Soul's Requiem (Chapter 1)
A spell of deafening silence is broken by the beginning of a sad melody, the steady tap of a metronome seeming to punctuate each note with a depth of sorrow. The melody begins slowly, mournful notes hardly echoing in the empty room. However, with a flourish of movement and a dramatic crescendo, the music takes flight, intense tones echoing off marble walls and floors.
Slender fingers press into the white keys of the piano, steady and graceful as they let the melody swirl through the room with the slightest tap of a slender digit.
It is moving art, watching those hands slide across the surface of the instrument like an ice skater would glide across the surface of the ice. Unbroken and smooth; beautiful and mesmerizing. The music and sight evokes long forgotten emotions, pulling away restrains and bringing painful memories to the forefront of one’s mind.
As mournfully beautiful as the music is and as enchanting as those graceful hands are, they are nothing when compared to the person sitting before the grand piano.
Large, dark eyes are closed and narrow jaw is lifted slightly as if his soul has left his body and is dancing through the air with the tragic notes of music.
A tear treks down porcelain-smooth skin as the lithe body sways to the dance of his nimble fingers across pearly keys. He is totally engulfed in his music, hardly seeming to take notice of the sleek, black hair that rests over his closed and upturned eyes. He is beautiful like no man ever was, but more than that, he is almost angelic looking. He is like a celestial being that has fallen from grace and was banished to live amongst mortal men.
The piece’s melody finally beings to slow and the fade to a distant echo before dying altogether. The silence quickly falls back into place and the figure sitting before the piano stills, dark eyes opening slowly as he lowers his gaze to the white and black keys.
“That was beautiful, as always, Jaejoong.” A rough, masculine voice shatters the silence, sweeping away the linger emotions that drifted in the air. The words had been spoken by an older male leaning against the wooden doorframe. His arms are crossed over his barrel-like chest, dark skin standing out against the smooth black of his Italian suit. He is a formidable figure with a stone like face and stout figure, and every so imposing even when leaning casually against the doorframe.
“Thank you.” The words are like the angle’s chores, soft and beautiful to hear. The tone rests lightly in the air, sending a shiver of appreciation down the spine of anyone willing to listen. “I just finished composing this piece.” Dark eyes flicker towards the neglected sheet of music that is propped against the piano, slender fingers plucking the paper up with an almost caressing sort of action.
His pride and love for his work is obvious in the way his eyes run greedily over the page in his hands.
“Congratulations.” the words are slightly gruff, as if the other man is hardly used to exchanging civil words with another person. However, something within his tone suggests a deeper sort of unspoken fondness for the other man.
“Thanks, Dad.” Full, pink lips pull upwards slightly as dark eyes move towards the form of the older male. “It reminds me of mom for some reason.” His words are soft, hardly reaching the other’s ears. There is a sort of sadness lingering within his downcast gaze and melancholic smile. He’d never actually known his mother, just seen the pictures of a woman almost too beautiful to be real. She was like an angel with large, brown eyes and creamy complexion; her hair had looked like pure silk and something in her smile made Jaejoong feel as if she had some great sorrow she’d always hidden from everyone.
A rough throat is cleared loudly as if to signify the unwelcome turn on the conversation. “I’m sure she would have loved it.” There is hardly any emotion in the voice now and his eyes are cold and withdrawn.
Jaejoong can see that he has made his father angry, he can see the anguish behind that carefully placed mask. He knows, and yet he does nothing about it. It wouldn’t help to point out weakness; his father was too stubborn to acknowledge it anyway. “It’s good to be home.” He changes the subject easily as he stands from the piano bench, lean arms reaching behind his lithe body as he stretches his back.
“Oxford not to your liking?” The man questions his son, eyes now alight with a slightly teasing glint. It’s apparent how hard it is for him to show such affection towards other people. It shows in the way he crosses his arms over his chest and pinches his eyebrows together as if he’s concentrating on something.
“You know I love school, Dad.” Jaejoong’s voice is slightly indulgent as he strides across the empty room towards his father. “I just enjoy being back home…with family.” He mutters the last part, thinking back to the relationship he and his father had shared before he left for college. It hadn’t exactly been very loving, but he felt that his father had some kind of affection for him even if he didn’t show it. Things were a bit different now, his father hardly made appearances in public and spent vast amounts of time locked within confidential meetings with people dressed in expensive suits. It was rare that Jaejoong got to spend time with his father.
“I’ve been leaving you alone a lot…” His father trails off as he turns and begins to walk down an ornately designed hallway, his feet sinking into the plush, tan carpeting. “I’ve had some changes made to the house since you left. I left your bedroom alone since I thought you might like to change that yourself.” He doesn’t glance at his son as he speaks and his words are gruff, as if he’s not really sure of what so say.
“Oh, well thank you, Dad.” Jaejoong’s reply is soft yet fully shows his appreciation. He had always loved his room the way it was anyway.
There is a slight pause as both men turn into the main foyer, a kind of uncertain silence between them.
“So I heard you are having people over this evening…?” His words are hesitant, showing that he’s not sure about his father’s reaction to the question.
“Ah yes, I’m having a few good friends over tonight.” His father’s voice is dismissive and he waves a hand in the hair in a sort of nonchalant manner. The older man seems to think it hardly odd to have guests over; however, Jaejoong couldn’t remember a time in his childhood when his father had ever had company over to the house.
“That’s good, Dad.” He intones softly, his head bobbing in a slight nod as he follows after the other man. “I could always play piano for you and the guests.” His offer is made with a slight smile of encouragement, his dark eyes glowing with a look of happiness. Whether he ever said anything about it, Jaejoong worried about his father’s habit of holing himself up in the house. He knew that the business his father worked in was a rather dangerous one, though he didn’t know the details. It just seemed like his father spent too much time alone.
His father seems to hesitate slightly, his step faltering as he turns to glance at his son. “I’m sure they would love that.” His voice is guarded and he now seems nervous, as if the thought of Jaejoong playing the piano worries him.
Jaejoong lifts a manicured brow at his father’s reaction, but decides not to pester his father about it.
“Are you going out?” He questions as he watched his father pull his coat from a closet and slip it over his shoulders. His father’s sudden turn to socialization was slightly confusing to Jaejoong.
“Ah, yes, there are a few…things that I need to buy for tonight’s guests.” Once again there was a dismissive note in his father’s voice. Though Jaejoong was beginning to imagine that to be a simple cover for what his father was truly feeling.
“I suppose I will see you later this evening?” Jaejoong questions softly, a slight sinking in the pit of his stomach as he imagines the rest of the day spent alone in a mansion too large for just two people and a few staff members. He had gotten used to living in small dorms at Oxford and now that he’d come back to stay with his father in South Korea, he was finding a large, empty house to be slightly daunting.
“Of course you will, Jaejoong.” The response is called over his father’s shoulder as the older man quickly strides to the door and steps into the slowly dying sunlight of the afternoon.
“Right…” The word is hedged in a sigh and fills the cavernous foyer as if the single word had been yelled.
Dark eyes shift from side to side for a moment before Jaejoong’s lithe frame turns and begins to trek back towards the piano room. If he had to spend the evening alone, he might as well practice his piece for that night.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Jaejoong, I would like you to meet a…friend of mine from the states.” Mr. Kim calls his son across the foyer, a slightly forced smile is sitting across his face and Jaejoong can see the look of slight apprehension on his father’s face.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Jaejoong easily covers the distance between himself and his father, a slight smile on his angelic face as he stands before his father’s lithe friend and gives a slight bow. The other man is charming, his smile crooked and showing off a set of gleaming, white teeth. His hair is black and cropped shorter around his ears and his six foot frame is clad in an expensive looking black suit.
“My name is Daniel Henney,” He extends his hand into the small space between himself and Jaejoong. He seems utterly confident, as if he hardly has a care in the world; however, he seems slightly dangerous, as if that calm would erupt at any moment. Jaejoong isn’t sure if he trusts the rather good looking man or not.
“I’m Jaejoong…Kim Jaejoong.” A slender hand is extended to accept the handshake, his hand feeling minuscule when in the large, warm grasp of the other man. “Is this your first time to visit South Korea?” He asks with a pleasant smile, shifting slightly as the other mans intense gaze lingered on his face.
“I’ve been here a few times on business; however, I haven’t had the chance to really enjoy myself.” His words are so smooth, tone rising and falling as the words nearly dance out of his mouth. He is charming beyond measure as well, his smile enough to make anyone’s heart beat faster.
“That’s a pity, South Korea’s a beautiful place.” Jaejoong smiles softly, eyes quickly shifting towards his father’s guarded face. It seems that he is uncomfortable with the situation. Despite himself, Jaejoong finds himself becoming apprehensive as he wonders what could possibly have his father so worried. He’s been gone a long time and it seemed that things had gotten worse in his absence. What dangers had his father gotten into during the time when he was all alone in this huge mansion?
“Home to beautiful people as well.” A deceptive smile tilts his lips upwards, the depths of his eyes dark and calculating as he hold Jaejoong’s gaze.
Jaejoong can see his father stiffen at the other males thinly veiled comment on his looks.
Jaejoong feels his heart flutter with alarm, a blush creeping up his neck as he breaks eye-contact to glance at the floor. He’s unsure of how to handle the forwardness of the other male.
“Why don’t you and I retire to the library for a cigar?” Jaejoong’s father jumps in, diverting Henney’s intense gaze away from the ethereal body of his son. His face is pale and he hardly manages to keep a slight panic from glittering in his eyes as he motions for the other man to follow him to the library.
“I heard you will be playing for us this evening?” The man asks, taking a slight step to follow Jaejoong’s father out of the room. His reluctance to leave is slightly obvious as he continues to stare at Jaejoong with a predatory gaze.
“If everyone would like me to.” Jaejoong nods his head, fighting to keep his composer. He is unsettled by the intense, older man, and he’s having trouble keeping eye-contact.
“I’d love to hear more about your piano playing, come join us in the library.” It’s not a request, but a demand hidden behind a friendly smile and twinkling eyes. His left hand is slightly extended, beckoning Jaejoong to follow by curling his fingers inwards, towards his palm in a “come” gesture.
Jaejoong glances towards his father, noticing the older man’s pale face and stiffened body. He doesn’t make eye contact with Jaejoong, though he nods his head slightly as if to tell him to comply.
A silence falls over the foyer, the distant sound of two maids laughing drifting across the open space as the three men stand in a slightly awkward position.
“I wouldn’t want to impose.” Jaejoong begins softly, tilting his head down to show uncertainty. He wants to say yes. He is as intrigued by this man as he is scared of his guarded eyes and calculating stare. He is appealing and Jaejoong finds himself feeling like a moth being drawn to a particularly hot flame. He knows that if he gets too close, he’ll have to pay a high price.
“I would be disappointed if you didn’t come.” He beckons once more with his hand before turning and following after the tense form of Jaejoong’s father. He has a long, confidant stride and very nearly floats across the marble flooring with every fluid step. It seems as if he simply expects Jaejoong to follow him, as if he has no doubt that the younger male will.
Despite a slight feeling of unease resting in the pit of his stomach, Jaejoong finds his feet following in the steps of the other man, his breath hitching slightly at the unexplainable thrill that ran through his body. This Daniel Henney was attractive and confidant and showed an interest in Jaejoong, so he couldn’t help the slight blush of pleasure that dusted his cheeks as he followed the two older men.
“…that everything will turn out as I planned.”
Jaejoong catches the tale end of a conversation as he walks into the cozy library, his eyes flickering over shelves of thick, leather-bound books on shelves of dark maple. Jaejoong remembered coming into his fathers library as a child and sinking into one of the five brown leather chairs, a stack of books within easy reach of his small hands. It had been a place where he and his father had been able to connect with each other, where they had discussed books for hours on end while enjoying a warm fire and cups of coffee and hot chocolate. He misses those days of companionable silence and unspoken love, when his father hadn’t seemed so tense and nervous. Things were different now, even though Jaejoong couldn’t seem to find anything that had changed between his father and himself that would warrant the change.
“Ah, yes.” The elder Kim spots Jaejoong entering the room and quickly makes a move to end the previous conversation, face stiff with a hardly contained look of tense fear.
“Should I order coffee or are you in the mood for something a bit stronger?” He questions Daniel with a slightly raised brow, a strained smile pulling at his lips.
“Coffee will be fine for the moment.” Henney responds simply, eyes never straying from Jaejoong’s form as he addresses Mr. Kim.
“Go tell the maid to get a pot of coffee in here.” Mr. Kim turns to speak to Jaejoong, a look of slight relief whispering over his face. It almost seems as if he is pushing to get Jaejoong out of the room faster, as if the presence of his son in the room is unwelcome.
It seemed but a split second after the words had left Mr. Kim’s mouth when the library door swung open and a maid stepped in, offering a slight bow to the gentlemen in the room. “Forgive me, Sir, but there is an urgent call for you.”
The elder male look perplexed, his eyes shifting between Jaejoong and Daniel as if he was torn between leaving the room to answer the phone, or simply staying so he could keep an eye on the both of them.
“Please excuse me, I’ll be back in just a moment.” He offered a slight nod of his head in Henney’s direction before turning a worried glance on Jaejoong, “I’ll be down the hall if you need me.” His voice was soft as he walked by, as if he didn’t want the other man to hear him.
After the exit of Mr. Kim, a ringing silence fell over the room like a blanket, the incessant tick-tock form the clock punctuating the silence with a slightly intense note.
“Gosh, I had forgotten how much I loved this room.” Jaejoong breathed, turning his gaze away from Henney to hide the blush that was creeping up his neck. Finding himself so suddenly alone with the imposing male was flustering.
His slender fingers run lightly over the spines of the books, his eyes not seeing the books as he focuses on listening to the other male behind him.
He feels his heart leap at the sound of fabric crinkling and a shoed-foot sinking into the carpet. He swallows back the lump in his throat and focuses on not turning to look at the man behind him. He’s worried about what he will find if he turns around now. Will the confident and handsome man be moving towards him, or was he simple stepping across the room to examine some book on the ceiling-to-floor bookshelves?
“You look like the type who would like to read.” The words are startlingly close to Jaejoong’s ear and his can feel hot breath ghosting of the skin of his neck.
Despite himself, he turns with a slightly startled face, eyes growing larger as he stares up into the face of the man who is standing hardly three inches away from him.
“I can tell by your delicate hands…” His honeyed words fade slightly as he reaches out of lifts Jaejoong’s hand away from his side. “So smooth and soft. These are hands of an artist and a scholar.” Larger and slightly rougher fingers trace Jaejoong’s palm and fingers, dark eyes holding the smaller male’s gaze easily.
“I…I think…” His feeble protest dies on his lips as he finds a hand running lightly down the white fabric of his knitted sweater. The other man is smiling slightly, eyes shifting to watch his hand as it trails down Jaejoong’s arm. “You dress nicely and speak softly. I find you very attractive.”
Jaejoong swallows harshly, white teethe coming out to grab his bottom lip. His heart is thundering madly in his chest and he feels sure that the other man must be able to hear its rapid tattoo.
He knows that he should push the other man away, but he’s intrigued and transfixed by the intense gaze of his father’s strange friend.
“You’re also very beautiful.” He chuckles slightly his fingers now brushing lightly through Jaejoong’s raven-black hair. “Your father is lucky to have such a son.”
“I think…I should go get the coffee.” Jaejoong breaths in a whisper, hands trembling slightly as he lifts them and presses his palms lightly against the other man’s chest. He isn’t sure if he’s trying to push the other man away, or simple acting on some unconscious desire of his body.
Henney lifts his hand and grips Jaejoong’s left wrist lightly, head tilting slightly as he leans in towards the younger male.
The atmosphere between the two is charged with electric desire, pulling and repelling at the same time.
“Go get your coffee then.” He breathes softly before closing the distance between them and pressing his lips against Jaejoong’s slightly open mouth.
The kiss lasts for hardly three seconds before Henney pulls back and steps away from Jaejoong, giving the younger male a clear to the door.
Jaejoong sits in shocked silence for a moment, blinking his eyes rabidly as he waits for the immobilizing shock to dissipate.
He’s flabbergasted at how quickly the other man had initiated contact between the two of them. He had never met someone that was so forward and open about their attraction. He finds himself liking it more than he thought he would.
“Right…coffee.” He breathes softly before pushing himself off the bookshelf and walking towards the door. “I’ll be right back then.”
As soon as he’s out the door Jaejoong lets out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. His slender hands come up to rest lightly over his chest as he fights to control the wild tattoo of his heart. He had never really been adventurous when it came to physical matters, preferring to write music and play his piano over running through the streets wooing boys and girls. But this…this had been intense, like someone had little a fire in his body and he was burning from the inside out. This was a physical reaction like he’d never felt before. This was addicting.
As he makes his way down the hall, Jaejoong finds himself wondering why he left in the first place. Looking back on the moment, the intensity hadn’t seemed so bad and the situation was certainly pleasing. So why had he left?
“Mrs. Park, my father wants coffee taken to the library.” Jaejoong calls upon spotting the slightly elderly house maid making her way towards the kitchen.
She is a friendly looking woman with large eyes and mostly grey hair atop her small head. She’s dressed in a simple white and blank uniform, though she has a bright pink apron tied secular around her waist. Jaejoong likes her. She was always the one who gave him cookies and sweet treats whenever he would visit her in the kitchen. She had been more of a motherly figure to him than anyone else in his life had.
“Certainly, Jaejoong-sshii.” She calls back with a toothy smile, eyes bright as she contemplates the younger male.
Jaejoong jumps slightly when his phone begins to buzz in his pocket, signaling the arrival of a phone call.
Pulling said phone from his left pocket, Jaejoong snaps it open and presses it to his ear, “This is Jaejoong.”
“When your best friend from America waists the money to call you, you should try talking to him in his language.” The tone is snaky as it makes it way over the line. The words bring an indulgent smile to Jaejoong’s full lips.
“You speak Korean, Changmin.” He points out as he turns and begins to make his way towards the piano room. He doesn’t really want to return, not when he’s being distracted by a phone call.
“Yes, but that’s beside the point. I’m in America and I’m also the one who initiated the call. So there.”
“Right. Well you’ll have to forgive me if I fail to see any logic in that entirely idiotic statement.” Jaejoong laughs slightly as he pushes the door to the piano room open and walks over the threshold.
“I forgive you. I accepted your lack of logical thinking skills years ago Jae…don’t worry about apologizing.”
“Oh-ho, I’d forgotten just how much I hated your wit, Min-ah.” Jaejoong fires back with a smirk. Changmin had been Jaejoong’s friend since third grade and for some odd reason they both just got alone with each other. He couldn’t explain why, they were just meant to be friends.
“So how are things in the S-of-K?”
“Like I remember. That bakery that you and I used to go to every Sunday, closed down. Apparently they moved across town.” Jaejoong informed his friend as he took a seat on the piano bench, his elbows resting on the closed lid.
“The arcade is gone, too.”
“Yeah. Wait, how did you know that?” Jaejoong questions, his eyebrows climbing up his forehead as he tries to remember if he told Changmin about their favorite childhood hangout closing.
“Oh, ha, did I forget to mention that I’m in South Korea?” He tries to sound sheepish, but he only sounds smug from across the line.
“Yeah, I guess you forget to mention it during our invigorating conversation.” Jaejoong attempts to sound sarcastic, but he can’t hide the happiness he feels tingling through his body at the prospect of having his friend staying with him over the summer break.
“Yeah, well the Mum’s been giving me slack about not coming to see her for a year. Gosh, parents can be so sentimental.” Jaejoong could imagine the taller boy rolling his eyes at this point, probably earning himself a glare from his mother, who was undoubtedly in the room.
“Oh yes, such a pain.” Jaejoong laughs slightly as he crosses his left leg over his right underneath he piano.
“So when are you coming to see me?”
“Uh, never…but you can come see me if you miss me so much.” He sits back slightly, a smirk pulling at his lips as his eyes sparkle with a look of relaxed fun. His early encounter with his father’s friend had fled his mind upon entering a conversation with his closest friend.
“Hm, I can be there in ten minutes.”
“My father is having guests over tonight and I told him I would play the piano for them.” Jaejoong responds with a soft sigh, slight regret washing over him at the prospect of spending the night with people twice his age. Well, not all of them were a lot older than him…
“Hey, Changmin, you’ll never believe what happened to me like fifteen minutes ago.” Jaejoong jumps in, not waiting for the younger boy to respond.
“There is this guy that my father brought over and I was introduced and he made a totally obvious compliment about me being beautiful.” Jaejoong rattles off in a matter-of-fact voice, trying to recall the details as best as he could. “So he invited me to join them in the library, so I did. But then my dad had to leave to take a phone call, and this guy ended up kissing me.” He whispers that last part as if he’s worried about someone listening.
There is no response from the other end of the line.
“Changmin? Are you still there Changmin?” Jaejoong questions the quiet line, pulling the phone away from his ear to make sure it’s still connected.
“Ah, sorry, I put the phone down to try some of the food we’re having for dinner tonight.” Changmin’s voice drifted back over the line, his smirk obvious in his voice.
“Ah, whatever. All you need to know is that a hot guy who is pretty much a stranger to me, kissed me. On the lips.”
“And?”
“What do you mean? This is the first time something like this has happened to me.” Jaejoong shoots back in a slightly indignant voice. He had hoped the his friend would show a bit more interest in the fascinating tale.
“Yeah, I guess you were too drunk to remember that night in Florida during our summer break. Ah, I’ve got to go, my dearest mother is mad that I’m ignoring her.” There was a definite female sigh from across the line, showing that Changmin’s mother was indeed in the room.
“Wait, what happened in Florida?” By the time he gets the question out, the other side of the line is already dead.
He sighs and flips the cell phone shut, letting rest of the shiny black surface of the piano as he tries to remember what he did during his Florida trip with Changmin and a few other close friends. The only thing he could remember was drinking, drinking and more drinking…so it didn’t seem too much of a stretch to imagine that he might have done something a bit stupid.
“I guess I’ll never know.”
~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~**~
That evening the house was abuzz with the conversation of about sixty people. Most of the guest were men, though there was the occasional woman fluttering about in a scanty dress and too much make-up.
The men of the party were really the people to see with expensive suits and watches and rings that would have set a poor man up for life had he found himself in possession of one.
The alcohol was flowing freely and good food was to be had all around, most everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
However, the main attraction of the evening was when Jaejoong took his seat at the piano and played music like none had ever heard. The words “prodigy” and “genius” floated from tongue to tongue across the room as intense and spellbinding music spread through the air.
Mr. Kim stood at the back of the room, his face alight with pride as he heard the murmurings of the crowd. He regretted not having a better relationship with his son in earlier years. Neither of them had been particularly emotional people, so there had never been a time when Mr. Kim felt a great need to profess a fatherly love for his son. However, now that he was watching his fully grown son, he felt a tinge of disappointment at having never taken the time to really get to know his talented offspring.
The song came to a mournful end and Jaejoong paused, eyes closed and fingers still lingering over the immaculate keys. It took a moment of loud applause before he opened his eyes and glanced towards the crowd, flashing them a thankful smile before he moved to close the lid of the piano.
He noticed as he did so, that Daniel Henney was standing against the back wall with four other men, all appearing to be older than him. All of them were watching him with an odd sort of gleam in their eyes, as if they knew some great secret.
Jaejoong pushed away the paranoid feeling in his gut as a shiver shot down his spine and set his skin to prickling. He could feel their eyes gauging into his body as he stood on unsteady legs and picked up his music with slightly shaking fingers. He didn’t understand his sudden bout of panic at being watched by Henney and his friends, but something about them just didn’t sit well with him. They looked deceptively normal on the outside, but something in their eyes made Jaejoong wish the evening would end quickly.