Yoochun’s POV

I can only watch as Yunho-hyung absentmindedly poured more wine on the glass, an order from a regular customer. There’s really nothing special about what he’s doing except for the fact that the glass is already overflowing.

“Yunho-hyung…” It looks like he’s been having a problem hearing when he didn’t even budge a little after I called him or maybe he’s just really in a deep thought. I tried calling again, well, more like… shouting his name on his ear before I finally got some reaction from him.

“Gah! YOOCHUN!! What’d you do that for?!” I can only grin. Changmin had a fever for two days that he wasn’t even able to take his exams. So now, I decided to come in for him though it’s really not necessary, while his professor gives him a special exam.

I pointed at the bottle of wine he was still pouring into the glass. “I just wanted to tell you about that, hyung.”

Yunho-hyung quickly stopped pouring, grabbed a rag, disregarding the tray and wiped the counter.

“!”

Wait! Did I just hear him curse? Because if he really did, then something is definitely wrong in here. Yunho-hyung never curse, he’s a …saint. He even managed to keep my mouth from cursing a lot. He called Youngwong, one of the waiters, to have the drinks serve.

When Youngwong left I can see his lips quivering, see him wanting to say something. He’ll turn towards me and open his mouth then those lips will press back together. I tried to act like I’m not eager to hear what he has to say and busied myself with wiping the cleaned glasses and other work.

And when I can’t take anymore, I went “crazy” “Just say it, hyung! What is it?” I finally asked in a whispered tone, enough for Yunho-hyung to hear.

“What?”

“I know something’s bothering you … you’ve been off since you we’re at school and now here at work. So, say it.. Whatever’s bothering you. Is there any problem?”

“No, no... There’s… nothing. Whatever gave you that idea?” His eyes avoided me. I knew it! Something’s up.

“Right.” I shrugged my shoulder, looking at Yunho-hyung intently. Trying to coax him into telling me, I waited for a few more minutes and when still nothing I decided to just let it go, for now. The night’s still young; he won’t be able to escape me later.

******

Yunho’s POV

God! I think I’m going to go crazy if I continue keeping this to myself. We’ve already closed the bar, only Chun and I are the ones left with some other crew to clean up the whole place. The chairs have already been placed upside down n the table, dishes have been put away, counters wiped clean. Yoochun counting the night’s money and I’m in charge of mopping the floor.

From the floor, my eyes went up to Yoochun.

“Yoochun-ah”. Startled, I heard him sigh. A sigh that tells me he’s been waiting for me to speak up. “Can I just ask you something?”

Yoochun nodded and so I continued. “You and Junsu have been together for 2-3 years, correct?”

“Three years.” He corrected, nodding a little at the same time.

“How did you… When you realize that…” Sheesh! How do I say this without sounding obvious? This guy might look like he’s always goofing around but he’s eyes are sharp and takes notes of a lot of things especially if it’s something you’re trying hard to hide.

“That I like Junsu and I want him more than just a friend?” Thank God he finished my sentence for me but now I’m starting to feel uncomfortable.

“Uh… Yeah! That’s what I was trying to say.”

Yoochun stopped with whatever he was doing and laid his back on the chair. I’ve long forgotten the task I have at hand as I rested my chin on the end of the mop’s handle.

“Well, it’s wasn’t the easiest thing to do, that’s for sure. I remember feeling different things when I first realize that I’m in-love with him. Scared he’ll find out and avoid me, and is never to talk to me ever again.”

“Exactly how I’m feeling!” I thought as I listened to him intently.

“I don’t know if Junsu feels the same. I’ve never noticed any sign that’ll tell me even with the slightest bit. It took me a year just to confess.”

“A year?!” That was a shock. How YooSu came together was not a secret to their closest friends, that includes me but that’s one fact I never knew.

“Can’t believe it, huh?”

I shook my head. How will I ever believe that! Yoochun was known to be the ultimate player before he because Junsu’s boyfriend. “How did you tell him then?”

“I really don’t know but I guess of all the things I was afraid of that time, I was most afraid of when a time came and I’ll look back only to regret not doing that one thing. That I’ll look back thinking of the “what if’s” and “what could have been”. What if Junsu actually likes me? What if Junsu was only good in hiding he’s feelings towards me? What could have happened if I did not confess to Su. Just that thought itself makes me feel dead cold. Can you imagine meeting me without my duck of a boyfriend, Yunho-hyung?”

A soft laugh escaped my throat at hearing the nickname Junsu hates.” You don’t want Junsu hear you calling him that.”

Yoochun grinned, finally continuing with his work. “Maybe not but he’s not here isn’t he…unless, HYUNG, you want me to get killed. Junsu can be pretty scary when he wants to.”

My attention was back to moping the floor. I fully understand what Yoochun was trying to say.

“Wait. Why are you asking me these things, Hyung?” Darn! Why did he need to ask? I need to think of something.

“Nothing…’ So much for my “I need to think of something” huh? ‘I was just curious.”

He looked at me. No. More like he stared at me for a couple of seconds. “Yeah. Right. Whatever, Hyung.”

“What?! I just…”

Yoochun raised his hands, his palm facing towards me. “I didn’t say anything but looks like someone is a little too defensive here.”

Couldn’t say anything now could I?

I continued mopping as Yoochun rounded the counter. He placed a hand on my shoulder, tapping it before disappearing in the direction of the restroom leaving me thinking.

Can I be as brave as Yoochun?

---

The next few days was hard, at least for me it is. I started feeling awkward and just can’t act as normal as I was before I realized my feelings for Jaejoong. How deeply I have fallen for him. Plus, the fact that Yoochun somehow knew about me liking someone makes it even harder. I can just thank God that goofy guy’s not teasing me or anything because if he did, he’s dead by now.

There were a lot of times when I just want to say it. To tell Jaejoong but I’ll only chicken out the last minute. One time, I had really set my mind on telling him but seeing him laugh at a joke Junsu shared made me back off again. What if after I confess, I won’t be able to hear that laughter again?

It was only when Jae asked me if I have a problem that things finally got back to the way they were. I can’t forget the look of worry on his face. “Are you sure everything’s okay?” was the question he repeatedly asked me. That simple thoughtful act just made me fall even deeper that I’m already in.

Sigh.

---

“Nervous?” I asked as I glance at Jae. We’re at a restaurant where we’re to meet up with a representative from a company we’re supposed to conduct an interview to, for our project.

A lopsided grin was all I received as a reply. Who wouldn’t fall for that? A few minutes passed and I’m certainly starting to get tired of waiting when the said person finally arrived.

I can only look as I saw the glint of recognition on Jae’s eyes for the man standing in front of us. I immediately sense the uneasiness that came over Jae but set it aside for the time being.

“Hello, Sir! I’m Jung Yunho. And this is…”

“Kim Jaejoong.” He finished for me. “How can I forget such a lovely face?”

Jae’s face was already drained out of blood. The anger in his eyes was very visible.

Offering a hand, the man finally stated his name with his eyes still looked on Jaejoong. “I’m Lee Junki… It’s nice to see you again, Jaejoong.”

“You’re not actually expecting me to tell you the same thing, are you?” The coldness and anger in his voice was a surprised. I’ve never, not even once, heard him sound like that.

Lee Junki looked hurt. I know he’s faking it. He looks like he’s definitely faking it. “Aren’t we a little too harsh now, Jaejoong-ah?”

The tension had thickened up in that few seconds or minutes that I made my presence known again. “Ah, shall we start?”

And the interview was started and ended. Jae managed to keep his call even with how he’s obviously feeling towards Lee Junki for some reason I don’t know.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lee.” I shook hands with the guy. Courtesy is still a must nowadays no matter how you don’t like someone, right? Even Jaejoong bowed slightly at the man before he turned his back away on us quickly.

****

Jaejoong’s POV

I left that table as soon as it ended. I’m so glad it’s over. I can’t stay there any longer…with Lee Junki on the same table with me. I know it was rude of me, and Yunho shouldn’t have seen me like that but I can’t help it.

“Jae! Wait!” I finally stopped when I was sure we’re far from Junki. “What was that all about?”

“Nothing.” was my short answer. “I’m sorry if I acted like that.”

“It’s alright.”

I can’t tell Yunho about Junki. About how he’s the same guy who denied me in front of Kim Heechul. The same guy who left me the first instance he saw a chance of getting up to where he is right now. How I was once a fool who feel in-love with that guy and turned my back on everyone, my brother and my friends. I can’t tell him that. What would Yunho think of me then?

Yunho took my hand, his fingers wrapping around my wrist. “I was just… I never saw you got angry like that. I was worried you’ll just strike him or something.”

“Oh no, please. That’ll hurt if I did.” I grinned forgetting about Lee Junki. We walked along the streets of restaurants, shops, stores, etc.

As we were waiting for the green light, my eyes caught sight of a young girl; crying on the other side of the street looking lost. I tugged at Yunho’s shirt then pointed towards the young girl. “Yunho-ah…”

We walk to the little girl, Yunho automatically bending down to pick the girl up from sitting on her heels. He didn’t need to say anything, look like his already got the girl’s trust at his little gesture.

“Umma.” She said in between sobs, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand.

“Ah! Then, we’ll help you find your, Umma.” I can only watch as Yunho finally managed to stop Suri, the young girl’s name, from crying. She said she lost her mom when she let go of her mother’s hand to look at the dolls he saw at one store. When she looked back she was nowhere to be found. Seeing the exit, she thought that her mom probably left her and then she started crying. That’s when we found her. We went back to the department store as Yunho went straight to report about Suri in the customer’s area. I decided to take Suri inside an ice cream parlor as we waited for Yunho.

Suri is now far from the crying little girl we found earlier. She now have that wide smile on her face as she keep on her ice cream not minding if her clothes get dirtied with drops of it. I was in the middle of wiping her face clean of the ice cream when Yunho showed up again.

“So?” I asked as he took the seat in front of us. I pushed the extra ice cream I ordered for him towards him.

“If no one calls us in 30 or in an hour, we’ll bring her to the police station.” Yunho scooped on his Double Dutch flavored ice cream, his favorite, as he smiled at Suri. “For now, we can take care of her first.”

He looked at me as if asking if I’m fine with “baby sitting” Suri for a little while more while we wait for the girl’s parents. “I’m okay with that. I actually don’t want to go back home yet.”

After we finished our ice cream, we took Suri to the play area inside the mall. She held on to my left hand as she held on to Yunho’s right as we strolled down the mall. I’ve never stopped smiling as I can only watch Yunho…and Suri. The cute little girl had pulled Yunho to come with and ride with her on the mini merry-go-round. Time passed by so quickly that if it weren’t for the ringing of Yunho’s phone would we notice that it’s already been an hour since we found Suri.

“It’s Suri’s parents. They’re waiting for us at the ice cream shop.” Suri didn’t want to leave the play area, not until we told her that her parents, especially her mom was already waiting for her did she agreed to leave.

-----

“Umma!!!” Suri run to the warmth of her mother’s arm as soon as she saw her. The middle aged, pretty woman’s face was filled with worry. The handsome middle aged man who is probably Suri’s father ruffled the young girl’s hair before he turn to face up.

“Thank you so much for taking care of our baby girl. We don’t know how we could ever repay you.” He said, holding up his hands to us, which we gladly took. We introduced ourselves, the couple did, too. The couple had invited us for a cup of coffee with Suri pulling us, we never got to say no.

“It really was nothing, Mr. Lee. Suri is a bright little girl and didn’t give us much headache.” Yunho ruffled at Suri’s hair as her parents continuously say their thank you’s towards us. “Jae and I just needed to keep up with her energy.”

“Ah! That’s what we have to keep up with her, too.” Mrs. Lee replied. The cup of coffee was soon over.

Mr. Lee took out his calling card, handling it to Yunho before we finally parted ways. “Please, do call us if you’ll need help with anything.”

Yunho and I nodded, feeling happy that we’ve helped someone and meet such a cute little girl like Lee Suri. We waved at the family as we watched them leave. Once they were completely out of sight, I turned to look at Yunho.

“What?” He asked.

I started to walk away with a smile plastered on my face, letting go of his hand I didn’t even realized that was entwined with mine.

“Nothing.” I grinned. I just thought you’ll make a pretty good father someday, I thought

“Oh c’mon, Jae! That silly grin on your face tells me there’s something. What is it? Tell me!” Yunho ran after me.

I laughed, my hands covering my mouth. “It’s nothing. Really!”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Then that’s your problem, not mine, isn’t it.”

“Jaejoong-ah.”

“Hmmm..?”

He pouted, so cute.

“That won’t work on me, Yunho.” I couldn’t help but to teased as he can only pout even more.

It was a one of those days I never wanted to end. Neither one of us knew that a few days from now, everything will completely change.