JUNSU’S POV

I stayed there totally petrified, without saying a word until he asked:

“Hello? Are you there?”

“Yeh, yeh…” I said quickly. My brain seemed to being having a hard time formulating sentences. “How did you get this number?”

“Junsu-ah, why are you being so cold? Aren’t you even going to say hello?”

“Oh, mianhamnida. Annyonghaseyo.” I said a bit embarrassed.

“Aishhh, such formality with someone you’ve know for so long…” he complained.

“How can I speak informally if I haven’t heard of you for several years now? You found my phone number so easily now, I’m sure you could have done it before.” I said, keeping the distance and the coldness.

“Su-ah, don’t be like that. I thought I was doing the best for you by keeping the distance. I was young and stupid. But I really thought that was the best way to avoid hurting you.” He answered in a low voice, apparently being sincere.

“If you haven’t become a celebrity I wouldn’t have know nothing of you. You could be dead for all I knew…”

“Kim Junsu, don’t be like that. Please?” he pleaded.

“Aishhh, arasso, arasso. What do you want? Why did you call?”

“Hmm I asked you brother if he could give me your personal phone number but neither him or you returned my calls so I searched the number you use to work. I just… I want to see you.” He made a long pause but when I didn’t answer: “I’m being judged in public square about something that should be purely personal. Junsu-ah my life is a hell right now. I feel myself sinking behind all these judgments, criticism and prejudice.”

I could feel the hint of emotion in his voice and my mind and my heart where battling: on one side I wanted to help him, I could imagine the agony he was going trough. But on the other side I remembered the time I begged to have him by my side and he just wouldn’t come.

And, more important than that, the image of Yoochun’s face hovered in my mind. Just talking with that person seemed like some kind of betrayal.

“I’ve seen the magazines.” I started. “I know it is being hard on you but you have to endure it just a bit longer. People will eventually forget all the gossip and just remembering you trough your work as a singer. I can’t help you, not really. And besides that I… I’m seeing someone and… it doesn’t seem to me that it would be very correct to see you, given our past.” I stuttered a bit, summing all my will to say no to him when in the past I wouldn’t resist and just say yes.

He chuckled a little:

“Yah, what am I asking of you? Am I asking you to betray the guy?” he tried to be playful but I could now notice his uneven breath and his voice getting higher pitched. He was crying. “Jeongmal, Junsu-ah. I’m asking you, just this once… I have no one else to call…” I could now clearly hear his sobs.

I kept quiet for a few minutes, really considering what he was asking me. And at every second his sobs and his pleading made my heart break a little.

I would explain it to Yoochun. He would understand. Maybe he could even give some support words, given that he had gone through something similar… He wouldn’t be mad…. I kept convincing myself of that.

“Ok! I’ll meet you.” His sobs stopped briefly and I could imagine a big bright and well-known smile forming on his face.

“Komawo, Junsu-ah, tjinja komawo.”

“It’s ok, you don’t have to thank me. I’ll be really busy in the next few days; I’ll call you to this number when I have some free time. Then, I’ll see you soon. Annyong.” I said really quickly and hang up without giving him the chance to say anything else.

I haven’t had seen him for such a long time, how would I react? What will he say? What can I do to help him? What will Yoochun think?

“Aishh, maybe I’m making a big mistake.” I mumbled before I put the pillow over my had and tried my best, without success to fall asleep.”

YOOCHUN’S POV – a few days later

As soon as I woke up I got up and stretched my whole body. I ran to the kitchen feeling full of energy, what happened very rarely.

“Good morning, good morning.” I greeted the dog. “Uri Harang is hungry, right?” I kept talking with him but he ignored me as soon as he saw his bowl filled with food.

I jumped on the shower and then quickly dressed bright colors to match my good humor.

The days at the company were calmer now. We hired some more people and I finally could have stable work hours, no more sleeping on the office or taking work home.

I was using this new acquired free time to prepare a surprise for Junsu. “Just surprise him.” Junho had said, not being of much help but at least guiding me on the right direction.

Before I went to the company I stopped in front of a jewelery. The saleslady greeted me.

“Annyonghaseyo. I have made an order online and it was supposed to be ready today. It’s under the name Park Yoochun.” The women searched for a bit and quickly found a little blue box.

“Here it is sir. Please check if it is the model you choose and if the engravings are correctly written.”

I opened the little box and in the inside, buried in light blue silk, where two rings of white gold. I picked them. They were nothing flashy, they were very discrete and simple but still beautiful. Inside of both of them in pretty cursive letters was written “Yoosu”, a mixture of our names. I smiled pleased.

“This is exactly what I have requested.” After paying I made my way to the company.

A few minutes after I entered my office Jaejoong came without even knocking on the door. This time I didn’t scold him, I actually smiled cause I was expecting that he would come.

“I have something to show you.” I started.

“What? Why are you so smiley? Park Yoochun you look like a creeper smiling all by yourself.” The noisy Jae asked. I told him to go get Eunhyuk first and when both of them were on my office I showed them the rings.

“WOA. Are you going to ask him to marry you?” they asked in unison.

“Anya.” I answered calmly, still smiling to the rings. “It’s a bit too early for that. I’ll just let him know that I want to have him by my side, always!” The other two started mocking me and I didn’t even care. After a million questions about where and how I would give Junsu the ring they finally leave me alone to take care of the last preparations for that night.

I would pick him up at this high school ball where he would be working as the pair of a girl, I would take him to the boat I have rented for the night and decorated neatly so we could spend the night there comfortably. Then, after traveling away from the busy city, surrounded by only water and the sky, where there would be only us, I would give him the rings and tell him how much I love him.

I smiled to myself imagining how the night would go. When the night finally settled in I rushed to mu house to dress nicely and prepare myself before I would pick him up.

JUNSU’S POV

“Oppa, I’m really scared. Everyone is just gonna mock me. They say I’m not worthy of being with you and that someone ugly like me should be locked at home.” Min-Ji, my client for that night, tugged on the sleeve on my tuxedo, pulling me so I wouldn’t get out of the car.

She was actually a beautiful young girl; nobody had the right to say those kinds of things to her. She was just shy and fragile and the bullies took advantage of that to make her feel bad. I could see by the fear in her eyes and the light bruises in the inside part of her arm that the bulling was more than verbal. Those people disgusted me and I set my mind on making Min-Ji have a great night and not be affected by what others would say.

“Min-Ji-ah look at you. You look so beautiful in that dress and your mom did your hair with such care. Oh wait, I almost forget something.” I took a little box of my pocket. Inside was a hairpin in the form of a little crown with shiny tiny pearls. I placed it on the side of her hair. “Yap, now you are really princess-like.”

She smiled shyly. I took her hand, put it around my arm and lead her to the ball.

It wasn’t an easy night. I had to control myself to not slap some girls and punch some guys after hearing some comments they made about Min-Ji. They were of pure envy. That night she was truly beautiful and some boys finally noted it and even invited her to dance. With that the people’s opinion about Min-Ji started to change. I knew the bully girls wouldn’t leave her alone just like that but seeing that someone was actually displaying interest towards Min-Ji and that she was finally coming out of her shell sure was a shock for them and a big step for Min-Ji.

The night ended with me sending Min-Ji home by taxi. She thanked me so much I actually started to feel embarrassed. She asked me if we could keep in touch. I really liked the girl and I would worry if I didn’t know how she was later on so I gave her my personal phone number. I knew Junho would scold me for mixing work with personal life but I couldn’t just not care.

I sat in a nearby bench. Yoochun was picking me up to spend the night at his place and I was really anticipating it. With all the work I didn’t had much time to be with him that week, though he now had more free time. The will to find a more stable job kept growing on me.

“Junsu-ah, Annyong.” I turned to see who greeted me and my heart skipped a bit when I saw it wasn’t Yoochun.

YOOCHUN’S POV

I had to park the car a bit far away and was walking, more like dancing, towards the entrance of the building extremely excited to see how Junsu would react to the surprise.

“Kim Junsu you can’t imagine how precious you are to me. I want to keep you by my side at all times and for as long as you accept me. Su-ah, saranghae.” I mumbled to myself on the way, practicing what I wanted to tell him. A shiver went down my spine with only the thought of telling him I loved him and a big smile grew on my face.

When I countered the corner of the building I could see Junsu talking with some guy, he looked familiar. I was going to greet them when I saw the guy was holding Junsu’s hand. I stood petrified on my spot.

I couldn’t hear what they were saying neither could I gain the concentration to make myself move or talk.

Suddenly the guy pulled Junsu in for a hug and I could see his face clearer.

“Choi Changmin.” I recognized him from when Junsu was searching him on the computer. He told me he was a potential client he wouldn’t accept.

Junsu broke the hug and looked annoyed but that guy, Changmin, said something that made his expression soften. I felt that my chest would explode from pain when Changmin pulled Junsu’s chin up and placed his lips on Junsu’s.

“KIM JUNSU!!!!!” I screamed without even noticing, tears rolling down my face.

The both of them looked at me. In Junsu’s expression was nothing more but horror.

“Chunnie…” he mumbled.

I couldn’t hear him, I didn’t want to hear him. I started running towards my car. I could hear his footsteps, he was running behind me and calling my name between heavy breaths. I didn’t care. I had to get out of there, I needed to.

I entered my car and drove away, my vision blurry from the tears. Junsu’s calls were getting lower as I drove far away and with that the pain in my heart was growing bigger.

JUNSU’S POV

I stayed there totally petrified, without saying a word until he asked:

“Hello? Are you there?”

“Yeh, yeh…” I said quickly. My brain seemed to being having a hard time formulating sentences. “How did you get this number?”

“Junsu-ah, why are you being so cold? Aren’t you even going to say hello?”

“Oh, mianhamnida. Annyonghaseyo.” I said a bit embarrassed.

“Aishhh, such formality with someone you’ve know for so long…” he complained.

“How can I speak informally if I haven’t heard of you for several years now? You found my phone number so easily now, I’m sure you could have done it before.” I said, keeping the distance and the coldness.

“Su-ah, don’t be like that. I thought I was doing the best for you by keeping the distance. I was young and stupid. But I really thought that was the best way to avoid hurting you.” He answered in a low voice, apparently being sincere.

“If you haven’t become a celebrity I wouldn’t have know nothing of you. You could be dead for all I knew…”

“Kim Junsu, don’t be like that. Please?” he pleaded.

“Aishhh, arasso, arasso. What do you want? Why did you call?”

“Hmm I asked you brother if he could give me your personal phone number but neither him or you returned my calls so I searched the number you use to work. I just… I want to see you.” He made a long pause but when I didn’t answer: “I’m being judged in public square about something that should be purely personal. Junsu-ah my life is a hell right now. I feel myself sinking behind all these judgments, criticism and prejudice.”

I could feel the hint of emotion in his voice and my mind and my heart where battling: on one side I wanted to help him, I could imagine the agony he was going trough. But on the other side I remembered the time I begged to have him by my side and he just wouldn’t come.

And, more important than that, the image of Yoochun’s face hovered in my mind. Just talking with that person seemed like some kind of betrayal.

“I’ve seen the magazines.” I started. “I know it is being hard on you but you have to endure it just a bit longer. People will eventually forget all the gossip and just remembering you trough your work as a singer. I can’t help you, not really. And besides that I… I’m seeing someone and… it doesn’t seem to me that it would be very correct to see you, given our past.” I stuttered a bit, summing all my will to say no to him when in the past I wouldn’t resist and just say yes.

He chuckled a little:

“Yah, what am I asking of you? Am I asking you to betray the guy?” he tried to be playful but I could now notice his uneven breath and his voice getting higher pitched. He was crying. “Jeongmal, Junsu-ah. I’m asking you, just this once… I have no one else to call…” I could now clearly hear his sobs.

I kept quiet for a few minutes, really considering what he was asking me. And at every second his sobs and his pleading made my heart break a little.

I would explain it to Yoochun. He would understand. Maybe he could even give some support words, given that he had gone through something similar… He wouldn’t be mad…. I kept convincing myself of that.

“Ok! I’ll meet you.” His sobs stopped briefly and I could imagine a big bright and well-known smile forming on his face.

“Komawo, Junsu-ah, tjinja komawo.”

“It’s ok, you don’t have to thank me. I’ll be really busy in the next few days; I’ll call you to this number when I have some free time. Then, I’ll see you soon. Annyong.” I said really quickly and hang up without giving him the chance to say anything else.

I haven’t had seen him for such a long time, how would I react? What will he say? What can I do to help him? What will Yoochun think?

“Aishh, maybe I’m making a big mistake.” I mumbled before I put the pillow over my had and tried my best, without success to fall asleep.”

YOOCHUN’S POV – a few days later

As soon as I woke up I got up and stretched my whole body. I ran to the kitchen feeling full of energy, what happened very rarely.

“Good morning, good morning.” I greeted the dog. “Uri Harang is hungry, right?” I kept talking with him but he ignored me as soon as he saw his bowl filled with food.

I jumped on the shower and then quickly dressed bright colors to match my good humor.

The days at the company were calmer now. We hired some more people and I finally could have stable work hours, no more sleeping on the office or taking work home.

I was using this new acquired free time to prepare a surprise for Junsu. “Just surprise him.” Junho had said, not being of much help but at least guiding me on the right direction.

Before I went to the company I stopped in front of a jewelery. The saleslady greeted me.

“Annyonghaseyo. I have made an order online and it was supposed to be ready today. It’s under the name Park Yoochun.” The women searched for a bit and quickly found a little blue box.

“Here it is sir. Please check if it is the model you choose and if the engravings are correctly written.”

I opened the little box and in the inside, buried in light blue silk, where two rings of white gold. I picked them. They were nothing flashy, they were very discrete and simple but still beautiful. Inside of both of them in pretty cursive letters was written “Yoosu”, a mixture of our names. I smiled pleased.

“This is exactly what I have requested.” After paying I made my way to the company.

A few minutes after I entered my office Jaejoong came without even knocking on the door. This time I didn’t scold him, I actually smiled cause I was expecting that he would come.

“I have something to show you.” I started.

“What? Why are you so smiley? Park Yoochun you look like a creeper smiling all by yourself.” The noisy Jae asked. I told him to go get Eunhyuk first and when both of them were on my office I showed them the rings.

“WOA. Are you going to ask him to marry you?” they asked in unison.

“Anya.” I answered calmly, still smiling to the rings. “It’s a bit too early for that. I’ll just let him know that I want to have him by my side, always!” The other two started mocking me and I didn’t even care. After a million questions about where and how I would give Junsu the ring they finally leave me alone to take care of the last preparations for that night.

I would pick him up at this high school ball where he would be working as the pair of a girl, I would take him to the boat I have rented for the night and decorated neatly so we could spend the night there comfortably. Then, after traveling away from the busy city, surrounded by only water and the sky, where there would be only us, I would give him the rings and tell him how much I love him.

I smiled to myself imagining how the night would go. When the night finally settled in I rushed to my house to dress nicely and prepare myself before I would pick him up.

JUNSU’S POV

“Oppa, I’m really scared. Everyone is just gonna mock me. They say I’m not worthy of being with you and that someone ugly like me should be locked at home.” Min-Ji, my client for that night, tugged on the sleeve on my tuxedo, pulling me so I wouldn’t get out of the car.

She was actually a beautiful young girl; nobody had the right to say those kinds of things to her. She was just shy and fragile and the bullies took advantage of that to make her feel bad. I could see by the fear in her eyes and the light bruises in the inside part of her arm that the bulling was more than verbal. Those people disgusted me and I set my mind on making Min-Ji have a great night and not be affected by what others would say.

“Min-Ji-ah look at you. You look so beautiful in that dress and your mom did your hair with such care. Oh wait, I almost forget something.” I took a little box of my pocket. Inside was a hairpin in the form of a little crown with shiny tiny pearls. I placed it on the side of her hair. “Yap, now you are really princess-like.”

She smiled shyly. I took her hand, put it around my arm and lead her to the ball.

It wasn’t an easy night. I had to control myself to not slap some girls and punch some guys after hearing some comments they made about Min-Ji. They were of pure envy. That night she was truly beautiful and some boys finally noted it and even invited her to dance. With that the people’s opinion about Min-Ji started to change. I knew the bully girls wouldn’t leave her alone just like that but seeing that someone was actually displaying interest towards Min-Ji and that she was finally coming out of her shell sure was a shock for them and a big step for Min-Ji.

The night ended with me sending Min-Ji home by taxi. She thanked me so much I actually started to feel embarrassed. She asked me if we could keep in touch. I really liked the girl and I would worry if I didn’t know how she was later on so I gave her my personal phone number. I knew Junho would scold me for mixing work with personal life but I couldn’t just not care.

I sat in a nearby bench. Yoochun was picking me up to spend the night at his place and I was really anticipating it. With all the work I didn’t had much time to be with him that week, though he now had more free time. The will to find a more stable job kept growing on me.

“Junsu-ah, Annyong.” I turned to see who greeted me and my heart skipped a bit when I saw it wasn’t Yoochun.

YOOCHUN’S POV

I had to park the car a bit far away and was walking, more like dancing, towards the entrance of the building extremely excited to see how Junsu would react to the surprise.

“Kim Junsu you can’t imagine how precious you are to me. I want to keep you by my side at all times and for as long as you accept me. Su-ah, saranghae.” I mumbled to myself on the way, practicing what I wanted to tell him. A shiver went down my spine with only the thought of telling him I loved him and a big smile grew on my face.

When I countered the corner of the building I could see Junsu talking with some guy, he looked familiar. I was going to greet them when I saw the guy was holding Junsu’s hand. I stood petrified on my spot.

I couldn’t hear what they were saying neither could I gain the concentration to make myself move or talk.

Suddenly the guy pulled Junsu in for a hug and I could see his face clearer.

“Choi Changmin.” I recognized him from when Junsu was searching him on the computer. He told me he was a potential client he wouldn’t accept.

Junsu broke the hug and looked annoyed but that guy, Changmin, said something that made his expression soften. I felt that my chest would explode from pain when Changmin pulled Junsu’s chin up and placed his lips on Junsu’s.

“KIM JUNSU!!!!!” I screamed without even noticing, tears rolling down my face.

The both of them looked at me. In Junsu’s expression was nothing more but horror.

“Chunnie…” he mumbled.

I couldn’t hear him, I didn’t want to hear him. I started running towards my car. I could hear his footsteps, he was running behind me and calling my name between heavy breaths. I didn’t care. I had to get out of there, I needed to.

I entered my car and drove away, my vision blurry from the tears. Junsu’s calls were getting lower as I drove far away and with that the pain in my heart was growing bigger.