out Jun, no way Sophia would leave his brother with a man he doesn't trust! i thoughtthe 2 ladies had a heart to heart talk somewhere else so Yifan and Jun sneaked in then! HAHAHAHAHA but they they did it and i was too distracted by Jun calling Kris hyung... HAHAHAHAHAHAHABA *kidding, i don't have hyung kink... maybe? HAHAHA*

turns out the rich kid actually bought a house!!! and he was planning to live in it with Jun before the temporary breakup... SIS IM--- huhuhuhu

Joss teasing the hell out of Jun tho! HAHAHA "no second round?" OMFG HAHAHA I WOULD KILL HIM IF I WERE JUN!

man, im just happy they're together now... and looks like Sophia is working on liking Yifan, specially if her brother loves him too much, then she can't do anything... i do hope they face no more objections abt their relationship after this, they've had enough!!!

thank you sis for writing this story! it's been quite a while since your last... i think im okay with a story per year sis! HAHAHAA this was angsty but it all ended well! i can say now that i love how you left us hanging most of the time coz I'm done with the story already! HAHAHAHA it won't kill me to wait anymore! HAHAHAHAHA

good job sis! til your next one!
dulcimer_pL
#3
Chapter 28: I was wondering where was Jun when he awoke, hotel maybe? But no, Yifan brought him in his new bought house and what happened then.. ahem!! hahaha
'' No one is angrier than a woman who has been rejected in love.'' Applicable for bella?
I am curious what Yifan meant of the last words, but alas, I have to let them go and sail away!
Thank you, and I am looking forward for your next stories. ^^
ephemeral24
2410 streak #4
Chapter 27: OMFG THEY DID IT!!!
but first things first, why was Bella in Yifan's apartment then??? was it time for the confrontation? anyway, i understand she was hurt and all, but it still saddened me how Jun was being attacked... at least Sophia was there for her brother coz one man was left speechless...

but when Yifan just ran with Jun tho! HAHAHAHAA i bet it was the two ladies' turn to be speechless! and finally, Yifan got to say his part!!! seems like all this time, it's been Jun dictating the phase of whatever is happening between them... i mean, when Jun wanted distance, they had distance... when Jun wanted to give it a try, that's when they did... so when Jun left Yifan alone that day, so as much as Yifan loved him, he chose to stay away... despite going to the hospital already, he chose not to coz that's what Jun wanted...

but istg they should've had enough already! and now Jun is under the impression that Bella is back and wouldn't shut up abt her! so Yifan does the best thing to get him to shut up! HE KISSED HIM! AND OMFG THEY DID IT!!! i do hope there's no more running away after this ughhhhh... they can settle everything together instead, specially when they're that miserable when they're apart!!!

ps. holy Jun calling Yifan as hyung during HIHIHI
dulcimer_pL
#5
Chapter 27: Holy ! She is back and angry.
They make love!!!! *sobbing*
Now, I am curious and excited for the next happenings.. I hope not so big obstacles to hurdle for our dearest couple.
One of my favorite chapter 'cuz of lovemaking ! hahaha!
ephemeral24
2410 streak #6
Chapter 26: PAPA KIM YOU ARE MY HERO!!!
just wanting Jun to be happy! OMFG i didn't think that he'd do it himself!!! WHAT A LOVING FATHER who just wants to make it up to his son for all the wasted chances before!!!
Yifan hasn't even explained the whole situation to him, that he wasn't involved in the whole incident, his only involvement was the fact that he was the one sharing the bed with Jun, but with regards to the taking of the pic and further circulation, none at all! yet he just understood his son, if his son can love this man despite that all thqt happened between them, despite the effect of that picture from two years ago then who are they to question his choice???

YIFAN!!! PAPA KIM HAS GIVEN YOU THE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY! YOU WOULD BE A FOOL TO NOT TAKE IT!!!
dulcimer_pL
#7
Chapter 26: Jun is in hospital again. :( Poor him. Pls Yifan go visit him. Jun his father is a great father.
Im glad, though Sophia is angry but Jun his father loves him and Jun's happiness is his priority now.
I am a bit teary eyed with this chapter . Jun keeps smiling and played with his sis in the rain though he is dying inside!
ENOUGH JUN! Pls, fight for your happiness! :((
ephemeral24
2410 streak #8
Chapter 25: HOLY !!!
I AM SO THQOQKAPSIEBQOOQUENZBCSOAN RIGHT NOW!!! IT'S A COMPLETE ROLLER COASTER WTF! OMFGGGGGGGGGGG ALL THESE STUFF HAPPENING IN JUST ONE CHAPTER!!! OH MY GODDDDDDD

THE FIRST PART!!!
SIS! I WAS WONDERING WHEN THEY GOT TO THAT LEVEL??? HOLY THEY WEREN'T EVEN HOME! THEY WERE ACTUALLY IN A MOVIE THEATER!!!
at first i thought they were watching at home coz Jun was asleep with his head in Yifan's lap!!! OMG and then in his sleepy haze, Jun kisses Yifan!!! *man Jun wasn't really kidding when he said he's just taking more of the water Yifan left open! HAHAHAHAHAHA* AND THEN THE KISSES GET MORE INTENSE AND OMFG CONTROL YOURSELVES!!! UGHHHHHH why couldn't you two have watched a movie at home instead? first, the kiss could've led to something more and second, what happens next could've been avoided!

NOW NEXT!!!
*deep breaths to calm self*
i was right, Sophia was ruthless... she's fearless when she confronted Yifan! and wow, she plotted this with her dad... i wonder what his dad told Jun as Sophia was confronting Yifan! and god! the main issue abt the past finally surfaces! not only is Sophia mad at Yifan for breaking Bella's heart, and now she finds out that his brother is with Yifan... the same person he was on a scandal with 2 years ago, probably the reason why he was chased out of their home then, as if he's never learned??? Sophia must be thinking, my brother may be weak, but i am not! so it's her who threatens Yifan to stay away from Jun... and as much as Yifan was sweet to say no and that he loves Jun... Sophia is convinced he's nothing but harm to Jun... and Jun... Jun just gave up instantly HUHUHUHUHU
JUN WASN'T IT GOING SO WELL??? WHY???

anyway, as ty as this was... it has brought out some events that were still hidden in the story... nothing may have happened between them back then, but doesn't mean that nothing happened at all... a scandal was born, and with Jun being the only party available after, all the repercussions were soaked by him... and his mother must've chased him out for it too? they got him back after she died right? when Sophia said that Jun will never choose Yifan over family tho... there's something more I'm missing i don't think i fully comprehend what she completely means with that statement...

another thing, Sophia said, Yifan could keep a copy of the picture she gave him ALONG WITH THE MANY HE ALREADY HAD... she thinks Yifan was the perpetrator of the scandal that harmed Jun's life and reputation??? WTF??? WHERE DID THAT COME FROM??? no wonder her hatred for Yifan spiked up a lot more... ughhhhhh

WHY CAN'T THEY JUST BE TOGETHER??? SIS!
all the drama coming out right now! i hope it all ends soon! they both deserve to be finally happy!!! they've waited for so long already, and just when they were statting their path to happiness, drops right in front of them...