{YunJae} Tutor - Chapter 10 "Love is Pain"
TITLE: Tutor
GENRE: Comedy + Romance
RATING: NC17
PAIRING: YunJae (YooSu, JaeMin)
LENGTH: 1o / 16
SUMMARY: 18-year old Jung YunHo has never really taken his studies seriously. As he's in his final year in high school, his parents put up ads for a tutor. At the same time, JaeJoong has been struggling to find a job after his college fund mysteriously disappeared. He comes across an ad for a tutor in the newspaper. The 21-year old college student has no choice but take the job...not realizing he has to face a stubborn, disrespectful, sharp-tongued high schooler. Can the mild student tame the wild student?
CHAPTER: [oo] * [o1] * [o2] * [o3] * [o4] * [ o5] * [ o6] * [ o7] * [ o8] * [ o9]
CHAPTER 10 - "Love is Pain"
It was lunchtime. YunHo and DongHae were seated at a table inside the cafeteria. DongHae was eating like a hungry pack wolf whilst YunHo had been fiddling with his chopsticks, poking on the rice and supporting his cheek with his knuckles. DongHae noticed his lifeless best friend and flicked rice at him.
“Yah, Hyung, why have you been so distracted lately?” DongHae asked.
YunHo heaved a heavy sigh, put down his chopsticks and placed his arms on the table.
“Have you ever been in love, Dongdong?”
“I told you to stop calling me that! And, no, I’ve never been in love.”
“You’ve never been in love? Really?” YunHo didn’t believe in him.
“Alright, fine. I’ve been in love once but it ended badly.”
“Was it the time you had your first serious girlfriend?”
“First serious boyfriend, actually.”
“Ooh… you mean, HyukJae?”
DongHae cringed when he heard his ex-boyfriend’s name.
“Don’t mention his name!”
YunHo raised his arms to his defense, “Okay! Sorry! Sheesh… so why did you guys break-up?”
“Er… it wasn’t because we weren’t compatible or anything. We just… didn’t see eye-to-eye on our future.”
“Your future?”
“Yeah… he didn’t want to finish school. His ambition was towards dancing. I told him it wasn’t something to drop school for. He got mad saying I wasn’t a supportive boyfriend.”
YunHo could see DongHae’s eyes sadden from the reminiscence. He thought his best friend must’ve really loved HyukJae.
“You still love him, don’t you?”
DongHae’s eyes widened and rebutted, “No! I don’t! I want to forget him.”
“You sure?”
DongHae thought for a while, “…no. I’m not sure. Wait! Why are you even asking me this?”
“Hm? No reason.”
DongHae narrowed his eyes and pouted his lips. He concluded, “You’re in love, aren’t you?!”
YunHo took a bite of the beef on his tray and tried to ignore the subject.
“Yah! Hyung! You’re in love, right?”
YunHo swallowed, drank from his glass and said, “Maaaybe.”
“Whoa! You’re in love! For the first time ever! The selfish, bratty Jung YunHo found himself someone to adore and infatuate. This is epic!” DongHae cheered with much excitement as he clapped away and laughed.
“Shut up!” YunHo then pondered, “I’m not that bratty…am I?”
“You’re a mama’s boy and spoiled.”
“Thanks for being blunt…” YunHo said in monotone.
“No problem! Tell me… who are you in love with?”
YunHo was a bit hesitant but considered that his best friend needed to know.
“…JaeJoong-hyung.”
DongHae nearly choked on his own saliva when he heard the name.
“Your tutor? You’re in love with your tutor?!”
“Yeah, tell the whole world! I bet they’d be excited. Psh…”
“Did you tell him?”
“…yeah.”
“How did he react?”
YunHo remembered the days before, he and JaeJoong kissed twice and made-out once. Yet, JaeJoong decided to stay with his boyfriend and rejected him.
“…I don’t know how to explain.”
“Let’s skip next period!”
“What?”
“It’s only Korean Literature. Besides, your love life is more important than some dead man’s story!”
YunHo had a feeling he heard the same thing from someone. But he couldn’t remember once his wrist was being tugged and he was taken to the school’s rooftop. He and DongHae spent the next hour talking about YunHo’s crisis and how he should win his tutor over.
It was dismissal. All the students were excited to leave after a whole day of tiresome lectures and activities. A pair of best friends walked down the street, still talking about the same subject since lunch time.
“Do you have a plan?” DongHae asked as he drank from his bottle of soda.
“No…”
“You’re a man of impulse, not of brains.”
YunHo smacked DongHae at the back of the head, causing the latter to yell out in pain. “Yah! What the heck!”
“You should really watch what you say.”
“I would… if only what I said could be visible instead of hearable.”
YunHo rolled his eyes and quickened his steps, leaving his best friend behind.
“Yah! Hyung! Wait up!” DongHae ran faster down the street. He was able to catch up to YunHo but then accidentally bumped into his back.
“Hyung! What the-“ DongHae’s mouth was completely covered and the two hid behind the tree at the corner of the street. DongHae struggled to break free from his best friend’s hold. He even started mumbling words, which YunHo understood and replied to.
“Keep quiet! JaeJoong-hyung’s across the street!”
DongHae stopped squirming and looked at the same direction as YunHo. He was right. JaeJoong was at the opposite street, reading a book while walking. YunHo was staring bright-eyed at his tutor and weakened his grip on DongHae. The latter broke free and caught breath.
“…hah…you should seriously warn me before you’ll do something like that again!”
YunHo didn’t listen. He kept on staring at his teacher like a love-sick school boy, which he was. DongHae pulled on YunHo’s collar, nearly choking the taller student.
“Stop staring or people will think you’re a stalker.”
“I can’t help it… JaeJoong-hyung is… he’s…”
“You can’t even complete your sentence? Wow, you’re really in love.”
YunHo turned around and leaned on the tree. He placed his hand on his chest, feeling his pounding heart beat against it.
“Hey, why is your tutor here, anyways? Is it your tutoring day?”
YunHo snapped from his love spell and remembered, “Oh right! It’s Friday today! I have to go! See ya!”
The tall student ran across the street, he nearly got run over if it wasn’t for the stoplight that changed from green to red. DongHae never thought love would be so hypnotizing. Well, he knew 2 years ago that love was the best feeling in the world. But he didn’t want to feel the pain again-so he’d rather have a bunch of one-night-stands than be tied down to a relationship that may break in the end.
YunHo felt like a stalker. He’s been following JaeJoong since he saw him 10 minutes ago. YunHo was just a few meters away but made sure he wasn’t in sight so he could see what JaeJoong did before every tutoring day. Besides, he could use the information to his advantage.
JaeJoong stopped at a bookstore and decided to go in. Once JaeJoong was inside, YunHo slowly walked to the store but hid away behind the wall without being seen in the glass. He looked over his shoulder and peeked.
JaeJoong was at the cooking section
“So… JaeJoong-hyung’s into cooking?” YunHo asked no one.
As soon as JaeJoong skimmed through a few pages, he closed the book and looked at another in the same section. YunHo could see the sparkle in JaeJoong’s eyes when he read through the recipe books. YunHo noticed that when JaeJoong saw the price of the book, he’d frown and place it back on the shelf. YunHo didn’t need to be a genius to know that the books seemed too pricey for his tutor.
‘JaeJoong-hyung is working to pay for his tuition. He probably doesn’t have enough to buy what he wants…’
JaeJoong walked out of the bookstore and turned left, continuing his way towards YunHo’s house for the tutoring session. YunHo was rubbing his chin in contemplation and before he knew it, he was inside the bookstore purchasing a book from the cooking section.
Mrs. Jung walked over to her house door and opened it.
“Ah! JaeJoong-ah! You’re earlier than YunHo~”
“Good afternoon, Ms. Bo Hana. I arrived earlier? That seems odd.”
“Well, YunHo likes to spend some time with friends before heading home. Come inside while I prepare your and YunHo’s snacks.”
JaeJoong just nodded and smiled. He went inside, removed his shoes and placed his bag inside YunHo’s room before accompanying YunHo’s mother in the kitchen.
As JaeJoong entered the kitchen, the silhouette of YunHo’s mother in an apron made JaeJoong remember how his mother used to look like. His mother had short, wavy brown hair. She loved wearing floral dresses that matched her baby blue apron. She’d always bring JaeJoong inside the kitchen so he could watch her cook.
Ms. Bo Hana turned around with a plate of rice cakes in her hand. She jumped slightly from JaeJoong’s sudden emergence.
“Oh, JaeJoong-ah, you startled me there. Would you want to try a rice cake?”
JaeJoong just curved his lips and happily took a bite of one of the rice cakes. He moaned from the delicious taste.
“You like? How about I make a box for you to bring home to your parents?”
JaeJoong swallowed, nearly choked really. YunHo’s mother patted JaeJoong’s back.
“My goodness, are you okay, young man?”
“Ye-Yeah… sorry…”
“Was my rice cake not tasty?”
“No! It was delicious! I just… my parents… they passed away.”
YunHo’s mother covered her mouth from the shock. She felt ashamed from assuming.
“I’m so sorry, dear,” she tried to console him.
“It’s alright. I’ve been living on my own for a few years now. Besides, I have great friends who take care of me.”
YunHo’s mother admired JaeJoong’s sense of independence and strength. However, JaeJoong was still young and to lose both parents is very hard on a young one’s heart. “Well, if you need some motherly care, you can stop by any time! I don’t mind having a second son around,” she smiled sweetly.
“Thank you, Ms. Bo Hana.”
“You know what, call me Hana-noona.”
“Noona?”
“Do I look like an Ahjumma to you?” she crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.
JaeJoong inspected a little bit and YunHo’s mom did look a bit younger than other mother’s he’s seen but to just call her ‘noona’?
“Okay… Hana-noona.”
YunHo’s mom clapped for joy and was extremely pleased to be called ‘noona.’ She prepared 2 glasses and a pitcher of water on a tray for her son and her ‘2nd son’ to drink during the tutoring session. They heard the front door open and someone rustling in the front removing his shoes.
“Hey, mom, are you in the kitch-“ YunHo stopped in his tracks when he saw JaeJoong. Their eyes locked for a few seconds before they both looked away.
“Oh! YunHo-yah! I just prepared your snacks. Would you mind taking the tray?”
“Uh…sure…” YunHo went towards his mother, passing JaeJoong. Their shoulders brushed slightly and JaeJoong jumped.
“I-I’ll be in the room,” then JaeJoong fled the kitchen.
“Hm… I wonder what’s gotten into that boy. You study well, YunHo-yah~” Bo Hana cupped her son’s cheek before letting him walk out with the tray in his hands.
YunHo saw his room door was opened. He pushed it more with his back to get space to enter. JaeJoong was just sitting on a chair, reading some papers, surely trying to avoid any more contact than needed in the session. YunHo sighed inaudibly and placed the tray down on the table.
YunHo tried to look at JaeJoong in the eye but the older didn’t look up. YunHo just clutched on his bag strap and went to his bed. He unzipped his bag and slipped his hand inside. He felt the plastic bag that contained his gift for JaeJoong and grinned.
‘If JaeJoong-hyung saw this, he’d be so happy’
“YunHo.”
YunHo immediately removed his bag, placed it on the side and faced his tutor.
“Yeah?”
“We’ll be studying about Political Science now. Are you ready for it?”
“Sure.”
JaeJoong brought out a text book, some papers and a pen. He patted the seat beside him, telling YunHo to sit down and get started. They spend the next two hours studying and having less casual talk than they did before.
‘JaeJoong-hyung’s ignoring me… he’s not his usual self today…’
“…so, Park ChungHee was supposedly going to be assassinated but his wife was shot accidentally. And then…”
‘He can’t stop lecturing. Can’t he relax and just teach me the way he did before? This isn’t fun.’
JaeJoong was writing something down with his pen when YunHo placed his hand on top of JaeJoong’s to make him stop.
“JaeJoong-hyung, you need to stop this.”
JaeJoong bit his lip and didn’t want to raise his head at the younger.
“You can’t even look at me,” YunHo told him.
To prove him wrong, JaeJoong raised his head and looked at YunHo.
“I can look at you. Can we get back to the lesson now?”
“You’re avoiding me.”
“What makes you say that? I’m here for the tutoring session, aren’t I?”
“You’re physically here but your mind and heart is elsewhere. It’s like you don’t want to be friends with me.”
JaeJoong didn’t respond. YunHo took that as a sign.
“You don’t want to stay friends with me, do you?” YunHo questioned.
“Of course I’d want to stay friends with you. But…” JaeJoong realized his hand was still under YunHo’s. He quickly heaved it away. “…you have to stop advancing like this.”
YunHo’s eyebrows scrunched in the middle.
“So you’re saying I can’t even like you?”
“No! I mean-yes. Wait… Aish!”
“I’m trying to understand you but you’re very hard to read, JaeJoong-hyung!”
JaeJoong took in a deep breath and checked his watch. He stood up and gathered his things, “Tutoring session is over.”
“But, JaeJoong-hyung!”
As JaeJoong collected his things, his phone started ringing. He fished out for it, flipped it open and pressed the accept button.
“Hello? ChangMin-ah!” JaeJoong sounded really happy. YunHo’s heart already tore from the tone of voice he wished he could’ve caused.
“Yeah… I’m on my way home. You don’t need to wait up. If you’re tired, go to bed. No, I don’t want you to do that. Okay okay… bye.”
JaeJoong pressed the red button and closed his phone. He put it back in his pocket and got his things.
“I’ll see you next week,” JaeJoong said without even meeting YunHo’s eyes.
YunHo held out his hand to try to stop JaeJoong but it was too late. JaeJoong had already left the room. YunHo wanted to prove his love. He was being selfish, thinking JaeJoong would just drop everything and be with him. No, love needed pain to go along with it.
He sat down on his bed, got his bag and brought out the plastic. He pulled out the book within it titled, “1000 recipes: Yummy & Affordable” YunHo hugged the recipe book and clutched it for his life.
“JaeJoong-hyung…” he called out. The 18-year old never felt this much pain in his life.
KAMI-NO-KAMI’S NOTE PAD:
PAGE COUNT: 10
TOTAL TIME: 3 Hours
A/N1: Yay! Update after so long again! I think this is mostly a filler chapter. Not much going on… well, JaeJoong found a mother figure. JaeJoong really needs an adult figure because he thinks too independently sometimes…
A/N2: I don’t like this chapter so I’m writing the next chapter. Hopefully, it gets some excitement in this boring fic and actually brings some forgotten chemistry between YunJae!
NEXT CHAPTER: CHAPTER 11