「 Jennifer ♡ Jaejoong 」

[Listen to: Love in the Ice (Live! @ Tokyo Dome) by Tohoshinki/DongBangShinKi]

Author's Note: One-shot for purpleskittlexox. Hope you like it although the song you requested has absolutely nothing to do with the storyline. -Head+Desk- Sorry! X:

A  l  w  a  y  s   A  n  d   F  o  r  e  v  e  r   K  e  e  p  i  n  g   T  h  e   F  a  i  t  h   ♥

JaeChun^^;

- - -

“Jenni-bear, don’t cry.” He wiped away my eyes. “Please, don’t cry.”

Hearing my nickname—his nickname for me, used only by him—at a time like this just made me cry even harder.

“Oppa, I don’t want you to leave.” I reached for his hands, hot tears searing my face.

“I know, Jenni-bear, I know.” His cold hands shook in mine. “I don’t want to either, but it’s not up to me.” He kissed my forehead before getting up, “Jennifer, take care of yourself.”

I should’ve chased after him, but I couldn't bring my young self to get up. I just watched as he left—his retreating figure fading in the distance. He left—forever gone from my life. He left—before I had the chance to tell him.

“Oppa, I love yo—"

My eyes flew open, my annoying neighbor's car horn blaring in my ears. Another day. I willed myself to sit up, glancing around my room. Things were nicely put away, my desk was cleared from its usual piles of paperwork, a cute business suit laid out on the chair with a pair of black pumps to go with it.

I hummed a few bars of one of my Oppa's songs quietly as I got out of bed. 

Hold. Up. Paperwork. Business suit. Oppa.

I looked at my clock.

Crap.

8:47 AM

CRAP.  I was supposed to clock in two minutes ago!

I frantically looked for my towel and showered in record time: 3 minutes. I ditched the pantyhose and slipped into the attire I dubbed as office-worthy and quite literally ran for my life towards the familiar grey building.

"Lee Jennifer-sshi?" The secretary looked up from her paper work. "You'r—"

"LATE!" I shouted, opening the door to the first studio. And it was empty, save for a few of the company's stylists and coordinators setting up their stuff.

"RAAAH!" A man holding a megaphone stalked past. "THEY'RE LATE. WHY ARE THEY LATE?! SOMEBODY ANSWER ME." He looked at me, megaphone aimed at my face. "AREN'T YOU THEIR MANAGER?! THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE."

"Uh.. I'm sorry, director-nim. " I looked down. "I'm only the assistant o—"

"YAH!" Manager-unnie stormed by, pulling on director-nim's ear. "Stop harassing my assistant! It's her first day, and we just got here. They're in hair and make-up." She faced him towards the photo shoot set and kicked his with her stilettos. "Now go bother someone else!" She stood there, hands on hips.

I exhaled in relief, slinking away.

"Jennifer-ah?!" Unnie glanced at me, heel tapping an annoying rhythm on the concrete floor. "Where're you going?"

"B-bathroom, unnie." I uttered, rushing towards the restroom.

The mirror in the restroom had several spider-web cracks. I sighed, fixing my hair in the mirror.

They're here.

Touched up a little of my make-up.

Oppa's here.

Adjusted my skirt.

Will he recognize me?

I walked out, wincing a little as I heard my heels click against the floor. Unnie was beckoning for me, and I headed in her direction by the side of the set.

"J-jwesonghamnida! (S-sorry!)" I tripped in my pumps, stumbling backwards into someone.

"Gwenchanayo. (It's okay.)" A rich voice replied, chuckling a bit as whoever it was helped me up.

I looked up to thank my savior from preventing serious ankle injury, only to freeze on the spot.

It's the same boy that moved away. The same boy that wiped away my tears. The same, and only, boy to ever used that now taboo-ed nickname of mine. The same boy... give or take a few years, the same boy.

My throat tightened as I gazed into his eyes.

"Jaejoong-ah!" One of his companions called for him by the camera stand. "We're starting, come on!"

"Neh, hyung!" He answered, patting my head before breaking into a light jog towards the set.

I watched him and the rest of Dong Bang Shin Ki in their photo shoot, examining Oppa. He hasn't changed a bit, the corners of my mouth twitched. Still goofy, he laughed in the same manner, covering his mouth. Still childish, he stole the beach-ball prop from his band-mate, chuckling as he ran away. Probably still even the Forgetful-joong, I bit my lip to hold in smile as I remembered my nickname for him. He was always forgetful... he would leave the house in the morning, then run back to grab his homework. That's why he was always late to school. My smile grew when the director called for a break.

I went to the snack bar to grab a banana and carton of apple juice. I wrapped them in a napkin and walked over to Dong Bang Shin Ki chilling out on one side of the studio.

"Jaejoong-sshi," I smiled, placing them in front of him on the coffee table.

"Gomapsumnida! (Thank you!)" He picked up the banana and began to peel it with this sort of cute expression pasted on his face.

They're still his favorites, I grinned.

"Thanks, little manager." Someone grabbed the apple juice and opened it. "Or.. dongsaeng? Or.. manager-dongsaeng?"

"Yoochun-ah!" Jaejoong pouted, pausing from taking a bite of his banana. "That was for me!"

"It's okay, really." I laughed, turning to get some more snacks for them. "And that's manager-saeng!"

"No! Manager-saeng!" The tallest one stood up to leave. "I'm gonna get food anyway, I'll get more juice for hyung."

"Changmin-ah!" The squeaky one stood up to join him. "I'll go with you."

"Yunho, Yoochun." Jaejoong spoke up, pointing at the far side of the room. "Manager-noona's calling you two."

And before I could blink, I was left alone with Oppa. I sat down on the corner of the coffee table, trying to figure out what to say.

"Thanks again," He said abruptly said, taking another massive bite. "I like bananas and apple juice. They—"

"Balance each other out," I finished for him, remembering his reasoning to his parents as to why that was his favorite snack.

"Yeah!" He grinned cheerily, audibly om-noming his fruit. "We think alike!"

I smiled inwardly, momentarily washed with nostalgia.

"OKAY!" Director-nim boomed through his silly megaphone, interrupting the silence that broke our little conversation. "Solo-shots. HERO!" He shouted in our direction. "You're up first!"

Jaejoong stood up, brushing himself off before waving at me and striding confidently towards the set.

"Y'know, if I didn't know any better, manager-saeng," Yoochun sat next to me on the coffee table. "I think you have a little crush on hyung."

"Pfffft." I mocked punched his arm. "I haven't even worked for you guys for, like, two hours yet and you already say that?"

"Yes." His half-mooned eyes smiled at me as he sipped his apple juice.

"Oh," I crossed my arms. "Is it that obvious?"

"Nooope. The dilated pupils and tomato cheeks are very subtle. " He answered sarcastically. "But, if you know hyung like I do, he won't ever figure it out. He's sort of a block head."

"Yeah." I giggled, standing up. "That and he's completely hopeless when it comes to memory games."

"H-how do you know about that?" Yoochun gasped quietly, dropping his drink.

"So does he still sleep with that creepy cat-stuffed-animal thing?" I continued, looking at Jaejoong pose for the camera.

"T-that too!" Yoochun jumped up, pointing at me. "Are you a die-hard? Or just a stalker?! O-or maybe you're both!"

"Eh?" I cocked my head. "I grew up with Jaejoong. He moved away though, and I don't think he remembers me."

"Oh." He scratched his head. "Well, did you ask him?"

"Nah." I stretched, starting towards the set. "I wanna see if he'll remember on his own."

"And if he doesn't?" Yoochun ventured.

I swiveled to smile at him, "He will."

I know he will.

"Good work, guys!" Director-nim said through his offensive megaphone, indicating the end of the photo shoot.

I went over to Dong Bang Shin Ki with manager-unnie.

"Okay, kiddies." She said. "Let's wrap up and meet outside in fifteen minutes."

And I took my cue to slide my way over to Jaejoong. Yoochun chuckled as he brought the other members' attention to him so as to give us some privacy.

"Oppa," I called, tapping Jaejoong's shoulder. "Another banana and apple juice? Or perhaps just a banana?"

"Ani. (No.)" He smiled, turning my way. "I'd actually like some coffee right now, I'm so tired." I handed him my untouched cup. "Thanks." He murmured, taking a sip. "You kinda remind me of this sweet someone I know."

My ears strained to hear what he said. He spoke it so low. "Oh?" I hopped a little, hopeful. "Who?"

"My eldest sister," Jaejoong said a matter-of-factly. "She was always there when I needed her. Still is." He smiled, turning away. He paused, gazing at me and patting my head. Surely I looked crestfallen.

I walked to the front desk, keeping my head low. He doesn't remember. I sighed, gathering my jacket. But I dropped it back on the table when a few tears decided to obscure my vision, and I ran to the bathroom before anyone saw me.

How can he not remember? I wiped my eyes, looking at myself through the cracks in the mirror. My hands balled up into fists as I forced myself to walk outside.

When I reached the lobby to get my coat, a hooded figure ran from behind the desk and through the glass door. 

If that's a thief, I snorted, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but there's nothing of value.

Nothing of value, I bit my lip as more tears threatened to fall out. Oppa, doesn't remember.

When I picked up my jacket to put it on, a bottle of my favorite strawberry milk and a packet of skittles fell to the floor.

Eh? I picked up the milk, setting it right-side-up on the counter as a pulled my jacket on. I looked down at the candy, noticing the wrapper had purple sharpie'd words over the nutritional facts.

Sorry, Jenni-bear♥. Oppa has bad memory. ゛(´д｀ )゛-- Forgetful-joong

I smiled to myself, holding the skittles in one hand and the milk in my other as I walked out of the building. One thing played over and over in my head: He's sort of a block head.

Yup. He's a block head. I sighed, as I walked my way home. The block head I love.