The Secret of Immortality [One-shot]
Title: The Secret of Immortality
Pairing: Hyunjoong/Jungmin
Rating: PG-15
Genre: Mild angst, slice-of-life
Warning: Modeling!AU
Summary: A question many want answered - most of all Jungmin. And who else best to get it other than from the one who has already gained that answer?
[A/N: For yeonah, who gave me the prompt (the title) and pairing. This was her intended Christmas gift until my writer’s block came and screwed that plan. So it’s finally out, although it isn’t as nice as I imagined it… At least now, because of that, it has a pretty fanart to go with it? How did a drabble turn into a full-out one-shot I have no idea though]
~*~
They are shouting his name, and his head turns in time for him to be blinded by a million flashing lights. His eyes hurt, and his world turns into nothing but bright bursts with movements in the shadow behind. But he strikes a pose for those who want it, and want it they did. And he revels in the moment in which the spotlight warms him, basking him in its glory and attention.
But the moment ends, too soon like it always does. And his world darkens as the lights swing into a different direction, the spotlight moving from him to another name, another face, another picture. He moves away, urged by his manager, with a smile on his face, but reluctance in his heart.
His only comfort, is that, the fickleness of the crowd doesn’t only apply to him. And even as he turns around for a backward glance, the photographers have already moved away from the person behind him and descended on the next in a row of many.
Jungmin smiles and pats himself on the back for being right - no one is immortal in the fickle world of entertainment.
~*~
He walks outside in the middle of the party for a more cigarette break - the cigarette being the excuse for the break. He feels suffocated by all the competition and boot-licking inside, all the crowding up to well-known directors, producers and businessmen - vultures flocking to their next possible meal. Not that he can really criticize, having spent the night nearly hanging off the arm of some guy his manager told him was interested in both his face for a new product of his company, and, as rumor had it, his ass as well.
He’s surprised to see the crowd of photographers still waiting patiently outside, and he tries to rack his brain for anything that his manager had told him about the events of tonight that would interest the paparazzi. But his answer came in the form of the sound of a single shout, and the resulting murmurs and clatters as everyone directed their lenses to the orgasm on wheels that drove up to the red carpet.
The person who steps out of the car is not someone he expects. He expects, maybe, a human who will smile and wave to the photographers, a sheepish expression to the bouncers for being late (because it was quite clear to Jungmin what this was). Somewhere in his mind, he pictures a scene of this new arrival groveling to the organizers of this party in some dark corner somewhere, because to be late as such would have been an insult to a very powerful man. But two seconds later, Jungmin realizes that the scene would never happen.
Because the one who treads on the red carpet now is not human, but a god. His face shines with soft radiance from the flashes of light, and in it is reflected a stark indifference to the attention given to him. And instead of standing there, hungry for attention, he seems tired of it. It is the expression of someone who knows that everyone’s interest in him would never wane, and he only had to blink, or crook a finger, and everyone would be falling over themselves to follow him.
He walks fast into the building, doors held wide open, only to slam shut as the sea of paparazzi try to follow. And it is five minutes of staring at the photographers trying to detangle themselves in the midst of disappointment that Jungmin realizes what he’s just seen.
That god had discovered the secret to immortality, and Jungmin knew that he must get it as any cost.
~*~
The god has a name, and it is a well-known one. Kim Hyunjoong - hot body, envious muscles, angled cheekbones, plush lips and one hell of a top model.
“Are you thinking of trying to suck up to him, so that he puts in a good recommendation for you wherever he goes?” His manager laughs when Jungmin asks him to gather as much information on Hyunjoong as he can. “Forget it. He’s not the sort to do that sort of favour to anybody.”
Jungmin gives his manager a dirty look, and after some careful thinking, the excuse that if Jungmin managed to get a spot in a photoshoot alongside Hyunjoong, then there would never need to be a talk about favours from then onwards.
His manager works so hard after that, that Jungmin is almost amused. Because Jungmin isn’t thinking about any of that really, only that he just wants to talk to Hyunjoong and ask him that all important question he wanted answered.
Anything else would just be a bonus.
~*~
It’s months of pulling favours, hard work, and a lot of bribing that Jungmin finally gets what he wants. A spot beside Hyunjoong in a promotional shoot for a new Givenchy perfume. It’s not Hyunjoong’s first time, but it is Jungmin’s. And there were many speculations in the tabloids on how Jungmin had gotten the role, his manager trying to calm the criticisms on how Jungmin might not be suitable for it.
Jungmin leaves all the sweating to his manager, because he’s on cloud nine, just a few hours flight away from having his wish fulfilled. And he’s so excited that he can’t sleep despite the hot air stewardess’ efforts, the silk sheets and the huge leg room of the first class cabin. And when they touch down in Paris, Jungmin can’t even seem to be bothered about the welcoming party of fans and photographers to greet him at the airport.
He’s been to Paris before, and they reach the Eiffel Tower in the afternoon. The photographer doesn’t want the scenes to be to kitschy, although Jungmin wants to say that anything in Paris really, was kitschy, especially for a photoshoot for perfume. But he bites his tongue as he always does, listening as warm liquid voice says it instead.
Everyone turns their attention, and there is a mass welcoming as everyone realizes that a god has descended among them. And Jungmin hangs back, suddenly shy, watching as Hyunjoong greets everyone with pleasant enough smiles, although the distance was maintained as should be in the interaction of the celestial with the mortal. And before Jungmin could say anything, even take a step closer to the personification of his dream, it is swept away to the makeup room, while he is dragged by the photographer to take some solo shots so as not to waste time.
His back feels abused after ten unsuccessful shots of him leaning over some pillar of some sort while trying to reach for a bottle of the perfume when he’s given a sudden break. The reason why becomes apparent as Hyunjoong appears in Jungmin’s line of sight, dressed in alabaster black and looking scrumptious in perfect make-up. Jungmin is amused to see the photographer nearly tripping over himself to greet Hyunjoong. And Jungmin almost doesn’t feel offended at it - for everyone would chose to work with a god than a mere, disappointing mortal.
~*~
It’s finally time for their shots together, and Jungmin is almost quivering with excitement, although he hides it well underneath the acting skills which is his real rice bowl (not modeling). He’s been watching Hyunjoong from where he’s been sipping his café au lait, chatting with the make-up artists whom he’s sure were only talking to him because Hyunjoong was preoccupied at that moment. And he’s pretty sure of one of the steps in the secret to immortality.
Hyunjoong’s actions are like poetry in motion. Every pose he strikes, every expression he gives, is a complicated calculation to which the answer is beauty. And just by peeking from the corner of his eye, Jungmin has already gotten so many pointers as to how to improve on himself. And he has even figured out how to do the pose he was having problem with earlier when the photographer had called him to duty again.
“I really admire you,” was the first words he spoke to Hyunjoong. And the raised eyebrow he gets in return tells him how many times those words must have been spoken to him.
“But don’t worry.” Jungmin continues before he can face the brunt of Hyunjoong’s disdain. “I’m not here to butter up to you in hopes that you’ll mention my name to someone else.”
The surprise on Hyunjoong’s face is sweet before it gets swept up underneath a mask of indifference. And it’s in the middle of the first pose that Hyunjoong gives his comeback.
“If this is successful though, you won’t need to care, would you?” Jungmin looks back down from smoldering at the camera and blinks from where he’s leaning over Hyunjoong in a rather incriminating pose. Not that either of them care - they’ve probably been in worst situations. “About me mentioning your name to a few choice people who could make you famous overnight.”
Jungmin’s lips quirked, “You’re right. But the fame you’re talking about isn’t what I’m interested in.”
He can feel Hyunjoong’s eyes boring into his back as he pushes himself off and walks to where the photographer is pointing next. And he smirks to himself, dancing a little dance of victory in his mind.
Things were going as planned.
~*~
It’s at the party that Hyunjoong finally talks to Jungmin again. Jungmin sees the look on Hyunjoong face and has to keep himself from smirking - it seems gods have things getting under their skin as well.
“Are you sure you’re not interested in fame.” Hyunjoong asks after the usual platitudes and talk of mundane things and interests. And they’ve pretty much warmed up to each other over it - or more likely the two shots that they’ve shared together. “You don’t want me to mention your name to people? To become rich, famous and wanted all overnight?”
And Jungmin shook his head, because, in all honesty, it was the truth.
Never mind that it was only part of the truth, that if Hyunjoong continued down the line, it would have become a lie. Never mind that he would be a villain in this play, that he would be hated after this. Never mind that he knew this would end up with hot kisses stolen all the way through the back door and into Hyunjoong’s car. Never mind that they couldn’t wait, that they were almost half naked seconds after they got through the apartment door. Never mind the mess they left as they trailed clothes to the bedroom, tumbling like Icarus onto the bed.
Never mind that he would wake up first in the morning and leave without a second word. That he would plant the seed which would become his bargaining tool for what he wanted.
~*~
He received calls, messages. He didn’t know the number, but from the frantic way they were received, he knew who they came from.
The calls were never picked up. The messages never returned.
Life seemed to go on for Jungmin. He received a few more jobs because of the association with a God, but nothing unexpected. He could practically see his agent beginning to worry when all the perks of that association would run out. But he bid his time and waited. Waited for the opportune time - for the seed he had planted to finally bloom.
~*~
It bloomed one night when Jungmin had checked into a hotel. He didn’t know how Hyunjoong had gotten his address, but then he guessed it was through the same way he gotten Jungmin’s phone number.
And it nearly scared him out of his wits, not only because he’d just been to the premiere of a horror movie, but also because the wrath of a god is not something mere mortals like him could take without a small measure of fear.
The way Hyunjoong came on him was like a tidal wave of a tsunami, and Jungmin could only hold on and pray that it’d sweep him somewhere safe.
~*~
Later, much later, they lay panting upon each other, and Jungmin was too tired to tell which were his limbs and which were Hyunjoong’s, that the question he had been anticipating finally presented itself.
“You left.” A bold, simple statement. “Why?”
He wasn’t prepared by the way it was asked - he expected the usual weavings and politically correctness of the realm they lived in. But he supposed he’d forgotten that he was dealing with one who could change the rules with a few choice words and gestures. And so, he decided that it’d be best to answer in the same.
“There was something I wanted.” Jungmin replied. “An answer to a question I was dying to know.”
“And what was it?” the expression on Hyunjoong’s face might have sparked alarm off in Jungmin’s mind if he hadn’t been so eager - counting his chickens before they hatched.
“The secret to your immortality.” Jungmin said to an answering dead silence which he mistakenly interprets. “I want to be like you.”
He was unprepared for the fury in Hyunjoong’s eyes - a cold, black flame that chilled and burned both at the same time. And so frozen by it was he, that he didn’t even realize when Hyunjoong had left, leaving nothing but a memory and a spot that was once warmed like it had held the embers of a smoldering flame.
~*~
He hadn’t expected his manager to rush in the next day, waving his hands madly and talking 100 words a second and of course making absolutely no sense.
It was only after Jungmin got his manager to slow down that he realized he was scheduled to shoot yet another series of high profile advertisements with Hyunjoong.
Sleep was a foreign concept to Jungmin for that whole week.
~*~
But when the time came, and Jungmin went with a nervous heart and sweaty palms, he found himself cheated of his fear. Because all Hyunjoong gave him was a polite greeting, a formal smile before deigning to ignore his presence altogether except when they had scenes together.
The people who did acknowledge his presence - and to a large extent, were the make-up artist, his manager… and to his surprise, the director and producer. They kept a sharp eagle eye on him, on his scenes, and the way he acted. It was nerve-wrecking to say the least, but he kept his calm and dealt it in a professional manner.
And there was another, who kept close attention on him as well. One who stood in the shadows, glowering look and scowl. One whose look was pure hatred which Jungmin was sure he couldn’t have warranted.
That night, after they had gone out for dinner to celebrate finishing shooting the advertisement, Jungmin got 10 offers for advertisements, 2 for dramas and 1 for a blockbuster movie.
When Jungmin searched for Hyunjoong however, the old god was nowhere to be seen.
~*~
There was never a moment of rest afterwards. Jobs came pouring in like a waterfall at flood and Jungmin, being new to the attention, accepted everything. He rushed here and there, sleeping only on the journeys in between.
He never even went to parties anymore, only going to those that were absolutely necessary to go to. There was no need for his old routine of sucking up to people - no time in actual fact - because after taking just a small sip of champagne, he would need to fly to Paris to shoot yet another cologne advertisement. It was only after his manager presented him with a couple of options, having trouble deciding on his own, that Jungmin read their words and realized a sense of déjà vu, except now the roles were reversed and people were licking his boots instead.
The same time the work started, the hate mail came in as well. It was flattering at first, because Jungmin was the sort to see all publicity as good publicity. But it soon became tiring, and demoralizing even. Because like a bad fruit among the crop, it spread its poison, spoiling what was once good.
~*~
It finally became too much, and it drove Jungmin to hire someone to find the source of the problem. Because that would be the most efficient way - to nip the problem from the bud.
It came as a surprise to him though, when he found out the perpetrator to be someone he didn’t immediately recognize. It was only after a bit more questioning did he remember who it was - the person glaring at him in the shadows a couple of months ago, at the photoshoot which was the start of it all.
It took a little more persuasion, but Jungmin also found out what had sparked of that hate. Apparently, the role in the shoot had rightfully been his hater’s. But after a single phrase from someone important to the right people, the role had been offered to Jungmin instead.
After all, everyone would fall over themselves to follow the recommendation of a god.
~*~
It was a year after that they finally met again. And Hyunjoong noted that Jungmin looked different - his skin more ethereal, his line more beautiful - but there was also weariness etched into his frame and revelation in his eyes.
Jungmin looked exactly like how a god should.
“Thank you for the answer to my question.” Was the first thing Jungmin said.
“What do you mean?” Hyunjoong replied - although it was a weak attempt at deception, for that both knew that Hyunjoong knew exactly what Jungmin was talking about.
“To become a god, you must step over anyone, as necessary to first reach that position.” Jungmin said in a way that was not his, as if annotating a theory of fact. “Then, you must isolate yourself from the rest, to fit into that image of being over everyone else. A god must be lofty, as if attention is given on as a whim and a grace.”
“Slowly, you will become closer to your goal.” Jungmin continued, taking a few steps closer to Hyunjoong, and Hyunjoong could see the world in his stride. “But to finally establish yourself as a god, you must shed all notions of being yourself. You’re public property, belonging to everyone, yet you are alone, away from everyone - a possible contradiction.”
Hyunjoong didn’t speak, for that was exactly what he wanted Jungmin to know - the man had taken all the trouble to ask in such a creative way, and Hyunjoong thought that he’d deserved an answer.
“You could have just told me though.”
Hyunjoong looked up to see the distant smile on those soft pink lips, and he smiled in irony. “Why? Do you think that if I’d just tell you like that, you’d change your mind?”
“No.” the answer surprised Hyunjoong, and the questioning look he had prompted a crooked smile and a hand on his cheek.
“Well, because… maybe I had in mind that immortality wouldn’t be that bad as long as you were with me?”
He didn’t know how that led to sensuality, impatience and a tumbling downwards into bed. But it did, and Hyunjoong, for the longest time, fell asleep with dreams filled with galaxies and stars, his eyes having been reopened to them again.
~*~
The dawn broke, and by habit, or perhaps hierarchy, Hyunjoong was the first to rise. And like usually, he blinked the bleary sleep out of his eyes, breathing in the air and surveying the day like a god would do. Like he always did.
But something was different today. A warmth on his stomach that had never been there before. And Hyunjoong looked down, blinking, to see soft skin, ethereal form and a mess of breathing red.
His hand reached out, like instinct, to curled around the sleeping form’s back, and a primal sense of pride and protectiveness rose out of him. Like a mother for her child. A protector for his lover.
“Well, because… maybe I had in mind that immortality wouldn’t be that bad as long as you were with me?”
A small smile crept across Hyunjoong’s lips. And for those who wouldn’t know him, they wouldn’t know it was a smile at all.
~*~
Pairing: Hyunjoong/Jungmin
Rating: PG-15
Genre: Mild angst, slice-of-life
Warning: Modeling!AU
Summary: A question many want answered - most of all Jungmin. And who else best to get it other than from the one who has already gained that answer?
[A/N: For yeonah, who gave me the prompt (the title) and pairing. This was her intended Christmas gift until my writer’s block came and screwed that plan. So it’s finally out, although it isn’t as nice as I imagined it… At least now, because of that, it has a pretty fanart to go with it? How did a drabble turn into a full-out one-shot I have no idea though]
~*~
They are shouting his name, and his head turns in time for him to be blinded by a million flashing lights. His eyes hurt, and his world turns into nothing but bright bursts with movements in the shadow behind. But he strikes a pose for those who want it, and want it they did. And he revels in the moment in which the spotlight warms him, basking him in its glory and attention.
But the moment ends, too soon like it always does. And his world darkens as the lights swing into a different direction, the spotlight moving from him to another name, another face, another picture. He moves away, urged by his manager, with a smile on his face, but reluctance in his heart.
His only comfort, is that, the fickleness of the crowd doesn’t only apply to him. And even as he turns around for a backward glance, the photographers have already moved away from the person behind him and descended on the next in a row of many.
Jungmin smiles and pats himself on the back for being right - no one is immortal in the fickle world of entertainment.
~*~
He walks outside in the middle of the party for a more cigarette break - the cigarette being the excuse for the break. He feels suffocated by all the competition and boot-licking inside, all the crowding up to well-known directors, producers and businessmen - vultures flocking to their next possible meal. Not that he can really criticize, having spent the night nearly hanging off the arm of some guy his manager told him was interested in both his face for a new product of his company, and, as rumor had it, his ass as well.
He’s surprised to see the crowd of photographers still waiting patiently outside, and he tries to rack his brain for anything that his manager had told him about the events of tonight that would interest the paparazzi. But his answer came in the form of the sound of a single shout, and the resulting murmurs and clatters as everyone directed their lenses to the orgasm on wheels that drove up to the red carpet.
The person who steps out of the car is not someone he expects. He expects, maybe, a human who will smile and wave to the photographers, a sheepish expression to the bouncers for being late (because it was quite clear to Jungmin what this was). Somewhere in his mind, he pictures a scene of this new arrival groveling to the organizers of this party in some dark corner somewhere, because to be late as such would have been an insult to a very powerful man. But two seconds later, Jungmin realizes that the scene would never happen.
Because the one who treads on the red carpet now is not human, but a god. His face shines with soft radiance from the flashes of light, and in it is reflected a stark indifference to the attention given to him. And instead of standing there, hungry for attention, he seems tired of it. It is the expression of someone who knows that everyone’s interest in him would never wane, and he only had to blink, or crook a finger, and everyone would be falling over themselves to follow him.
He walks fast into the building, doors held wide open, only to slam shut as the sea of paparazzi try to follow. And it is five minutes of staring at the photographers trying to detangle themselves in the midst of disappointment that Jungmin realizes what he’s just seen.
That god had discovered the secret to immortality, and Jungmin knew that he must get it as any cost.
~*~
The god has a name, and it is a well-known one. Kim Hyunjoong - hot body, envious muscles, angled cheekbones, plush lips and one hell of a top model.
“Are you thinking of trying to suck up to him, so that he puts in a good recommendation for you wherever he goes?” His manager laughs when Jungmin asks him to gather as much information on Hyunjoong as he can. “Forget it. He’s not the sort to do that sort of favour to anybody.”
Jungmin gives his manager a dirty look, and after some careful thinking, the excuse that if Jungmin managed to get a spot in a photoshoot alongside Hyunjoong, then there would never need to be a talk about favours from then onwards.
His manager works so hard after that, that Jungmin is almost amused. Because Jungmin isn’t thinking about any of that really, only that he just wants to talk to Hyunjoong and ask him that all important question he wanted answered.
Anything else would just be a bonus.
~*~
It’s months of pulling favours, hard work, and a lot of bribing that Jungmin finally gets what he wants. A spot beside Hyunjoong in a promotional shoot for a new Givenchy perfume. It’s not Hyunjoong’s first time, but it is Jungmin’s. And there were many speculations in the tabloids on how Jungmin had gotten the role, his manager trying to calm the criticisms on how Jungmin might not be suitable for it.
Jungmin leaves all the sweating to his manager, because he’s on cloud nine, just a few hours flight away from having his wish fulfilled. And he’s so excited that he can’t sleep despite the hot air stewardess’ efforts, the silk sheets and the huge leg room of the first class cabin. And when they touch down in Paris, Jungmin can’t even seem to be bothered about the welcoming party of fans and photographers to greet him at the airport.
He’s been to Paris before, and they reach the Eiffel Tower in the afternoon. The photographer doesn’t want the scenes to be to kitschy, although Jungmin wants to say that anything in Paris really, was kitschy, especially for a photoshoot for perfume. But he bites his tongue as he always does, listening as warm liquid voice says it instead.
Everyone turns their attention, and there is a mass welcoming as everyone realizes that a god has descended among them. And Jungmin hangs back, suddenly shy, watching as Hyunjoong greets everyone with pleasant enough smiles, although the distance was maintained as should be in the interaction of the celestial with the mortal. And before Jungmin could say anything, even take a step closer to the personification of his dream, it is swept away to the makeup room, while he is dragged by the photographer to take some solo shots so as not to waste time.
His back feels abused after ten unsuccessful shots of him leaning over some pillar of some sort while trying to reach for a bottle of the perfume when he’s given a sudden break. The reason why becomes apparent as Hyunjoong appears in Jungmin’s line of sight, dressed in alabaster black and looking scrumptious in perfect make-up. Jungmin is amused to see the photographer nearly tripping over himself to greet Hyunjoong. And Jungmin almost doesn’t feel offended at it - for everyone would chose to work with a god than a mere, disappointing mortal.
~*~
It’s finally time for their shots together, and Jungmin is almost quivering with excitement, although he hides it well underneath the acting skills which is his real rice bowl (not modeling). He’s been watching Hyunjoong from where he’s been sipping his café au lait, chatting with the make-up artists whom he’s sure were only talking to him because Hyunjoong was preoccupied at that moment. And he’s pretty sure of one of the steps in the secret to immortality.
Hyunjoong’s actions are like poetry in motion. Every pose he strikes, every expression he gives, is a complicated calculation to which the answer is beauty. And just by peeking from the corner of his eye, Jungmin has already gotten so many pointers as to how to improve on himself. And he has even figured out how to do the pose he was having problem with earlier when the photographer had called him to duty again.
“I really admire you,” was the first words he spoke to Hyunjoong. And the raised eyebrow he gets in return tells him how many times those words must have been spoken to him.
“But don’t worry.” Jungmin continues before he can face the brunt of Hyunjoong’s disdain. “I’m not here to butter up to you in hopes that you’ll mention my name to someone else.”
The surprise on Hyunjoong’s face is sweet before it gets swept up underneath a mask of indifference. And it’s in the middle of the first pose that Hyunjoong gives his comeback.
“If this is successful though, you won’t need to care, would you?” Jungmin looks back down from smoldering at the camera and blinks from where he’s leaning over Hyunjoong in a rather incriminating pose. Not that either of them care - they’ve probably been in worst situations. “About me mentioning your name to a few choice people who could make you famous overnight.”
Jungmin’s lips quirked, “You’re right. But the fame you’re talking about isn’t what I’m interested in.”
He can feel Hyunjoong’s eyes boring into his back as he pushes himself off and walks to where the photographer is pointing next. And he smirks to himself, dancing a little dance of victory in his mind.
Things were going as planned.
~*~
It’s at the party that Hyunjoong finally talks to Jungmin again. Jungmin sees the look on Hyunjoong face and has to keep himself from smirking - it seems gods have things getting under their skin as well.
“Are you sure you’re not interested in fame.” Hyunjoong asks after the usual platitudes and talk of mundane things and interests. And they’ve pretty much warmed up to each other over it - or more likely the two shots that they’ve shared together. “You don’t want me to mention your name to people? To become rich, famous and wanted all overnight?”
And Jungmin shook his head, because, in all honesty, it was the truth.
Never mind that it was only part of the truth, that if Hyunjoong continued down the line, it would have become a lie. Never mind that he would be a villain in this play, that he would be hated after this. Never mind that he knew this would end up with hot kisses stolen all the way through the back door and into Hyunjoong’s car. Never mind that they couldn’t wait, that they were almost half naked seconds after they got through the apartment door. Never mind the mess they left as they trailed clothes to the bedroom, tumbling like Icarus onto the bed.
Never mind that he would wake up first in the morning and leave without a second word. That he would plant the seed which would become his bargaining tool for what he wanted.
~*~
He received calls, messages. He didn’t know the number, but from the frantic way they were received, he knew who they came from.
The calls were never picked up. The messages never returned.
Life seemed to go on for Jungmin. He received a few more jobs because of the association with a God, but nothing unexpected. He could practically see his agent beginning to worry when all the perks of that association would run out. But he bid his time and waited. Waited for the opportune time - for the seed he had planted to finally bloom.
~*~
It bloomed one night when Jungmin had checked into a hotel. He didn’t know how Hyunjoong had gotten his address, but then he guessed it was through the same way he gotten Jungmin’s phone number.
And it nearly scared him out of his wits, not only because he’d just been to the premiere of a horror movie, but also because the wrath of a god is not something mere mortals like him could take without a small measure of fear.
The way Hyunjoong came on him was like a tidal wave of a tsunami, and Jungmin could only hold on and pray that it’d sweep him somewhere safe.
~*~
Later, much later, they lay panting upon each other, and Jungmin was too tired to tell which were his limbs and which were Hyunjoong’s, that the question he had been anticipating finally presented itself.
“You left.” A bold, simple statement. “Why?”
He wasn’t prepared by the way it was asked - he expected the usual weavings and politically correctness of the realm they lived in. But he supposed he’d forgotten that he was dealing with one who could change the rules with a few choice words and gestures. And so, he decided that it’d be best to answer in the same.
“There was something I wanted.” Jungmin replied. “An answer to a question I was dying to know.”
“And what was it?” the expression on Hyunjoong’s face might have sparked alarm off in Jungmin’s mind if he hadn’t been so eager - counting his chickens before they hatched.
“The secret to your immortality.” Jungmin said to an answering dead silence which he mistakenly interprets. “I want to be like you.”
He was unprepared for the fury in Hyunjoong’s eyes - a cold, black flame that chilled and burned both at the same time. And so frozen by it was he, that he didn’t even realize when Hyunjoong had left, leaving nothing but a memory and a spot that was once warmed like it had held the embers of a smoldering flame.
~*~
He hadn’t expected his manager to rush in the next day, waving his hands madly and talking 100 words a second and of course making absolutely no sense.
It was only after Jungmin got his manager to slow down that he realized he was scheduled to shoot yet another series of high profile advertisements with Hyunjoong.
Sleep was a foreign concept to Jungmin for that whole week.
~*~
But when the time came, and Jungmin went with a nervous heart and sweaty palms, he found himself cheated of his fear. Because all Hyunjoong gave him was a polite greeting, a formal smile before deigning to ignore his presence altogether except when they had scenes together.
The people who did acknowledge his presence - and to a large extent, were the make-up artist, his manager… and to his surprise, the director and producer. They kept a sharp eagle eye on him, on his scenes, and the way he acted. It was nerve-wrecking to say the least, but he kept his calm and dealt it in a professional manner.
And there was another, who kept close attention on him as well. One who stood in the shadows, glowering look and scowl. One whose look was pure hatred which Jungmin was sure he couldn’t have warranted.
That night, after they had gone out for dinner to celebrate finishing shooting the advertisement, Jungmin got 10 offers for advertisements, 2 for dramas and 1 for a blockbuster movie.
When Jungmin searched for Hyunjoong however, the old god was nowhere to be seen.
~*~
There was never a moment of rest afterwards. Jobs came pouring in like a waterfall at flood and Jungmin, being new to the attention, accepted everything. He rushed here and there, sleeping only on the journeys in between.
He never even went to parties anymore, only going to those that were absolutely necessary to go to. There was no need for his old routine of sucking up to people - no time in actual fact - because after taking just a small sip of champagne, he would need to fly to Paris to shoot yet another cologne advertisement. It was only after his manager presented him with a couple of options, having trouble deciding on his own, that Jungmin read their words and realized a sense of déjà vu, except now the roles were reversed and people were licking his boots instead.
The same time the work started, the hate mail came in as well. It was flattering at first, because Jungmin was the sort to see all publicity as good publicity. But it soon became tiring, and demoralizing even. Because like a bad fruit among the crop, it spread its poison, spoiling what was once good.
~*~
It finally became too much, and it drove Jungmin to hire someone to find the source of the problem. Because that would be the most efficient way - to nip the problem from the bud.
It came as a surprise to him though, when he found out the perpetrator to be someone he didn’t immediately recognize. It was only after a bit more questioning did he remember who it was - the person glaring at him in the shadows a couple of months ago, at the photoshoot which was the start of it all.
It took a little more persuasion, but Jungmin also found out what had sparked of that hate. Apparently, the role in the shoot had rightfully been his hater’s. But after a single phrase from someone important to the right people, the role had been offered to Jungmin instead.
After all, everyone would fall over themselves to follow the recommendation of a god.
~*~
It was a year after that they finally met again. And Hyunjoong noted that Jungmin looked different - his skin more ethereal, his line more beautiful - but there was also weariness etched into his frame and revelation in his eyes.
Jungmin looked exactly like how a god should.
“Thank you for the answer to my question.” Was the first thing Jungmin said.
“What do you mean?” Hyunjoong replied - although it was a weak attempt at deception, for that both knew that Hyunjoong knew exactly what Jungmin was talking about.
“To become a god, you must step over anyone, as necessary to first reach that position.” Jungmin said in a way that was not his, as if annotating a theory of fact. “Then, you must isolate yourself from the rest, to fit into that image of being over everyone else. A god must be lofty, as if attention is given on as a whim and a grace.”
“Slowly, you will become closer to your goal.” Jungmin continued, taking a few steps closer to Hyunjoong, and Hyunjoong could see the world in his stride. “But to finally establish yourself as a god, you must shed all notions of being yourself. You’re public property, belonging to everyone, yet you are alone, away from everyone - a possible contradiction.”
Hyunjoong didn’t speak, for that was exactly what he wanted Jungmin to know - the man had taken all the trouble to ask in such a creative way, and Hyunjoong thought that he’d deserved an answer.
“You could have just told me though.”
Hyunjoong looked up to see the distant smile on those soft pink lips, and he smiled in irony. “Why? Do you think that if I’d just tell you like that, you’d change your mind?”
“No.” the answer surprised Hyunjoong, and the questioning look he had prompted a crooked smile and a hand on his cheek.
“Well, because… maybe I had in mind that immortality wouldn’t be that bad as long as you were with me?”
He didn’t know how that led to sensuality, impatience and a tumbling downwards into bed. But it did, and Hyunjoong, for the longest time, fell asleep with dreams filled with galaxies and stars, his eyes having been reopened to them again.
~*~
The dawn broke, and by habit, or perhaps hierarchy, Hyunjoong was the first to rise. And like usually, he blinked the bleary sleep out of his eyes, breathing in the air and surveying the day like a god would do. Like he always did.
But something was different today. A warmth on his stomach that had never been there before. And Hyunjoong looked down, blinking, to see soft skin, ethereal form and a mess of breathing red.
His hand reached out, like instinct, to curled around the sleeping form’s back, and a primal sense of pride and protectiveness rose out of him. Like a mother for her child. A protector for his lover.
“Well, because… maybe I had in mind that immortality wouldn’t be that bad as long as you were with me?”
A small smile crept across Hyunjoong’s lips. And for those who wouldn’t know him, they wouldn’t know it was a smile at all.
~*~