Long, slender fingers caressed the smooth surface of the keyboard as the clock ticked in the wee hours of the morning. Yunho’s face was set in concentration as he bent over his laptop, typing nonstop words that would complete his next masterpiece.

 

It was getting good. Since the day Jae cooked him ramen some three months ago, he found his inspiration flowing smoothly and he wasn’t stupid to let the chance slip from his fingers. He would complete the novel ahead of schedule. He was sure of it.

 

Seconds passed, then minutes and eventually hours, he continued to write with a determination. Finally as the clock hit seven in the morning, Yunho pressed the last keys and sighed as he stared at the bright screen of the monitor. His hands on the mouse, he scanned the piece he had written and pursed his lips.

 

This book he had written was far off from his usual genre. He was a renowned writer of suspense-thriller novels and yet, the piece he had written had a new theme inserted with the usual mystery. Romance.

 

Thinking about what he’d done, he felt apprehension rising from his gut to his chest. He worried now if this sudden change would be a good or a bad thing. No, he wasn’t worried that the readers wouldn’t like his new work. It was just that it was totally not his style and he was uncomfortable.

 

Loving Jaejoong, his feelings unrequited for a long time, his frustrations and all other tender feelings bottled up inside of him for so long suddenly burst and Yunho found it necessary to write them down else he would go crazy. Again, no, he wasn’t worried that his work was bad. He had too much talent to write a piece of garbage but…

 

But I wrote too much, Yunho thought. For the first time in his career, he had let his own emotions reflect on his work and he feared that he had put too much of him in it. He was anxious that people who’d read this would find out about his secret. In other words, the book made Yunho feel and vulnerable.

 

Biting his lip, Yunho thought about writing another piece and keeping his newly finished work to himself. Glancing at the calendar however told him that it was already too late to write another one and his jaw set on a grim line. Damn!

 

Yunho was in the middle of berating himself for his thoughtlessness when the phone suddenly rang and his scowl deepened as he picked it up. “What do you want?”

 

There was a momentary silence on the other end before the caller cleared his throat and spoke. “Ehrm… Mr. Jung, this is Editor Kim,” the caller said, and Yunho sighed.  The caller was the man who was managing him from the country’s top publishing house. He shouldn’t make him the brunt of his frustrations. It wasn’t his fault and so Yunho took a deep breath to calm himself before he spoke again.

 

“Junsu-shi,” he greeted using the editor’s given name. “Is there something wrong?” he asked although he already had an idea why the editor called. The publishing house was looking forward to his new project and he knew they couldn’t wait to for an update on his progress.

 

“Nothing’s wrong Mr. Jung,” editor answered, his tone calm. “I just called to say hello and to – “

 

“It’s finished,” Yunho interrupted his editor and then gave himself a mental kick. Damn! There was no way he could change the story now. Then again, he wasn’t the type to take back what he said, and he definitely didn’t have the mood to start a new one. So, yes, he would give the manuscript while he still could.

 

“It is?” There was no mistaking the delight in the editor’s voice. “Thanks a lot Yunho!” The formality fading from Junsu’s usually polite voice, Yunho couldn’t help but smile at his editor’s slip. Junsu was after all his classmate in university. The guy was just too professional when it came to work so even though they were friends, Junsu addressed him formally.

 

“Ah no, I lied. I’m not yet done. In fact, I have a bad case of writer’s block,” Yunho teased and the other laughed. “Ha! Nah, you’re done! You’re not fooling me Jung Yunho!” The editor knew the author was just joking and so Yunho laughed with him.

 

“Will trade the manuscript for lunch today!” the writer joked and Junsu agreed easily. “Sure! Just tell me where you want to eat. I’m sure the company would love to treat you out,” Junsu said. “We don’t want to offend our favorite writer after all. My boss will kill me.”

 

“If you know that then come get the manuscript before I change my mind. OK, it’s a date then!” Yunho said which the editor replied to with “Sure, sure!” excitedly before he ended the call. Shaking his head, with a smile still plastered on his face, Yunho placed the receiver back on its cradle.

 

“You seem to be happy.”

 

The soft voice made Yunho jerk and look up. Just a few paces from him stood Jaejoong with a tray of what smelled to be pancakes, and his mouth watered as he inhaled its delectable scent.

 

“I made you breakfast,” Jaejoong said as he walked towards his table and placed the tray there. “Come, eat,” he added as he placed one pancake on the plate, applied butter on it and poured syrup over it the way he knew Yunho wanted his pancake.

 

“Yuuuuuummmmmy!” Yunho crowed as he picked up his fork but stopped upon seeing the look on Jaejoong’s face. The hesitant and forced smile of the other prevented him from attacking his food outright. “Is there a problem?” he asked as he placed his fork back down on the table and reached out to pull his friend to make him sit on his lap, but Jae pulled his hand back.

 

“I’ll get another plate!” Jae said over excitedly as he stood up and Yunho watched him go with a frown. Something wasn’t right. At least Jae planned on eating with him. Maybe he could coerce the other to tell him what’s wrong while they’re eating.

 

“So, are you going to tell me what’s wrong?” Yunho asked casually thirty minutes and three pancakes after.

 

“What’s wrong? Nothing,” Jae answered innocently and Yunho frowned. Earlier he had been sure Jae looked troubled. Looking at him now however made him doubt what he’d seen earlier. Jae was relaxed and was eating his pancake happily which made Yunho uncomfortable.

 

Since he thought Jae had a problem, he had been watching Jae’s face more closely than usual, and so he had seen how his tongue flicked out of those rosy lips when some syrup dripped on his chin or how the fork came in and out of Jae’s mouth as he ate his pancake.

 

Yunho knew he shouldn’t treat eating pancake as something but that was just what he was thinking. Damn, but he’d never seen any other person eat pancakes as ily as Jae did. The head on his nether region quite agreed too as it began to stand up and really pay attention.

 

Growing more uncomfortable with his hard-on, Yunho shifted on his seat and turned his eyes away from Jae. “So, there’s really nothing wrong?” he croaked as he crossed his leg over the other to hide his . It would be weird if Jae noticed not to mention that it was embarrassing.

 

“Nope,” Jae answered as he ate the last piece of his pancake. “Actually, something good happened,” he announced and Yunho’s brow arched in curiosity, his almond eyes focusing once more on Jae’s face as he waited for the other to complete his story.

 

“Well,” Jae began. The real reason why he came to Yunho’s place so early in the morning wasn’t only to make him pancakes but also to tell him important news. The song he had written some months ago, the one which he had submitted to a recording company with Yunho’s encouragement was accepted for recording. “Oracle Music said they like my song and someone from that company asked if he could meet with me,” Jae said breathlessly and his doe eyes watched as Yunho’s face turned from curious to that of amazement.

 

 “But that’s just good!” the writer said as he smiled, his eyes crinkled at the corners. He tried to reach for Jae’s hand again, but again the other man evaded his touch, making his smile fade. With a frown on his face, his lips pursed stubbornly, Yunho tried to get Jae’s hands again, this time more obviously, but Jae suddenly stood up before he did. “Are you avoiding me?” he couldn’t help but ask.

 

“Avoid you?” Jae countered, his voice a little shaky than normal. “Of course not! Why would I avoid you?” he continued as he tried to turn around and leave for the kitchen but Yunho’s fingers bit into his arm and turned him around.

 

“I don’t know. You tell me,” Yunho answered as his eyes bored into Jae’s eyes which the other turned away.

 

“You’re just imagining things,” Jae said as he tried to let go but Yunho wouldn’t make him. “I’m not imagining things. If you’re not avoiding me, then why won’t you let me touch you?!”

 

Yunho’s sudden outburst made the two of them stop and stare at each other for a while, both surprised at what had transpired.  Jae’s startled face then crumpled into a frown of confusion and then switched to anger. “Why the heck are you angry? Is this what I get for cooking you breakfast?” Jae yelled as he harshly shook his arm free and turned around, stomping as far from his friend as possible.

 

Thinking that he might have been too much, Yunho looked apologetic as he walked after Jae. “Jae, I’m sorry,” he said but the other continued to walk away. “Jae,” he called out, more desperately than the other one and Jae finally turned in his direction, his huge eyes still blazing with ire.

 

“I’m leaving!” Jae announced as he grabbed his jacket and marched towards the foyer and slumped there to wear his shoes.

 

“Jae, you don’t have to leave. Please don’t leave. Let’s talk,” the writer cajoled and Jae bit his lips.

 

“Leave the dishes on the sink. I’ll do them later,” Jae said, ignoring Yunho’s words as he wore his shoes and stood up. Yunho tried calling his name again, but again, he was ignored. “I’m going to meet up with the agent from the recording company so I won’t be coming back today and might not be here tomorrow.”

 

“Jae!” With all the frustration spilling out, Yunho once again clamped his hand on Jae’s wrist and made the other look at him. “Don’t be mad at me anymore,” he pleaded and the other studied his face. It was rare for them to fight and he didn’t like the idea of Jaejoong staying mad at him. He just wanted to spend more time with the other. He was in love with him. So much that it was driving him crazy!

 

Jaejoong studied Yunho’s face, saw the genuine worry there and he sighed. The flare of anger he felt earlier vanished replaced by a certain sadness which reflected in his eyes even though by this time, he already managed to smile. His heart had been hurting since almost an hour ago when he heard Yunho’s conversation over the phone. He had been…jealous. By other people’s standard, the writer was an aloof person who seldom laughed or smiled at others.

 

When Jae heard Yunho asking the call