CHAPTERED | 3 Days Chapter 1
3 Days
pg-13 | au, angst, romance | 1/5
aitakutemo beta-ed by the_ladder
"if you're to be given, let's just say three more days with him... what would you do?"
Chapter One
The rain keeps falling beside you, watering your already wet clothes as you lie on the street, covered in crimson liquid.
“I… I feel so sleepy…”
“N-no…!!” you grasp his now cold hand with yours like your life depends on it. “I-I mean… you can’t leave me here alone, huh?” you chuckle, although your voice is barely a whisper.
“…hell, the ambulance is on its way…”
“But my eyes… they’re heavy…” the person below you breathes as you try your hardest to hold back your tears. Not now… this isn’t funny… this isn’t real… is it?
“Jae…” you manage to choke, “if you dare to close your eyes… I swear… I swear I won’t talk to you anymore…!! I swear I’ll be mad… I swear I won’t even look at you…!!” you try to give more force to your last words, but all of them sounded just the same;
Broken…
Then you see a pout appear on his pale face. For God’s sake, you feel like it’s going to be the last time you’ll ever see that famous tease.
“Just five minutes… I promise…” you can see his eyes lowering, “please…” he adds.
And that’s when you decide to give in. You nod slowly as you let all your tears fall down on your cheeks, mixing with the rain, while you watch those coal orbs closing slowly until they fully disappear behind those eyelids.
You blink.
You blink again.
This can’t be true, right?
You smile sarcastically while nudging him playfully, “Hey Jae… wake up…”
No answer.
“Jae… Jae, wake up…” Now you’re getting impatient, and you shake his body harder.
Still no answer.
“Kim Jaejoong, I order you to wake up! You said it’s only for five minutes! Wake up! Wake up, you lazy bum, open those eyes!”
Again, no answer.
“Open them…please!!” You bend your face toward his, “please wake up… please tease me again… stick out that tongue of yours… please say that I annoy you… please growl at me… pout at me… get angry at me… slap me… punch me… anything…! Just please…
“…please say anything…”
After that, all you can remember is your voice breaking into sobs as you hug him closely…
And the fact that this pair of coal eyes will never be open again, not for you, not for anyone, never… forever…
“Hyung…” Yunho glanced up, only to find Junsu standing beside him with a concerned look on his face. “Hyung… I know…-”
“Yes, I know what you’re going to say…” the leader cut in before his eyes wandered to the scene around him. Now he was standing in one corner at the funeral of one of the most important person in his life-
Kim Jaejoong’s funeral.
Weird, isn’t it? Yunho himself also didn’t believe it. His thoughts were just the same as when he was putting on his black top this morning, or when he was looking at Jaejoong’s face for the last time before his coffin was closed, covering his sight from the person he cared about the most;
Numb.
Oh how he wished this was only a sick joke, that suddenly Jaejoong would come out of his place and shout out loud to him that it was all just a prank on him to make him let out his true feelings. But sadly, everything seemed normal until now.
Maybe it was just him and his own denials.
After whispering to Junsu, Yunho excused himself and went outside. He just couldn’t stay standing in that room, not with all those people in black and saddened faces in addition to those whispers about his death. He just wanted to be anywhere but there.
Surprisingly, Yunho’s feet took him to the balcony where the sunshine greeted his skin, as if to hug him with its warmth. Sighing, he looked down, seeing many people crowding in front of the fence; some even had flowers in their hands, wanting to show their gratitude to the belated young singer.
Singer? Singing? Career? Dong Bang Shin Ki? He didn’t even want to think about that for now. Those things can go to hell for all he cared. He knew he must sound selfish, but if you just lost the person you love the most, those kinds of shit, yes shit, would seem unimportant.
Wait, did he just say love?
Yunho could feel his throat go dry and was thinking of getting a glass of water to cool it off, but instead of walking back inside, his betraying feet dropped his body onto the small couch in the balcony. Goosebumps started appearing on his skin when he realized it was the same couch he and Jaejoong used two days before the accident…
“Yah Yunho-ya…”
“What?” Yunho just sat still while Jaejoong leaned closely to him.
“Tell me… have I ever crossed your mind?”
Yunho, shocked by those kind of questions, just looked at his fellow band mate with a confused look plastered on his face, “why’d you ask?”
“Just answer the question!” he pouted, making Yunho’s stare soften. Curse those sinful lips of his… it always made him speechless and weak. Yunho then cleared his throat, trying to lighten the situation. “Sure you have, silly…” he gave out his million-dollar smile, “you, Yoochun, Junsu, Changmin… all of you guys have… after all, you all are the most important people to me next to my family.”
Yunho could see, or maybe sense, something changing in Jaejoong’s eyes before the older guy’s eyes wandered to the blue sky in front of them.
“What about… if I die?”
Now Yunho couldn’t hide his shocked face, “What are you talking about, Jae?”
“Nothing, I’m just curious, that’s all…” Jaejoong answered.
Both kept silent until Jaejoong repeated his question, “so? What would you do if I die? Would you cry?”
The leader just smiled before leaning his back to the leather couch, “Nope! Instead, I’d be happier, after all, there won’t be anyone teasing me or tell me to do this and that…”
“Hey, I’m serious!” Jaejoong slapped Yunho’s arm, making the guy laugh. Failing at making Yunho stop his laughter, the light-chocolate haired guy turned his back on Yunho in anger. Suddenly he could feel a hand snake around his waist, followed by a chin resting on his shoulder.
“And with all that… I’d be lonely without you…” Yunho whispered seductively into Jaejoong’s ear, but before the oldest of the band answered back, Yunho added, “being the subject of my teasing!” and started laughing again.
For a second, Jaejoong looked like he really wanted to slap Yunho’s face, but instead he just stood up and left Yunho alone with his laughter. As soon as Jaejoong disappeared behind the door, all the laughter also disappeared from Yunho’s mouth, leaving him staring at the direction Jaejoong just went to.
At that time, something in Yunho’s heart told him that he had done something wrong.
“Hyung…?” Changmin’s head popped out from behind the door, bringing Yunho back from his memory. “The press is asking if we could give them some kind of interview about this…”
“Later, Min…” Yunho answered, gazing at the now orange clouds. “I don’t feel like talking right now…”
Changmin bit his lip, “I guess you should just rest and let the rest of us handle these stuff.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. So now why don’t you just go to our room and get a good night’s sleep? I’ll leave some food in the kitchen in case you wake up later at night and need something to stuff your stomach…” the youngest in the band smiled before pulling his head back inside. Yunho smiled to himself. Time does change people a lot, doesn’t it? Changmin used to be the baby of the group and now he seemed to be taking care of everything even though they all shared the same burden. Funny how now Changmin had to be the one taking care of stuff, when usually it was-
Yunho choked.
It used to be Jaejoong…
Now thinking of the already-passed-away guy gave Yunho some kind of headache. Maybe he should take Changmin’s advice to just rest it out. After all, he could feel his sore eyes pleading for some sleep after a whole night of crying and holding-back-tears moments. With a deep sigh, Yunho pushed himself to stand and walk towards their shared room.
The lamp was off when Yunho entered the room. Deciding it would be better to just let the orange beam of sunlight decorate the room with its sad evening color, Yunho threw himself roughly onto his bed, only to stood back up again and moved to Jaejoong’s bed in the corner.
Burying his face in his pillow, Yunho could still catch some faint smell of Jaejoong’s shampoo, a scent of honey and citrus. Feeling his body relaxing, Yunho closed his eyes, hoping that maybe, just maybe, he could find some kind of way to get away from the uneasy feeling inside his mind now. But somehow his mind kept disturbing him.
Come to think of it, both he and Jaejoong never stated anything about their relationship. Sure, there was something more than just friendship or brotherhood, but neither seemed to care. Both enjoyed being in each other’s arms without declaring their own true feelings.
True feelings, those words felt like a big punch to Yunho’s stomach. He cursed himself for being such a coward and not telling Jaejoong his true feelings. He knew the older guy already set his heart for him, and there was already a 100% chance that they would end up as lovers, but his pride kept him from telling his own feelings to the one he cared for the most.
Pride, a fear that his career would go down, fans would look at him in disgust, and people around him would start alienating him because of his unacceptable relationship, his improper love for the same gender. But now? He directed another curse at himself at the thought that Jaejoong would never ever realize his feelings for him. He didn’t get a chance to say at least one real and simple ‘saranghae yo’ or treat him better like his own desire.
Yunho glanced at the rooftop. “I wish… I could have a chance to say how much I love you, Jae…” another tear slipped down his cheek, “I’d give anything…” and with that, he closed his eyes, hoping to meet the one he longed for in his dream…
Yunho found himself in a big bright white room, sitting in an old Victorian chair in front of a small table, and in the opposite place of the table was his...
“Hahlmuhnee? Why are you here?” The old woman across him smiled and took a sip of her tea, ignoring Yunho’s confused gesture. “Hahlmuhnee…?”
Okay, he wished to meet the person he loved the most, but it was Jaejoong, not his parents’ mother. Finally, the woman put down her cup and looked in his eyes with a warm smile.
“How are you now, Yunho? You haven’t come visit me for a while.”
The boy lowered his head for a sec and glanced up again with a forced smile, “Ah, I’m fine… sorry, I’ve been very busy with the band and…”
“…and? Come on, boy… you can tell me anything…” soon the forced-to-look-happy smile on Yunho’s face changed into a hurt one. “It’s nothing really… it’s just… I lost someone very important to me…”
“Oh, and who’s that person?”
At first Yunho seemed a bit hesitant to speak his mind, but after seeing the old lady’s welcoming smile, he took a deep breath and started telling her everything, from the first moment he met Jaejoong, the moments they went through together, to the recent accident which ended up taking Jaejoong’s life.
“I regret it, really… I wish I could tell him my true feelings… I’d give anything for that.”
“Are you willing to give anything for the one you love the most?”
The guy nodded, “yes… anything…”
“Anything?” Yunho’s Grandmother asked again, “even your own life?”
“Yeah… funny, isn’t it? How love could make you crazy,” Yunho smiled back at the old woman.
“So,” his grandmother began, “If you’re to be given, let’s just say, three more days with him... what would you do?”
Yunho put his hand below his chin, “I don’t know exactly, but… I’ll tell him my true feelings and make sure his last three days are the best days of his life.”
The woman smiled before gesturing a hand at Yunho to take the tea. Yunho nodded and reached for the tea, sipping it slowly and enjoying his throat being cooled down after all that long talk.
After some silence between the two, Yunho’s Grandmother finally spoke, “listen, Yunho… I’ll give you one more chance.”
“Huh? What do you mean?-”
“Listen to me, Yunho,” her tone sounded more serious, “I’ll give you one more chance… I’ll give you your wish and turn back the time to three days before the accident,” seeing Yunho’s face change, the woman grasped his hand, “but listen, you will not, I repeat, will not tell anyone about this and you will not try to restrain Jaejoong from his own death, like changing your schedule or something of the sort. If you do, I’ll return the time back to this state, with your guilt from not telling him your true feelings. Is that clear?”
“...y-yes, but-“
“Well then, goodbye, Yunho,” suddenly, mist start spreading over the whole area, covering the old lady from Yunho’s sight, “I’ll see you three days from now, and I hope you’ll make good use of this one chance of yours…”
“But wait… Hahlmuhnee…? Hahlmuhnee …!!”
-“OUCH!!”
Yunho rubbed his temple where a pillow just whacked him. Soon, the sight of Dong Bang Shin Ki’s shared room and the face of ‘puppy-eyed’ Yoochun registered in his mind.
“What was that for…” the leader growled lowly, still rubbing his head.
“For oversleeping! Look what time it is now!” Yoochun pointed at his watch, “Jaejoong-hyung almost finished his cooking and you better go downstairs if you don’t want to piss him off for missing his homemade breakfast.”
“…wait…” a realization came up in his mind, “did you just say Jaejoong…?”
The next second, someone appeared in front of the door still with an apron on his waist and a spatula in his right hand, “yes, Yunho, and I suggest you go and take a bath before I decide it would be better to just give your portion to Minnie…”
originally posted here.
pg-13 | au, angst, romance | 1/5
aitakutemo beta-ed by the_ladder
"if you're to be given, let's just say three more days with him... what would you do?"
Chapter One
The rain keeps falling beside you, watering your already wet clothes as you lie on the street, covered in crimson liquid.
“I… I feel so sleepy…”
“N-no…!!” you grasp his now cold hand with yours like your life depends on it. “I-I mean… you can’t leave me here alone, huh?” you chuckle, although your voice is barely a whisper.
“…hell, the ambulance is on its way…”
“But my eyes… they’re heavy…” the person below you breathes as you try your hardest to hold back your tears. Not now… this isn’t funny… this isn’t real… is it?
“Jae…” you manage to choke, “if you dare to close your eyes… I swear… I swear I won’t talk to you anymore…!! I swear I’ll be mad… I swear I won’t even look at you…!!” you try to give more force to your last words, but all of them sounded just the same;
Broken…
Then you see a pout appear on his pale face. For God’s sake, you feel like it’s going to be the last time you’ll ever see that famous tease.
“Just five minutes… I promise…” you can see his eyes lowering, “please…” he adds.
And that’s when you decide to give in. You nod slowly as you let all your tears fall down on your cheeks, mixing with the rain, while you watch those coal orbs closing slowly until they fully disappear behind those eyelids.
You blink.
You blink again.
This can’t be true, right?
You smile sarcastically while nudging him playfully, “Hey Jae… wake up…”
No answer.
“Jae… Jae, wake up…” Now you’re getting impatient, and you shake his body harder.
Still no answer.
“Kim Jaejoong, I order you to wake up! You said it’s only for five minutes! Wake up! Wake up, you lazy bum, open those eyes!”
Again, no answer.
“Open them…please!!” You bend your face toward his, “please wake up… please tease me again… stick out that tongue of yours… please say that I annoy you… please growl at me… pout at me… get angry at me… slap me… punch me… anything…! Just please…
“…please say anything…”
After that, all you can remember is your voice breaking into sobs as you hug him closely…
And the fact that this pair of coal eyes will never be open again, not for you, not for anyone, never… forever…
“Hyung…” Yunho glanced up, only to find Junsu standing beside him with a concerned look on his face. “Hyung… I know…-”
“Yes, I know what you’re going to say…” the leader cut in before his eyes wandered to the scene around him. Now he was standing in one corner at the funeral of one of the most important person in his life-
Kim Jaejoong’s funeral.
Weird, isn’t it? Yunho himself also didn’t believe it. His thoughts were just the same as when he was putting on his black top this morning, or when he was looking at Jaejoong’s face for the last time before his coffin was closed, covering his sight from the person he cared about the most;
Numb.
Oh how he wished this was only a sick joke, that suddenly Jaejoong would come out of his place and shout out loud to him that it was all just a prank on him to make him let out his true feelings. But sadly, everything seemed normal until now.
Maybe it was just him and his own denials.
After whispering to Junsu, Yunho excused himself and went outside. He just couldn’t stay standing in that room, not with all those people in black and saddened faces in addition to those whispers about his death. He just wanted to be anywhere but there.
Surprisingly, Yunho’s feet took him to the balcony where the sunshine greeted his skin, as if to hug him with its warmth. Sighing, he looked down, seeing many people crowding in front of the fence; some even had flowers in their hands, wanting to show their gratitude to the belated young singer.
Singer? Singing? Career? Dong Bang Shin Ki? He didn’t even want to think about that for now. Those things can go to hell for all he cared. He knew he must sound selfish, but if you just lost the person you love the most, those kinds of shit, yes shit, would seem unimportant.
Wait, did he just say love?
Yunho could feel his throat go dry and was thinking of getting a glass of water to cool it off, but instead of walking back inside, his betraying feet dropped his body onto the small couch in the balcony. Goosebumps started appearing on his skin when he realized it was the same couch he and Jaejoong used two days before the accident…
“Yah Yunho-ya…”
“What?” Yunho just sat still while Jaejoong leaned closely to him.
“Tell me… have I ever crossed your mind?”
Yunho, shocked by those kind of questions, just looked at his fellow band mate with a confused look plastered on his face, “why’d you ask?”
“Just answer the question!” he pouted, making Yunho’s stare soften. Curse those sinful lips of his… it always made him speechless and weak. Yunho then cleared his throat, trying to lighten the situation. “Sure you have, silly…” he gave out his million-dollar smile, “you, Yoochun, Junsu, Changmin… all of you guys have… after all, you all are the most important people to me next to my family.”
Yunho could see, or maybe sense, something changing in Jaejoong’s eyes before the older guy’s eyes wandered to the blue sky in front of them.
“What about… if I die?”
Now Yunho couldn’t hide his shocked face, “What are you talking about, Jae?”
“Nothing, I’m just curious, that’s all…” Jaejoong answered.
Both kept silent until Jaejoong repeated his question, “so? What would you do if I die? Would you cry?”
The leader just smiled before leaning his back to the leather couch, “Nope! Instead, I’d be happier, after all, there won’t be anyone teasing me or tell me to do this and that…”
“Hey, I’m serious!” Jaejoong slapped Yunho’s arm, making the guy laugh. Failing at making Yunho stop his laughter, the light-chocolate haired guy turned his back on Yunho in anger. Suddenly he could feel a hand snake around his waist, followed by a chin resting on his shoulder.
“And with all that… I’d be lonely without you…” Yunho whispered seductively into Jaejoong’s ear, but before the oldest of the band answered back, Yunho added, “being the subject of my teasing!” and started laughing again.
For a second, Jaejoong looked like he really wanted to slap Yunho’s face, but instead he just stood up and left Yunho alone with his laughter. As soon as Jaejoong disappeared behind the door, all the laughter also disappeared from Yunho’s mouth, leaving him staring at the direction Jaejoong just went to.
At that time, something in Yunho’s heart told him that he had done something wrong.
“Hyung…?” Changmin’s head popped out from behind the door, bringing Yunho back from his memory. “The press is asking if we could give them some kind of interview about this…”
“Later, Min…” Yunho answered, gazing at the now orange clouds. “I don’t feel like talking right now…”
Changmin bit his lip, “I guess you should just rest and let the rest of us handle these stuff.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. So now why don’t you just go to our room and get a good night’s sleep? I’ll leave some food in the kitchen in case you wake up later at night and need something to stuff your stomach…” the youngest in the band smiled before pulling his head back inside. Yunho smiled to himself. Time does change people a lot, doesn’t it? Changmin used to be the baby of the group and now he seemed to be taking care of everything even though they all shared the same burden. Funny how now Changmin had to be the one taking care of stuff, when usually it was-
Yunho choked.
It used to be Jaejoong…
Now thinking of the already-passed-away guy gave Yunho some kind of headache. Maybe he should take Changmin’s advice to just rest it out. After all, he could feel his sore eyes pleading for some sleep after a whole night of crying and holding-back-tears moments. With a deep sigh, Yunho pushed himself to stand and walk towards their shared room.
The lamp was off when Yunho entered the room. Deciding it would be better to just let the orange beam of sunlight decorate the room with its sad evening color, Yunho threw himself roughly onto his bed, only to stood back up again and moved to Jaejoong’s bed in the corner.
Burying his face in his pillow, Yunho could still catch some faint smell of Jaejoong’s shampoo, a scent of honey and citrus. Feeling his body relaxing, Yunho closed his eyes, hoping that maybe, just maybe, he could find some kind of way to get away from the uneasy feeling inside his mind now. But somehow his mind kept disturbing him.
Come to think of it, both he and Jaejoong never stated anything about their relationship. Sure, there was something more than just friendship or brotherhood, but neither seemed to care. Both enjoyed being in each other’s arms without declaring their own true feelings.
True feelings, those words felt like a big punch to Yunho’s stomach. He cursed himself for being such a coward and not telling Jaejoong his true feelings. He knew the older guy already set his heart for him, and there was already a 100% chance that they would end up as lovers, but his pride kept him from telling his own feelings to the one he cared for the most.
Pride, a fear that his career would go down, fans would look at him in disgust, and people around him would start alienating him because of his unacceptable relationship, his improper love for the same gender. But now? He directed another curse at himself at the thought that Jaejoong would never ever realize his feelings for him. He didn’t get a chance to say at least one real and simple ‘saranghae yo’ or treat him better like his own desire.
Yunho glanced at the rooftop. “I wish… I could have a chance to say how much I love you, Jae…” another tear slipped down his cheek, “I’d give anything…” and with that, he closed his eyes, hoping to meet the one he longed for in his dream…
Yunho found himself in a big bright white room, sitting in an old Victorian chair in front of a small table, and in the opposite place of the table was his...
“Hahlmuhnee? Why are you here?” The old woman across him smiled and took a sip of her tea, ignoring Yunho’s confused gesture. “Hahlmuhnee…?”
Okay, he wished to meet the person he loved the most, but it was Jaejoong, not his parents’ mother. Finally, the woman put down her cup and looked in his eyes with a warm smile.
“How are you now, Yunho? You haven’t come visit me for a while.”
The boy lowered his head for a sec and glanced up again with a forced smile, “Ah, I’m fine… sorry, I’ve been very busy with the band and…”
“…and? Come on, boy… you can tell me anything…” soon the forced-to-look-happy smile on Yunho’s face changed into a hurt one. “It’s nothing really… it’s just… I lost someone very important to me…”
“Oh, and who’s that person?”
At first Yunho seemed a bit hesitant to speak his mind, but after seeing the old lady’s welcoming smile, he took a deep breath and started telling her everything, from the first moment he met Jaejoong, the moments they went through together, to the recent accident which ended up taking Jaejoong’s life.
“I regret it, really… I wish I could tell him my true feelings… I’d give anything for that.”
“Are you willing to give anything for the one you love the most?”
The guy nodded, “yes… anything…”
“Anything?” Yunho’s Grandmother asked again, “even your own life?”
“Yeah… funny, isn’t it? How love could make you crazy,” Yunho smiled back at the old woman.
“So,” his grandmother began, “If you’re to be given, let’s just say, three more days with him... what would you do?”
Yunho put his hand below his chin, “I don’t know exactly, but… I’ll tell him my true feelings and make sure his last three days are the best days of his life.”
The woman smiled before gesturing a hand at Yunho to take the tea. Yunho nodded and reached for the tea, sipping it slowly and enjoying his throat being cooled down after all that long talk.
After some silence between the two, Yunho’s Grandmother finally spoke, “listen, Yunho… I’ll give you one more chance.”
“Huh? What do you mean?-”
“Listen to me, Yunho,” her tone sounded more serious, “I’ll give you one more chance… I’ll give you your wish and turn back the time to three days before the accident,” seeing Yunho’s face change, the woman grasped his hand, “but listen, you will not, I repeat, will not tell anyone about this and you will not try to restrain Jaejoong from his own death, like changing your schedule or something of the sort. If you do, I’ll return the time back to this state, with your guilt from not telling him your true feelings. Is that clear?”
“...y-yes, but-“
“Well then, goodbye, Yunho,” suddenly, mist start spreading over the whole area, covering the old lady from Yunho’s sight, “I’ll see you three days from now, and I hope you’ll make good use of this one chance of yours…”
“But wait… Hahlmuhnee…? Hahlmuhnee …!!”
-“OUCH!!”
Yunho rubbed his temple where a pillow just whacked him. Soon, the sight of Dong Bang Shin Ki’s shared room and the face of ‘puppy-eyed’ Yoochun registered in his mind.
“What was that for…” the leader growled lowly, still rubbing his head.
“For oversleeping! Look what time it is now!” Yoochun pointed at his watch, “Jaejoong-hyung almost finished his cooking and you better go downstairs if you don’t want to piss him off for missing his homemade breakfast.”
“…wait…” a realization came up in his mind, “did you just say Jaejoong…?”
The next second, someone appeared in front of the door still with an apron on his waist and a spatula in his right hand, “yes, Yunho, and I suggest you go and take a bath before I decide it would be better to just give your portion to Minnie…”
originally posted here.