Persuasion
Title: Persuasion
Pairing: Yesung/Ryeowook
Rating: PG-13
Word count: ~2,400
Warnings: none
Summary: Jongwoon is the last person Ryeowook would want to fall in love with.
A/N: zephyral thanks again for the help! (●´ω｀●)
Have you ever wondered why of all people you end up falling in love and even marrying the one you were supposed to hate all your life?
They’ve known each other from the time Ryeowook’s mother gave birth to him. For some reason that woman was something Jongwoon didn’t like. Maybe because she was a pushy and obsessive person, he thought. Sometimes he thought it’s Ryeowook’s fault, at first he didn’t like the young Ryeowook and how his mother always came over and made them play together and watch over him instead of playing with the kids his age. But probably the thing that made Jongwoon really hate Ryeowook was how his mother always told them that one day they’ll get married.
At first Jongwoon’s mother took it as a joke, but because of Ryeowook’s mother persistence she began thinking it wasn’t such a bad idea. It would’ve made the two female’s friendship stronger and she always thought that Jongwoon and Ryeowook got along well.
After years of begging and pleading the two men, they eventually gave in to their mothers’ wishes, but were not too pleased about it.
The two mothers were worried at the wedding day, their sons were nowhere to be found and the guests were starting to get impatient. Little did they know, their two sons were still in Jongwoon’s room, staying silent for the longest time, regrets and fears running through their minds. They haven’t talked to each other in a long time and they did not know how to exchange words anymore.
“So, it seems that your mother finally got what she wanted, didn’t she?” Jongwoon broke the ice, faking a smile. Ryeowook didn’t make a move to let Jongwoon know he’s listening at least. “Listen, just because we’re getting married doesn’t mean I like you or anything” he continued.
“Don’t worry, I never liked you either or agreed to this marriage. Trust me, I reacted worse when I found out.” Ryeowook glared back.
“If you don’t like me and I don’t like you why do we have to do this? Are you hyped about being tied to someone you don’t love and probably even get cheated on?” Jongwoon sneered. Ryeowook didn’t say a word, only looking at Jongwoon with blank eyes a few moments and then went to where the older man was standing keeping a decent personal space between them and frowned.
“Do you think I’ll enjoy it? Do you think all this was my idea? No, it wasn’t. And I tried really hard to not fall into mother’s stupid trap and trying to make you hate me and it was even perfect when you were mean to me and I prayed all my life to never see you as nothing but an enemy. But no, you just had to be nice to me once and it was enough to make me fall for you. Do you have any idea how much I hate you for that? How because of that I can put up with mother’s stupid wish and whatever you’ll do after our marriage? Do you really think I’m okay with knowing that my life partner is cheating on me?”
“What..?” Jongwoon replied in almost a whisper. He was rather shocked at the sudden confession with Ryeowook trying hard to not let tears fall on his cheeks. He never would have expected that turn.
~
The two mothers were best friends since elementary school. They did everything together, from shopping to sleepovers to borrowing basically anything from each other … and falling in love with the same man. Unfortunately only one of them got to marry him, and that wasn’t Ryeowook’s mother. Jongwoon was born a few months after his mother got married. He was lucky enough to even have a little brother a few years later.
From that time, Ryeowook’s mother became obsessed with the idea of giving birth to a girl and marrying her into Jongwoon’s family. Despite her many attempts at finding a husband and successfully giving birth to a boy she wasn’t too pleased with it. It took her some time to accept Ryeowook fully and then decided to raise him as a girl. She could have tried to give birth to another child but she thought that time wasn’t on her side anyway and the age gap would have been too big.
As a child, Ryeowook did not know about the fact that boys don’t wear pink dresses with two pigtails tied with a pink ribbon on their heads so it didn’t bother him. If his mother said that’s how he should dress than Ryeowook didn’t question it.
That is until the kindergarden years when Ryeowook was made fun of for dressing like a girl and he was confused by it. He then learned the harsh part of the world and how his mother played him like she wanted. The more he grew the more conscious he was of his mother’s doings and made him to not listen to her again by becoming a rather troublesome child.
Ryeowook hated the days he had to deal with Jongwoon’s babysitting, like he called it (that’s what it felt like to the both of them anyway).
When Ryeowook found out about his mother’s plans and how everyday she talks about the day he’ll marry Jongwoon he tried his best to make Jongwoon hate him, making his babysitting days a living hell. He expected Jongwoon to tell his mother to never make him see Ryeowook ever again, but it didn’t happen. Jongwoon kept staying close to young Ryeowook even though he was obviously annoyed. Jongwoon was never nice to Ryeowook but he still kept the little one close to him. That is until one day when Ryeowook was bullied again for being ‘as delicate as a flower’ and his face was painted with makeup products.
It was the first time Ryeowook couldn’t take it anymore and just cried his heart out. In that moment he hated his mother with all his might. Why did he have to put up with this? Why him?
Just when he was about to finally stop the tears from falling he felt a soft fabric touching his lips and going to his cheeks, just as he was smeared with lipstick by the other kids. When Ryeowook opened his eyes he saw Jongwoon wiping his face with his sleeve. Ryeowook didn’t say a word, only stood still and let Jongwoon clean him.
“It’s okay now.” Was the only thing Jongwoon had said. When Jongwoon finished cleaning the little boy he took him home, Ryeowook being one step behind and looking at his hand being held by Jongwoon’s. The older boy has never done that. It confused Ryeowook.
“Why are you nice to me now?” the little boy asked, feeling a knot forming in his throat and almost chokes.
Jongwoon stopped his feet and turned to face Ryeowook. It was the first and last time Ryeowook saw the warmest smile on Jongwoon or any person he knew in all his 9 years. It was almost blinding, but it didn’t last long, Jongwoon turned his head back and continued walking and dragging Ryeowook along with him.
“I guess I got used to saving you. And if mother really wants me to marry you, if that would make her happy…I’ll do it.”
That day Ryeowook saw how different they were and the change in Jongwoon. How much Jongwoon would do for the love of his mother and how immature Ryeowook is for not being able to fulfill any wish of his own mother. Sometimes he’s not sure if it’s because of the early matured Jongwoon or the still-a-child Ryeowook. Whatever it was it made Ryeowook more stubborn to not be close to Jongwoon ever again and make his mother abandon the obsession.
Ryeowook would tell his mother he’d rather study hard and go out with others. He tells her he wants to major in music and needs extra time for it and that he’s old enough to take care of himself, not needing Jongwoon, who would be pretty busy himself from now on as well.
Ryeowook insisted in attending high school in Seoul in dorms, as well as university. Despite achieving what he wanted, to stay away from his hometown, at night he’d have flashbacks of Jongwoon’s warm smile and the touch of his hand. Eventually he admitted to himself he fell in love at that precise moment and it haunted him every night, hating Jongwoon for ruining his plans of never falling in love with men, especially his ‘babysitter’.
He tried dating women, tried forcing himself to like at least one girl, but every time he saw them smiling he could only see one particular warm smile. The young man even tried to built up his body and dress more manly.
He’d go to his hometown on holidays, the least he could do for his mother. And of course, when that happens she’d drag Ryeowook to Jongwoon’s house for dinner. Fortunately at first he didn’t meet Jongwoon because he was too busy with his own school and extra activities.
But for the first time in a long time, he finally saw Jongwoon again. A matured, warm and good-looking Jongwoon inviting Ryeowook to his own house with no trace of ever being mean to the younger.
During dinner it was hard for Ryeowook to concentrate on his food or other people surrounding him. He could only throw a few glances at Jongwoon. Observing how much the older man grew, observing those plump lips, ever so inviting, and those cat-like eyes with eyeliner forming whenever he smiled, the same smile it got to his heart. Indeed, he hated Jongwoon.
The two men were the ones to stay behind and wash the dishes; it was their mothers’ idea, of course. They didn’t used to talk much to each other, unless it was for mocking or blaming.
“So, Ryeowook, how have you been? You were awfully quiet tonight and I haven’t seen you in a long time.” Ryeowook didn’t say a word, only continued washing the dishes and passing them to Jongwoon to dry them. “You’ve changed, I see. I suppose you’re not wearing dresses or makeup anymore, don’t you?” the older chuckled.
Ryeowook stopped what he was doing, dropping the dish back into the sink and getting out of the kitchen. “I see you haven’t changed.”
Jongwoon was left a little dumbfounded, looking at Ryeowook’s retreating figure and mumbling to himself “...but I thought you were cute like that.”
Another couple of years passed until Ryeowook graduated. He wasn’t quite sure why but he decided to go back home for a while despite knowing that Jongwoon was there too. The older man decided to open a coffee shop not far from their house; he always wanted to have a little business in his own hometown so he could be close to his family. And business was going pretty well for them and Jongwoon couldn’t be happier.
When Ryeowook came back, his mother began persuading the two again in saying they should prepare the wedding now that they both finished their studies. Ryeowook didn’t have the energy to fight back anymore, he just let his mother do whatever she wanted.
~
Suddenly it was hard to breathe in the room, although the windows were wide open. The two stared into each other’s eyes, hoping one of them finally speaks. Yet again, Jongwoon broke the ice.
“What did you say?” he asked in a low voice.
“You heard me very clearly, Jongwoon.” Ryeowook was still fighting back the tears. “I’m really sick and tired of going against mother’s wish and since I’ve already fell into the trap what is there to do than accept it and whatever that will come?” he took a deep breath and spoke again “our mothers are looking for us…we should get going before they start searching.”
Just as Ryeowook turned to leave the room Jongwoon caught the younger man’s arm and pinned him on the wall, starting to kiss him fully. Ryeowook tried to push Jongwoon away but was feeling too weak under him and those pair of lips on him he used to only dream about and kissed the older man eagerly back.
“Please…stop” Ryeowook barely breathed out.
“No.” Jongwoon caught Ryeowook’s lips again, keeping the younger man closer to him and snaking a hand on the back of the younger man’s neck.
“Why are you doing this?” Ryeowook cried when he finally got a chance to breathe again.
Jongwoon looked into Ryeowook’s eyes and chuckled. “Idiot. Not even till this day you have no idea of my feelings for you.”
“Mocking me isn’t what I call a hint, idiot.”
The two would have stayed forever in Jongwoon’s room if the women involved in their future plans didn’t barge in and giggling at the sight. “Oh, you two just couldn’t wait until the wedding is over, now couldn’t you? Come out now, everyone is waiting.”
Jongwoon cleared his throat “Okay, mom, we’ll be there in a flash.” The two mothers smiled and retreated back in the yard.
Ryeowook wanted to move and go to where they were expected but Jongwoon stopped him again and leaned a little too close to the other’s face. “W-What is it now?” Ryeowook stuttered.
“I don’t want to go like this without asking you properly.” Jongwoon smiled. Ryeowook blinked, not understanding what he means. “Kim Ryeowook, will you marry me?”
Ryeowook stood there dumbfounded, trying to figure out if it’s some kind of joke or if it’s a dream. Fortunately for him, it was none of those. He wanted to reply back properly as well but Jongwoon got the idea and kissed him again before really going where they were expected.
“I can’t wait for tonight” Jongwoon grinned.
Pairing: Yesung/Ryeowook
Rating: PG-13
Word count: ~2,400
Warnings: none
Summary: Jongwoon is the last person Ryeowook would want to fall in love with.
A/N: zephyral thanks again for the help! (●´ω｀●)
Have you ever wondered why of all people you end up falling in love and even marrying the one you were supposed to hate all your life?
They’ve known each other from the time Ryeowook’s mother gave birth to him. For some reason that woman was something Jongwoon didn’t like. Maybe because she was a pushy and obsessive person, he thought. Sometimes he thought it’s Ryeowook’s fault, at first he didn’t like the young Ryeowook and how his mother always came over and made them play together and watch over him instead of playing with the kids his age. But probably the thing that made Jongwoon really hate Ryeowook was how his mother always told them that one day they’ll get married.
At first Jongwoon’s mother took it as a joke, but because of Ryeowook’s mother persistence she began thinking it wasn’t such a bad idea. It would’ve made the two female’s friendship stronger and she always thought that Jongwoon and Ryeowook got along well.
After years of begging and pleading the two men, they eventually gave in to their mothers’ wishes, but were not too pleased about it.
The two mothers were worried at the wedding day, their sons were nowhere to be found and the guests were starting to get impatient. Little did they know, their two sons were still in Jongwoon’s room, staying silent for the longest time, regrets and fears running through their minds. They haven’t talked to each other in a long time and they did not know how to exchange words anymore.
“So, it seems that your mother finally got what she wanted, didn’t she?” Jongwoon broke the ice, faking a smile. Ryeowook didn’t make a move to let Jongwoon know he’s listening at least. “Listen, just because we’re getting married doesn’t mean I like you or anything” he continued.
“Don’t worry, I never liked you either or agreed to this marriage. Trust me, I reacted worse when I found out.” Ryeowook glared back.
“If you don’t like me and I don’t like you why do we have to do this? Are you hyped about being tied to someone you don’t love and probably even get cheated on?” Jongwoon sneered. Ryeowook didn’t say a word, only looking at Jongwoon with blank eyes a few moments and then went to where the older man was standing keeping a decent personal space between them and frowned.
“Do you think I’ll enjoy it? Do you think all this was my idea? No, it wasn’t. And I tried really hard to not fall into mother’s stupid trap and trying to make you hate me and it was even perfect when you were mean to me and I prayed all my life to never see you as nothing but an enemy. But no, you just had to be nice to me once and it was enough to make me fall for you. Do you have any idea how much I hate you for that? How because of that I can put up with mother’s stupid wish and whatever you’ll do after our marriage? Do you really think I’m okay with knowing that my life partner is cheating on me?”
“What..?” Jongwoon replied in almost a whisper. He was rather shocked at the sudden confession with Ryeowook trying hard to not let tears fall on his cheeks. He never would have expected that turn.
~
The two mothers were best friends since elementary school. They did everything together, from shopping to sleepovers to borrowing basically anything from each other … and falling in love with the same man. Unfortunately only one of them got to marry him, and that wasn’t Ryeowook’s mother. Jongwoon was born a few months after his mother got married. He was lucky enough to even have a little brother a few years later.
From that time, Ryeowook’s mother became obsessed with the idea of giving birth to a girl and marrying her into Jongwoon’s family. Despite her many attempts at finding a husband and successfully giving birth to a boy she wasn’t too pleased with it. It took her some time to accept Ryeowook fully and then decided to raise him as a girl. She could have tried to give birth to another child but she thought that time wasn’t on her side anyway and the age gap would have been too big.
As a child, Ryeowook did not know about the fact that boys don’t wear pink dresses with two pigtails tied with a pink ribbon on their heads so it didn’t bother him. If his mother said that’s how he should dress than Ryeowook didn’t question it.
That is until the kindergarden years when Ryeowook was made fun of for dressing like a girl and he was confused by it. He then learned the harsh part of the world and how his mother played him like she wanted. The more he grew the more conscious he was of his mother’s doings and made him to not listen to her again by becoming a rather troublesome child.
Ryeowook hated the days he had to deal with Jongwoon’s babysitting, like he called it (that’s what it felt like to the both of them anyway).
When Ryeowook found out about his mother’s plans and how everyday she talks about the day he’ll marry Jongwoon he tried his best to make Jongwoon hate him, making his babysitting days a living hell. He expected Jongwoon to tell his mother to never make him see Ryeowook ever again, but it didn’t happen. Jongwoon kept staying close to young Ryeowook even though he was obviously annoyed. Jongwoon was never nice to Ryeowook but he still kept the little one close to him. That is until one day when Ryeowook was bullied again for being ‘as delicate as a flower’ and his face was painted with makeup products.
It was the first time Ryeowook couldn’t take it anymore and just cried his heart out. In that moment he hated his mother with all his might. Why did he have to put up with this? Why him?
Just when he was about to finally stop the tears from falling he felt a soft fabric touching his lips and going to his cheeks, just as he was smeared with lipstick by the other kids. When Ryeowook opened his eyes he saw Jongwoon wiping his face with his sleeve. Ryeowook didn’t say a word, only stood still and let Jongwoon clean him.
“It’s okay now.” Was the only thing Jongwoon had said. When Jongwoon finished cleaning the little boy he took him home, Ryeowook being one step behind and looking at his hand being held by Jongwoon’s. The older boy has never done that. It confused Ryeowook.
“Why are you nice to me now?” the little boy asked, feeling a knot forming in his throat and almost chokes.
Jongwoon stopped his feet and turned to face Ryeowook. It was the first and last time Ryeowook saw the warmest smile on Jongwoon or any person he knew in all his 9 years. It was almost blinding, but it didn’t last long, Jongwoon turned his head back and continued walking and dragging Ryeowook along with him.
“I guess I got used to saving you. And if mother really wants me to marry you, if that would make her happy…I’ll do it.”
That day Ryeowook saw how different they were and the change in Jongwoon. How much Jongwoon would do for the love of his mother and how immature Ryeowook is for not being able to fulfill any wish of his own mother. Sometimes he’s not sure if it’s because of the early matured Jongwoon or the still-a-child Ryeowook. Whatever it was it made Ryeowook more stubborn to not be close to Jongwoon ever again and make his mother abandon the obsession.
Ryeowook would tell his mother he’d rather study hard and go out with others. He tells her he wants to major in music and needs extra time for it and that he’s old enough to take care of himself, not needing Jongwoon, who would be pretty busy himself from now on as well.
Ryeowook insisted in attending high school in Seoul in dorms, as well as university. Despite achieving what he wanted, to stay away from his hometown, at night he’d have flashbacks of Jongwoon’s warm smile and the touch of his hand. Eventually he admitted to himself he fell in love at that precise moment and it haunted him every night, hating Jongwoon for ruining his plans of never falling in love with men, especially his ‘babysitter’.
He tried dating women, tried forcing himself to like at least one girl, but every time he saw them smiling he could only see one particular warm smile. The young man even tried to built up his body and dress more manly.
He’d go to his hometown on holidays, the least he could do for his mother. And of course, when that happens she’d drag Ryeowook to Jongwoon’s house for dinner. Fortunately at first he didn’t meet Jongwoon because he was too busy with his own school and extra activities.
But for the first time in a long time, he finally saw Jongwoon again. A matured, warm and good-looking Jongwoon inviting Ryeowook to his own house with no trace of ever being mean to the younger.
During dinner it was hard for Ryeowook to concentrate on his food or other people surrounding him. He could only throw a few glances at Jongwoon. Observing how much the older man grew, observing those plump lips, ever so inviting, and those cat-like eyes with eyeliner forming whenever he smiled, the same smile it got to his heart. Indeed, he hated Jongwoon.
The two men were the ones to stay behind and wash the dishes; it was their mothers’ idea, of course. They didn’t used to talk much to each other, unless it was for mocking or blaming.
“So, Ryeowook, how have you been? You were awfully quiet tonight and I haven’t seen you in a long time.” Ryeowook didn’t say a word, only continued washing the dishes and passing them to Jongwoon to dry them. “You’ve changed, I see. I suppose you’re not wearing dresses or makeup anymore, don’t you?” the older chuckled.
Ryeowook stopped what he was doing, dropping the dish back into the sink and getting out of the kitchen. “I see you haven’t changed.”
Jongwoon was left a little dumbfounded, looking at Ryeowook’s retreating figure and mumbling to himself “...but I thought you were cute like that.”
Another couple of years passed until Ryeowook graduated. He wasn’t quite sure why but he decided to go back home for a while despite knowing that Jongwoon was there too. The older man decided to open a coffee shop not far from their house; he always wanted to have a little business in his own hometown so he could be close to his family. And business was going pretty well for them and Jongwoon couldn’t be happier.
When Ryeowook came back, his mother began persuading the two again in saying they should prepare the wedding now that they both finished their studies. Ryeowook didn’t have the energy to fight back anymore, he just let his mother do whatever she wanted.
~
Suddenly it was hard to breathe in the room, although the windows were wide open. The two stared into each other’s eyes, hoping one of them finally speaks. Yet again, Jongwoon broke the ice.
“What did you say?” he asked in a low voice.
“You heard me very clearly, Jongwoon.” Ryeowook was still fighting back the tears. “I’m really sick and tired of going against mother’s wish and since I’ve already fell into the trap what is there to do than accept it and whatever that will come?” he took a deep breath and spoke again “our mothers are looking for us…we should get going before they start searching.”
Just as Ryeowook turned to leave the room Jongwoon caught the younger man’s arm and pinned him on the wall, starting to kiss him fully. Ryeowook tried to push Jongwoon away but was feeling too weak under him and those pair of lips on him he used to only dream about and kissed the older man eagerly back.
“Please…stop” Ryeowook barely breathed out.
“No.” Jongwoon caught Ryeowook’s lips again, keeping the younger man closer to him and snaking a hand on the back of the younger man’s neck.
“Why are you doing this?” Ryeowook cried when he finally got a chance to breathe again.
Jongwoon looked into Ryeowook’s eyes and chuckled. “Idiot. Not even till this day you have no idea of my feelings for you.”
“Mocking me isn’t what I call a hint, idiot.”
The two would have stayed forever in Jongwoon’s room if the women involved in their future plans didn’t barge in and giggling at the sight. “Oh, you two just couldn’t wait until the wedding is over, now couldn’t you? Come out now, everyone is waiting.”
Jongwoon cleared his throat “Okay, mom, we’ll be there in a flash.” The two mothers smiled and retreated back in the yard.
Ryeowook wanted to move and go to where they were expected but Jongwoon stopped him again and leaned a little too close to the other’s face. “W-What is it now?” Ryeowook stuttered.
“I don’t want to go like this without asking you properly.” Jongwoon smiled. Ryeowook blinked, not understanding what he means. “Kim Ryeowook, will you marry me?”
Ryeowook stood there dumbfounded, trying to figure out if it’s some kind of joke or if it’s a dream. Fortunately for him, it was none of those. He wanted to reply back properly as well but Jongwoon got the idea and kissed him again before really going where they were expected.
“I can’t wait for tonight” Jongwoon grinned.