[Fic] One Picture (1/3)
Title: One Picture
Genre: friendship, family, ot5
Rating: G
Summary: A random teenage foreigner was outside, screaming hysterically. Yoochun let his curiosity get the best of him, and it may or may not be a bad thing.
Part 1 ; Part 2
***English dialogue - “Hi.” ***
***Korean dialogue - “Hi.” ***
*
***
"Let me go! If you could just let me speak with one of them I would leave and never bother you again! Hey! Don't touch that! I’ll have you know that camera’s expensive!"
Yoochun stopped on his tracks, more so because of his curiosity about the screaming of an unknown male just outside the building, than the fact that the said male was fluently speaking (or screaming?) in the language that he was just recently being reacquainted with. He was just about to grab a soda from a vending machine in the lobby of the building of the new company he, Junsu and Jajeoong were currently affiliated with (the three desperately hoped they wouldn’t have anymore regrets with their decision. Heaven knows they’ve had enough legal drama to last them a lifetime) when he heard the hysterical screams of a male, joined by equally hysterical screams of a few females in Korean, and the shouting of security people presumably subduing the hysterical intruders.
Curious as to what the commotion was about (it is, after all, human instinct to be nosy, especially now since said hysterical screams weren’t being directed to him), he carefully treaded towards the entrance doors of the building and tentatively peeked outside.
Three security guards were holding back a foreign-looking, dark-haired, blue-eyed, sharp-featured teenager, probably around the age of eighteen. Behind them, a group of girls stood by, shouting at the guards to let go of the boy. One of the girls was arguing heatedly with the guards holding the boy, shouting the same thing. The guards didn't seem to be listening to her as they continued trying to subdue the boy who was trying his hardest to be let go.
"Look here!" cried the American teenager, desperate to make the men understand what he was trying to say. "I. Need. To. Speak. With. Dong Bang Shin Ki," he spoke slowly, although the volume of his voice was steadily rising in volume. "Dong Bang Shin Ki. Or JYJ. Preferably to Park Yoochun, or anybody who can understand English! Understand? I am not a stalker. I am not an anti. I just need to speak with them, not kill them or anything!"
The security just looked at him blankly as he spoke. When they heard the word 'kill,' however, they instantly redoubled their efforts in subduing him. They forced him to the ground (the boy gave an indignant squawk) and twisted his arm to his back.
"Hey! Hey, stop that!" the boy cried in protest, and the girls shrieked and started arguing louder to the guards. "Everybody just calm down, damn it! This is all a big misunderstanding!"
Now, Yoochun was a smart man. He may not be the most intelligent person in the world, and he may be more inclined to emotional outbursts than the regular guy, but living in America for two years of his formative growth had taught him a lot more about life than anything else. America had lessened the naivety he once possessed, and their current debacle with entertainment companies completely beat it out of his system. It made him a lot less trusting and more wary of others around him.
So he didn't know what exactly he was thinking when he stepped out of the double doors of the building and into the fray that was starting to attract a lot of attention from passersby.
"What's going on?" he asked, his tongue feeling a bit more used to speaking in English again since recording their first album as JYJ. He briefly wondered if he all the insanity with this American debut was finally messing with his head. What the heck was he doing, jumping into a crowd of potentially rabid/homicidal fans/anti-fans without even a fellow member that he could use as a shield for protection?
Everyone- the guards, the boy, the girls and even the audience froze as they saw him, and Yoochun almost wanted to recoil and scamper back inside the building.
Five seconds of unnerving complete silence later, the girls and the boy who was still being held down, broke into triumphant cheers.
***
He had managed to convince the guards to let go of the boy since the teenager genuinely didn’t look like a celebrity-assassin sent by SM or something, and confirmed that the girls were indeed Cassiopeia instead of homicidal anti-fans in disguise. As the guards went back to their post- some dissipating the unwanted audience, the girls immediately bounded up to Yoochun and thrust the American boy in front of him.
"Oppa! Yoochun oppa! There's something we need to tell you!"
"This guy, he's from America. He's been trying to find you, so we decided to help him."
Yoochun looked at the girls and then turned his eyes on the boy. He didn't look familiar, and the singer was seriously confused as to why his normally overprotective fans would just bring someone who he didn't know with just a single claim of needing to find him, especially now that thoughts of SM spies hell-bent on destroying them wasn’t really that hard to imagine. "But... I don't know this guy..." he started.
"But we do! Cassiopeia from all over the world knows him. We've been trying to help him meet you. He really needs your help!"
"Please talk to him, oppa! There's something he really needs to do."
Yoochun looked back to the boy who was looking at him with confused but hopeful eyes. It was the first time that Cassiopeia has actively requested something like this to him, and the request itself was strange. He wondered who the boy was, exactly, and why an American kid who didn't even look like a fan (a male American fan was a very hard concept to wrap his mind around to, despite their recent efforts of breaking into the US Market) would travel halfway around the world just to meet him, all the while managing to enlist the help of the world's most protective and possessive fan club.
"What does he need from me?" he asked.
"Just talk to him, oppa. We can go now to give you privacy, if you want."
"I'm busy right now," he started, and he noted the girls deflating in disappointment and the boy apprehensive, before perking up again when he added: "But I have time later... We can meet up in that café nearby in… say two hours? Is that alright?" he said the last part in English to the boy, who had a girl whispering to him, probably translating the conversation for him. Yoochun inwardly cursed himself for his curiosity as he waited for their answer. He really didn't want to find out first-hand if the boy really was an assassin in disguise.
Before the boy could get a word out, the girl right beside him enthusiastically answered for him. "Don't worry oppa! We'll take him there! Chincha kamsahamnida!"
The rest echoed a joyful: "Kamsahamnida!"
The boy cried along. "Yeah! What they said!"
***
He managed to wheedle out an hour break from recording. He also managed to drag their current manager with him, who was worried about the people he was about to meet. Yoochun would have dragged his two other members with him as well, but Junsu was currently at rehearsals with his new musical and Jaejoong was currently out of town for a visit. Besides, manager hyung was conveniently a taekwondo black belt and between the two of them, he was sure they could handle the foreign lanky teenager in case he really was a spy.
They entered the designated club at nine in the evening, donning face masks, sunglasses and hats which in actuality did nothing to hide his identity, but it was much better than walking on the streets bare-faced. Yoochun immediately spotted the boy from earlier, sitting on the more secluded area of the restaurant, surrounded by a three girls who were trying out the limitations of their English by animatedly talking to him. The blond boy looked comically confused but continued smiling and nodding anyway.
Soon, one of the girls noticed them (once again giving more credibility to his suspicion that Cassiopeia has a built-in seeking device that can locate anyone of them in a hundred meter radius), squealed as quietly as she could and alerted her companions. They stood up and started frantically waving at them.
Yoochun dragged his hyung to where the teenagers were situated. The girls offered their seats and waved goodbye and proceeded to a table far from them, giving them privacy. They also dragged his bewildered manager with them, assuring his safety: “Don’t worry. We won’t hurt him… too much.” He laughed at his manager’s horrified look and the girls’ grins. It was going to be an interrogation, he was pretty sure.
The teenager sitting across him fidgeted nervously.
"Uhm... Hi?" he gave an awkward wave.
Yoochun decided to take pity… except he didn’t know where to start. "...My name is Pa-- Yoochun Park,” he introduced himself, feeling lame and ill at ease.
"Oh... uhm... My name is Gabriel. From California, USA. Nice to meet you," the teenager started to reach out for a hand shake, before seemingly suddenly remembering something and bowed rather stiffly instead.
"I'm sorry but... who are you? The fans... our fans seems to know you... What d'you need from me? And how'd you get Cassiopeia into this?" Yoochun asked, suspicion leaking from his voice.
The teenager blinked at his tone, and then looked sheepish. "I... actually just asked for help. I never expected your fans to help me, but I'm thankful they did. I never would have come this far without them. And I swear, I don't mean any harm to you guys... I think I'd have long since been eviscerated by them if I did. Cassiopeia is legendary for that... not that I don't think they're sweet, because they are... That..." He cut himself off mid-ramble and cleared his throat.
Gabriel straightened up and started to explain. "Anyway, I registered in an English fan forum and posted a request there... I never actually thought they'd reply to me or anything... But they did. They even went their way to contact Korean Cassiopeia just to help me. And you won't believe this but they even purchased plane tickets for me. They really insisted that I accept it, so I did... And... uhm... yeah, here I am."
The boy fidgeted. "I shoul have explained from the beginning... I know this is a bit... bold of me... and sudden... but... I came here to ask a favor..."
"A favor? You came from halfway around the world just to ask a favor?" Yoochun asked in mild disbelief.
"Yeah."
There was silence. “Well, what is it?” Yoochun prompted, curiosity peeking out again.
Gabriel opened his mouth, and immediately closed it. He turned to his bag and rummaged for something. After several seconds, he procured a photo. He handed it to Yoochun.
It was a picture of two teenage boys. One of them-who he recognized as the teenager sitting across him-had his arms around the shoulders of an Asian boy, both of them grinning at the camera. The other boy was seated in a wheelchair, bald, pale, thin and worn out. Dark circles were evident in his eyes. But somehow, the blinding grin that the both boys were sporting lightened up the whole picture.
Yoochun was pretty sure he had never seen either boys in his life, but the picture beckoned him with some sort of familiarity. A brief image replaced the two boys in the photo-- a picture of five men grinning at the camera. A brief pang before he shook his head and turned his attention to the teenager in front of him who still was speaking.
"That's my best friend, Chris Lee. He's Korean... We've known each other since fifth grade, when his family migrated to the US. He's been a fan of you guys for years. Even went to a couple of your concerts in Japan and whatnot…"
Yoochun looked intently at the picture and came up with the only conclusion he could draw. "Is he …sick?"
Gabriel’s eyes became pained. "Yeah...”
“Ah.”
Gabriel continued, nervously playing with the hem of his sleeves. "About the favor… Actually… I just... One picture," the boy said. "Just one picture of Dong Bang Shin Ki, the five of you together. I want to take it for him."
Yoochun blinked. The kid travelled half-way around the world just to take one picture?
"...Why?" His mind went to the thousands of pictures one could find in the internet.
Gabriel hesitated before braving on. "Chris once told me... long ago... how he'd love me to take a picture of you five... You see, I’m an amateur photographer. I know it's a little thing, and I’m probably in over my head for asking you this, but I know it will make him really happy. He-he doesn’t have much time left. I’m… this is the last of his bucket list. He doesn’t even know I’m here for this. He thinks I won a free trip from a photography contest, and I would really really appreciate this if you-”
Yoochun shook his head, smiling bitterly. "You do know that there were…happenings… that happened that might make that imposs--"
"Please!" the blond teenager begged. "I just need one picture... That's not impossible, is it?"
"But--"
"It would only take a couple of minutes!" Gabriel cried, eyes wildly frantic. "Less than that, even! I know there’ve been issues about the lawsuit, and I’m not even sure if you’re on speaking terms with each other… but just one picture won't hurt, right? Just stand together and I click the camera, and you're done! You don't even have to talk to each other if you don't want to, though I would appreciate it if you do smile... Please help me, Mr. Park, sir!"
Yoochun stared at the teenager for a long time. Gabriel stared back with desperate eyes.
"... Just one picture…He’s like my brother... It’s the only thing I can give…"
All resistance crumbled at the word "brother."
Finally, he sighed and reached for his phone. Opening it and browsing for a very familiar number, he pressed call and waited for the other line to pick up while he looked at the teenager who had confused, nervous, and hopeful all rolled into one look.
"Jaejoong-hyung... are you busy tonight?"
***
The elder man was just as confused as him when he had told him what had happened that afternoon.
"What should we do?"
Jaejoong sighed and leaned onto the railings of his apartment’s balcony. All three of them convened at his place every other weekend for male-bonding (or, as Hyunjoong had called it, getting drunk except for Junsu who refuses to be more than tipsy, the prude). Yoochun had called earlier and said that they needed to talk. He didn’t know what to think of the kid that the younger man was talking about.
“It's either we ignore the kid or find a way to rope in Yunho and Changmin.”
Yoochun leaned on the railings beside him. “Swimming to Japan would be easier.”
“Are you sure he was telling the truth? Not some scam or something?” Junsu asked, resting his exhausted self to the lounge that was just beside the door of the balcony. He had just finished his rehearsals for his up and coming musical, and had reluctantly agreed to meet the older males instead of collapsing to the nearest bed he could find. He had another rehearsal for the next day, but thankfully it starts a little later than the break of dawn. He didn’t think too much of it. They’d all been through much more grueling schedules.
“I don't think so... Cassiopeia seems to be backing him up and you know how they turn into CIA agents when it concerns us... I don't think they'd be desperate enough to hire some kid from America just as a ruse to bring the group together again,” Yoochun answered.
“I’m tempted to say no... Flying half-way around the world just to take a picture-sounds straight from a drama. But if he was telling the truth...” Junsu sighed.
“So, assuming that the kid is genuine...” Jaejoong started. “Do we ignore him and his friend's dying wish and continue on with our overworked, complicated tangled lives or do we go through the needle's eye to talk to people who we haven’t spoken to for more than a year and--- damn it, we're gonna do this, aren't we?”
Yoochun shrugged helplessly.
“Well, damn,” Junsu sighed for the tenth time. If his uncharacteristic cursing drew raised eyebrows from the other two, he either ignored them or didn’t notice. Junsu had been a lot more quiet and distant these past few weeks for some reason or the other. The other two decided to wisely give him a bit more time to his thoughts.
“What are we going to do? We can’t even contact them,” Yoochun asked.
Jaejoong stared at the can of beer at his hands. “Listen… I’ve been thinking. I have an idea… and this looks like the right time to act on it.”
***
“Please help us, Sunhee-noona. We need to talk to him.”
“I don’t know... I want to help you, Jaejoong-shi, but I don't want to get in trouble with the company either if they somehow got wind of this...” the coordinoona he was calling sounded reluctant and cautious.
“... I understand...” Disappointment and relief colored his tone.
“How important is this? If I find a way to let him talk to you, are you sure you're not gonna end up in a shouting match or worse, a fist fight?”
“A fist fight over the phone?”
The woman snorted. “I still remember Summer '09, Jaejoong. I was there during The Phone-call.”
Jaejoong winced, feeling phantom pains over his ribs. The Phone-call that started it all. Or maybe ended it all. They were used to answering each other's phones that he didn't think much of it when Yunho answered his, and then realized what a mistake it was when he found out it was the lawyer they've been consulting with on the other line. The truth came spilling out. He and Yunho occasionally butted heads before, but that was one fight where actual fists came flying all over the place, both of them narrowly managing to avoid hitting faces or anywhere that couldn't be hidden by clothes. Yoochun and Junsu had to physically separate them to opposite ends of the room. Changmin had been stricken to silence; Yoochun’s attempt to talk sense into them was ignored; Junsu was on the verge of tears; while the two eldest were spitting words and curses and other things at each other and Jaejoong wished he could take them all back now. His ribs were so sore, he couldn't sing properly for weeks.
“It's not about the lawsuit mess, noona,” he replied, shoving away memories that still sent his stomach churning. “We're not on the same page, we've already established that. This is about a different matter, one I'm sure is not gonna end up in a bigger mess... hopefully.”
“I don’t know...”
“If you have to know, it's a matter of life and death...” It wasn’t a lie, Jaejoong firmly told himself.
“…Oh, alright. He's here in the building right now. I'm going to call him outside in ten minutes-- too many eyes and ears inside... Make sure you call me then, and I'll pass him the phone. Got it?”
***
Yunho stared at nothing in particular, clutching the phone to his ear. He barely noticed the coordinoona mouthing to him that she'd be back later. "Good luck!"
The cold war that had started between all of them had been going on for months and months. SM had a lot to do with the lack (or nonexistence) of communication, but he and Changmin decided that no contact would probably be better than making a bigger mess and disaster. He didn't know about the other three, but he had not received calls or messages that he knew of, so maybe they reached the same decision. Then again, the company might have been screening his phone and blocking them. You never know.
And now all the backlash about their TVXQ comeback just complicated things a bit more.
He was tempted to refuse. He was tempted to just hang up. Leave them in air.
Just like what they did…
"Just please listen..."
But as usual, he was unable to refuse Jaejoong’s pleading. It was a weakness the slightly older man used to take advantage of, whether it was to skip his chores or borrow his clothes and not return them or - No, don’t go there.
And so he listened; ignoring their current situation and the tension between their clashing parties. And then he found himself giving in. A sick kid and a friend doing his best to give him his last wish... It sounded like it came from a drama, but if even Cassiopeia made their way to help him... Of course, there was a possibility that Jaejoong could be lying, but even with their shaky relationship right now Yunho doubted the older man would actually concoct this tragic lie just to talk to him.
Besides, Jaejoong had never really ever been a good liar. It's what got the older man in trouble lots of times. He couldn't keep his opinions to himself even if his life depended on it... even if Yunho depended on it... Even if five-years' worth of sweat and blood and tears depended on it.
So if Jaejoong wasn’t lying, it could only be true; or at least Jaejoong believes it true. And if it really is true, then…
Two things he has never been in his life were heartless and cruel.
It was just a picture, right? No problems with that, right? What's so difficult about it? They've done countless photo shoots, videos; the camera was practically their lives. What does one picture-taken by an amateur photographer- differ?
"Alright," he found himself saying. "Alright..."
He heard a relieved sigh from the other line, before the voice became tense once again. "Changmin..."
"You haven't talked to him."
He could imagine the slightly older man bite his lip. "How can I? I just barely managed to call you."
He bit off the acidic retort right at the tip of his tongue. He sighed. "I'll talk to him."
***
He gave the younger man, who was currently in Japan doing another photo shoot, a call later that night. Changmin had surprisingly agreed.
"Okay."
"…Okay?" Yunho asked, clutching the phone to his ears in slight disbelief. He had expected doubt, or anger, or maybe cold silence from the younger man. He never thought he could be convinced this easily.
"Yeah. Okay, I'll come. I'll probably regret this in the morning, but yeah. Whatever."
"...I take it you're drunk."
Changmin chuckled. A humorless, sardonic chuckle that was nothing like the taunting but genuine cackle that had been loved by fans all over the world. No matter how much it annoyed him in the past, Yunho kind of missed hearing it, just like he missed the younger man’s mismatched eyes and smug smirk.
"No. Just…” the younger man sighed. “I’m really tired. Haven’t really slept for two days, so ‘m probably not thinking straight... Plus, I'm curious."
"Curious?"
"Yeah. Curious about this kid. And curious about…” --sigh-- “My flight leaves in two hours. I'll see you tomorrow, hyung."
"Yeah. Be safe. Goodnight."
***
Within a week, somehow, they had agreed on one place. Somehow they were all given time off (which was a miracle in Yunho and Changmin’s case). And somehow they managed to do it without anyone outside their group and trusted co-workers knowing any better. The few dancers and the coordi-noonas that surreptitiously helped them thumb SM under the nose remembered the five of them with more fondness that they ever thought.
Yoochun was kind of touched. Manager hyung even volunteered to referee if ever a fight breaks out.
Gabriel was almost jumping in relief and excitement when Yoochun had informed him through phone. The singer asked to keep the meeting as discreet as possible, and the photographer earnestly agreed and thanked him profusely, tears of sheer gratitude in his eyes visible that Yoochun kind of wanted to turn away.
Later that night, he lay in his bed, awake and restless. A text from Jaejoong proved that the older man couldn’t sleep either. He didn’t need to call Junsu to know that the man was awake, too. He wondered if the two felt as anxious as he did. He wondered if his two former band members were feeling the same, too.
He buried his face in his pillow and tried to court sleep. Whether or not their minds were on the same thing for the first time in a long time, they’ll see tomorrow
***
*
AN: I had to do it. I had to post this or else it will sit in my u-drive for another year and then another and then another until it never sees the day of light again. At least now, I'd be pressured to finish the other half of this if I want to update Choices, which I hope to finish some time before May ends...
Oh, and I'll be turning twenty in a week or so (man, I feel old) which just plain sucks because I'm supposed to attend this big clinical thing that is very important to my grade. Speaking of that, I have two papers due this Friday that I haven't finished yet... Dang you, nursing school! *shakes fist*
Gabriel and Chris are mine, btw. Reviews and constructive criticisms are welcome. Thanks.
Genre: friendship, family, ot5
Rating: G
Summary: A random teenage foreigner was outside, screaming hysterically. Yoochun let his curiosity get the best of him, and it may or may not be a bad thing.
Part 1 ; Part 2
***English dialogue - “Hi.” ***
***Korean dialogue - “Hi.” ***
*
***
"Let me go! If you could just let me speak with one of them I would leave and never bother you again! Hey! Don't touch that! I’ll have you know that camera’s expensive!"
Yoochun stopped on his tracks, more so because of his curiosity about the screaming of an unknown male just outside the building, than the fact that the said male was fluently speaking (or screaming?) in the language that he was just recently being reacquainted with. He was just about to grab a soda from a vending machine in the lobby of the building of the new company he, Junsu and Jajeoong were currently affiliated with (the three desperately hoped they wouldn’t have anymore regrets with their decision. Heaven knows they’ve had enough legal drama to last them a lifetime) when he heard the hysterical screams of a male, joined by equally hysterical screams of a few females in Korean, and the shouting of security people presumably subduing the hysterical intruders.
Curious as to what the commotion was about (it is, after all, human instinct to be nosy, especially now since said hysterical screams weren’t being directed to him), he carefully treaded towards the entrance doors of the building and tentatively peeked outside.
Three security guards were holding back a foreign-looking, dark-haired, blue-eyed, sharp-featured teenager, probably around the age of eighteen. Behind them, a group of girls stood by, shouting at the guards to let go of the boy. One of the girls was arguing heatedly with the guards holding the boy, shouting the same thing. The guards didn't seem to be listening to her as they continued trying to subdue the boy who was trying his hardest to be let go.
"Look here!" cried the American teenager, desperate to make the men understand what he was trying to say. "I. Need. To. Speak. With. Dong Bang Shin Ki," he spoke slowly, although the volume of his voice was steadily rising in volume. "Dong Bang Shin Ki. Or JYJ. Preferably to Park Yoochun, or anybody who can understand English! Understand? I am not a stalker. I am not an anti. I just need to speak with them, not kill them or anything!"
The security just looked at him blankly as he spoke. When they heard the word 'kill,' however, they instantly redoubled their efforts in subduing him. They forced him to the ground (the boy gave an indignant squawk) and twisted his arm to his back.
"Hey! Hey, stop that!" the boy cried in protest, and the girls shrieked and started arguing louder to the guards. "Everybody just calm down, damn it! This is all a big misunderstanding!"
Now, Yoochun was a smart man. He may not be the most intelligent person in the world, and he may be more inclined to emotional outbursts than the regular guy, but living in America for two years of his formative growth had taught him a lot more about life than anything else. America had lessened the naivety he once possessed, and their current debacle with entertainment companies completely beat it out of his system. It made him a lot less trusting and more wary of others around him.
So he didn't know what exactly he was thinking when he stepped out of the double doors of the building and into the fray that was starting to attract a lot of attention from passersby.
"What's going on?" he asked, his tongue feeling a bit more used to speaking in English again since recording their first album as JYJ. He briefly wondered if he all the insanity with this American debut was finally messing with his head. What the heck was he doing, jumping into a crowd of potentially rabid/homicidal fans/anti-fans without even a fellow member that he could use as a shield for protection?
Everyone- the guards, the boy, the girls and even the audience froze as they saw him, and Yoochun almost wanted to recoil and scamper back inside the building.
Five seconds of unnerving complete silence later, the girls and the boy who was still being held down, broke into triumphant cheers.
***
He had managed to convince the guards to let go of the boy since the teenager genuinely didn’t look like a celebrity-assassin sent by SM or something, and confirmed that the girls were indeed Cassiopeia instead of homicidal anti-fans in disguise. As the guards went back to their post- some dissipating the unwanted audience, the girls immediately bounded up to Yoochun and thrust the American boy in front of him.
"Oppa! Yoochun oppa! There's something we need to tell you!"
"This guy, he's from America. He's been trying to find you, so we decided to help him."
Yoochun looked at the girls and then turned his eyes on the boy. He didn't look familiar, and the singer was seriously confused as to why his normally overprotective fans would just bring someone who he didn't know with just a single claim of needing to find him, especially now that thoughts of SM spies hell-bent on destroying them wasn’t really that hard to imagine. "But... I don't know this guy..." he started.
"But we do! Cassiopeia from all over the world knows him. We've been trying to help him meet you. He really needs your help!"
"Please talk to him, oppa! There's something he really needs to do."
Yoochun looked back to the boy who was looking at him with confused but hopeful eyes. It was the first time that Cassiopeia has actively requested something like this to him, and the request itself was strange. He wondered who the boy was, exactly, and why an American kid who didn't even look like a fan (a male American fan was a very hard concept to wrap his mind around to, despite their recent efforts of breaking into the US Market) would travel halfway around the world just to meet him, all the while managing to enlist the help of the world's most protective and possessive fan club.
"What does he need from me?" he asked.
"Just talk to him, oppa. We can go now to give you privacy, if you want."
"I'm busy right now," he started, and he noted the girls deflating in disappointment and the boy apprehensive, before perking up again when he added: "But I have time later... We can meet up in that café nearby in… say two hours? Is that alright?" he said the last part in English to the boy, who had a girl whispering to him, probably translating the conversation for him. Yoochun inwardly cursed himself for his curiosity as he waited for their answer. He really didn't want to find out first-hand if the boy really was an assassin in disguise.
Before the boy could get a word out, the girl right beside him enthusiastically answered for him. "Don't worry oppa! We'll take him there! Chincha kamsahamnida!"
The rest echoed a joyful: "Kamsahamnida!"
The boy cried along. "Yeah! What they said!"
***
He managed to wheedle out an hour break from recording. He also managed to drag their current manager with him, who was worried about the people he was about to meet. Yoochun would have dragged his two other members with him as well, but Junsu was currently at rehearsals with his new musical and Jaejoong was currently out of town for a visit. Besides, manager hyung was conveniently a taekwondo black belt and between the two of them, he was sure they could handle the foreign lanky teenager in case he really was a spy.
They entered the designated club at nine in the evening, donning face masks, sunglasses and hats which in actuality did nothing to hide his identity, but it was much better than walking on the streets bare-faced. Yoochun immediately spotted the boy from earlier, sitting on the more secluded area of the restaurant, surrounded by a three girls who were trying out the limitations of their English by animatedly talking to him. The blond boy looked comically confused but continued smiling and nodding anyway.
Soon, one of the girls noticed them (once again giving more credibility to his suspicion that Cassiopeia has a built-in seeking device that can locate anyone of them in a hundred meter radius), squealed as quietly as she could and alerted her companions. They stood up and started frantically waving at them.
Yoochun dragged his hyung to where the teenagers were situated. The girls offered their seats and waved goodbye and proceeded to a table far from them, giving them privacy. They also dragged his bewildered manager with them, assuring his safety: “Don’t worry. We won’t hurt him… too much.” He laughed at his manager’s horrified look and the girls’ grins. It was going to be an interrogation, he was pretty sure.
The teenager sitting across him fidgeted nervously.
"Uhm... Hi?" he gave an awkward wave.
Yoochun decided to take pity… except he didn’t know where to start. "...My name is Pa-- Yoochun Park,” he introduced himself, feeling lame and ill at ease.
"Oh... uhm... My name is Gabriel. From California, USA. Nice to meet you," the teenager started to reach out for a hand shake, before seemingly suddenly remembering something and bowed rather stiffly instead.
"I'm sorry but... who are you? The fans... our fans seems to know you... What d'you need from me? And how'd you get Cassiopeia into this?" Yoochun asked, suspicion leaking from his voice.
The teenager blinked at his tone, and then looked sheepish. "I... actually just asked for help. I never expected your fans to help me, but I'm thankful they did. I never would have come this far without them. And I swear, I don't mean any harm to you guys... I think I'd have long since been eviscerated by them if I did. Cassiopeia is legendary for that... not that I don't think they're sweet, because they are... That..." He cut himself off mid-ramble and cleared his throat.
Gabriel straightened up and started to explain. "Anyway, I registered in an English fan forum and posted a request there... I never actually thought they'd reply to me or anything... But they did. They even went their way to contact Korean Cassiopeia just to help me. And you won't believe this but they even purchased plane tickets for me. They really insisted that I accept it, so I did... And... uhm... yeah, here I am."
The boy fidgeted. "I shoul have explained from the beginning... I know this is a bit... bold of me... and sudden... but... I came here to ask a favor..."
"A favor? You came from halfway around the world just to ask a favor?" Yoochun asked in mild disbelief.
"Yeah."
There was silence. “Well, what is it?” Yoochun prompted, curiosity peeking out again.
Gabriel opened his mouth, and immediately closed it. He turned to his bag and rummaged for something. After several seconds, he procured a photo. He handed it to Yoochun.
It was a picture of two teenage boys. One of them-who he recognized as the teenager sitting across him-had his arms around the shoulders of an Asian boy, both of them grinning at the camera. The other boy was seated in a wheelchair, bald, pale, thin and worn out. Dark circles were evident in his eyes. But somehow, the blinding grin that the both boys were sporting lightened up the whole picture.
Yoochun was pretty sure he had never seen either boys in his life, but the picture beckoned him with some sort of familiarity. A brief image replaced the two boys in the photo-- a picture of five men grinning at the camera. A brief pang before he shook his head and turned his attention to the teenager in front of him who still was speaking.
"That's my best friend, Chris Lee. He's Korean... We've known each other since fifth grade, when his family migrated to the US. He's been a fan of you guys for years. Even went to a couple of your concerts in Japan and whatnot…"
Yoochun looked intently at the picture and came up with the only conclusion he could draw. "Is he …sick?"
Gabriel’s eyes became pained. "Yeah...”
“Ah.”
Gabriel continued, nervously playing with the hem of his sleeves. "About the favor… Actually… I just... One picture," the boy said. "Just one picture of Dong Bang Shin Ki, the five of you together. I want to take it for him."
Yoochun blinked. The kid travelled half-way around the world just to take one picture?
"...Why?" His mind went to the thousands of pictures one could find in the internet.
Gabriel hesitated before braving on. "Chris once told me... long ago... how he'd love me to take a picture of you five... You see, I’m an amateur photographer. I know it's a little thing, and I’m probably in over my head for asking you this, but I know it will make him really happy. He-he doesn’t have much time left. I’m… this is the last of his bucket list. He doesn’t even know I’m here for this. He thinks I won a free trip from a photography contest, and I would really really appreciate this if you-”
Yoochun shook his head, smiling bitterly. "You do know that there were…happenings… that happened that might make that imposs--"
"Please!" the blond teenager begged. "I just need one picture... That's not impossible, is it?"
"But--"
"It would only take a couple of minutes!" Gabriel cried, eyes wildly frantic. "Less than that, even! I know there’ve been issues about the lawsuit, and I’m not even sure if you’re on speaking terms with each other… but just one picture won't hurt, right? Just stand together and I click the camera, and you're done! You don't even have to talk to each other if you don't want to, though I would appreciate it if you do smile... Please help me, Mr. Park, sir!"
Yoochun stared at the teenager for a long time. Gabriel stared back with desperate eyes.
"... Just one picture…He’s like my brother... It’s the only thing I can give…"
All resistance crumbled at the word "brother."
Finally, he sighed and reached for his phone. Opening it and browsing for a very familiar number, he pressed call and waited for the other line to pick up while he looked at the teenager who had confused, nervous, and hopeful all rolled into one look.
"Jaejoong-hyung... are you busy tonight?"
***
The elder man was just as confused as him when he had told him what had happened that afternoon.
"What should we do?"
Jaejoong sighed and leaned onto the railings of his apartment’s balcony. All three of them convened at his place every other weekend for male-bonding (or, as Hyunjoong had called it, getting drunk except for Junsu who refuses to be more than tipsy, the prude). Yoochun had called earlier and said that they needed to talk. He didn’t know what to think of the kid that the younger man was talking about.
“It's either we ignore the kid or find a way to rope in Yunho and Changmin.”
Yoochun leaned on the railings beside him. “Swimming to Japan would be easier.”
“Are you sure he was telling the truth? Not some scam or something?” Junsu asked, resting his exhausted self to the lounge that was just beside the door of the balcony. He had just finished his rehearsals for his up and coming musical, and had reluctantly agreed to meet the older males instead of collapsing to the nearest bed he could find. He had another rehearsal for the next day, but thankfully it starts a little later than the break of dawn. He didn’t think too much of it. They’d all been through much more grueling schedules.
“I don't think so... Cassiopeia seems to be backing him up and you know how they turn into CIA agents when it concerns us... I don't think they'd be desperate enough to hire some kid from America just as a ruse to bring the group together again,” Yoochun answered.
“I’m tempted to say no... Flying half-way around the world just to take a picture-sounds straight from a drama. But if he was telling the truth...” Junsu sighed.
“So, assuming that the kid is genuine...” Jaejoong started. “Do we ignore him and his friend's dying wish and continue on with our overworked, complicated tangled lives or do we go through the needle's eye to talk to people who we haven’t spoken to for more than a year and--- damn it, we're gonna do this, aren't we?”
Yoochun shrugged helplessly.
“Well, damn,” Junsu sighed for the tenth time. If his uncharacteristic cursing drew raised eyebrows from the other two, he either ignored them or didn’t notice. Junsu had been a lot more quiet and distant these past few weeks for some reason or the other. The other two decided to wisely give him a bit more time to his thoughts.
“What are we going to do? We can’t even contact them,” Yoochun asked.
Jaejoong stared at the can of beer at his hands. “Listen… I’ve been thinking. I have an idea… and this looks like the right time to act on it.”
***
“Please help us, Sunhee-noona. We need to talk to him.”
“I don’t know... I want to help you, Jaejoong-shi, but I don't want to get in trouble with the company either if they somehow got wind of this...” the coordinoona he was calling sounded reluctant and cautious.
“... I understand...” Disappointment and relief colored his tone.
“How important is this? If I find a way to let him talk to you, are you sure you're not gonna end up in a shouting match or worse, a fist fight?”
“A fist fight over the phone?”
The woman snorted. “I still remember Summer '09, Jaejoong. I was there during The Phone-call.”
Jaejoong winced, feeling phantom pains over his ribs. The Phone-call that started it all. Or maybe ended it all. They were used to answering each other's phones that he didn't think much of it when Yunho answered his, and then realized what a mistake it was when he found out it was the lawyer they've been consulting with on the other line. The truth came spilling out. He and Yunho occasionally butted heads before, but that was one fight where actual fists came flying all over the place, both of them narrowly managing to avoid hitting faces or anywhere that couldn't be hidden by clothes. Yoochun and Junsu had to physically separate them to opposite ends of the room. Changmin had been stricken to silence; Yoochun’s attempt to talk sense into them was ignored; Junsu was on the verge of tears; while the two eldest were spitting words and curses and other things at each other and Jaejoong wished he could take them all back now. His ribs were so sore, he couldn't sing properly for weeks.
“It's not about the lawsuit mess, noona,” he replied, shoving away memories that still sent his stomach churning. “We're not on the same page, we've already established that. This is about a different matter, one I'm sure is not gonna end up in a bigger mess... hopefully.”
“I don’t know...”
“If you have to know, it's a matter of life and death...” It wasn’t a lie, Jaejoong firmly told himself.
“…Oh, alright. He's here in the building right now. I'm going to call him outside in ten minutes-- too many eyes and ears inside... Make sure you call me then, and I'll pass him the phone. Got it?”
***
Yunho stared at nothing in particular, clutching the phone to his ear. He barely noticed the coordinoona mouthing to him that she'd be back later. "Good luck!"
The cold war that had started between all of them had been going on for months and months. SM had a lot to do with the lack (or nonexistence) of communication, but he and Changmin decided that no contact would probably be better than making a bigger mess and disaster. He didn't know about the other three, but he had not received calls or messages that he knew of, so maybe they reached the same decision. Then again, the company might have been screening his phone and blocking them. You never know.
And now all the backlash about their TVXQ comeback just complicated things a bit more.
He was tempted to refuse. He was tempted to just hang up. Leave them in air.
Just like what they did…
"Just please listen..."
But as usual, he was unable to refuse Jaejoong’s pleading. It was a weakness the slightly older man used to take advantage of, whether it was to skip his chores or borrow his clothes and not return them or - No, don’t go there.
And so he listened; ignoring their current situation and the tension between their clashing parties. And then he found himself giving in. A sick kid and a friend doing his best to give him his last wish... It sounded like it came from a drama, but if even Cassiopeia made their way to help him... Of course, there was a possibility that Jaejoong could be lying, but even with their shaky relationship right now Yunho doubted the older man would actually concoct this tragic lie just to talk to him.
Besides, Jaejoong had never really ever been a good liar. It's what got the older man in trouble lots of times. He couldn't keep his opinions to himself even if his life depended on it... even if Yunho depended on it... Even if five-years' worth of sweat and blood and tears depended on it.
So if Jaejoong wasn’t lying, it could only be true; or at least Jaejoong believes it true. And if it really is true, then…
Two things he has never been in his life were heartless and cruel.
It was just a picture, right? No problems with that, right? What's so difficult about it? They've done countless photo shoots, videos; the camera was practically their lives. What does one picture-taken by an amateur photographer- differ?
"Alright," he found himself saying. "Alright..."
He heard a relieved sigh from the other line, before the voice became tense once again. "Changmin..."
"You haven't talked to him."
He could imagine the slightly older man bite his lip. "How can I? I just barely managed to call you."
He bit off the acidic retort right at the tip of his tongue. He sighed. "I'll talk to him."
***
He gave the younger man, who was currently in Japan doing another photo shoot, a call later that night. Changmin had surprisingly agreed.
"Okay."
"…Okay?" Yunho asked, clutching the phone to his ears in slight disbelief. He had expected doubt, or anger, or maybe cold silence from the younger man. He never thought he could be convinced this easily.
"Yeah. Okay, I'll come. I'll probably regret this in the morning, but yeah. Whatever."
"...I take it you're drunk."
Changmin chuckled. A humorless, sardonic chuckle that was nothing like the taunting but genuine cackle that had been loved by fans all over the world. No matter how much it annoyed him in the past, Yunho kind of missed hearing it, just like he missed the younger man’s mismatched eyes and smug smirk.
"No. Just…” the younger man sighed. “I’m really tired. Haven’t really slept for two days, so ‘m probably not thinking straight... Plus, I'm curious."
"Curious?"
"Yeah. Curious about this kid. And curious about…” --sigh-- “My flight leaves in two hours. I'll see you tomorrow, hyung."
"Yeah. Be safe. Goodnight."
***
Within a week, somehow, they had agreed on one place. Somehow they were all given time off (which was a miracle in Yunho and Changmin’s case). And somehow they managed to do it without anyone outside their group and trusted co-workers knowing any better. The few dancers and the coordi-noonas that surreptitiously helped them thumb SM under the nose remembered the five of them with more fondness that they ever thought.
Yoochun was kind of touched. Manager hyung even volunteered to referee if ever a fight breaks out.
Gabriel was almost jumping in relief and excitement when Yoochun had informed him through phone. The singer asked to keep the meeting as discreet as possible, and the photographer earnestly agreed and thanked him profusely, tears of sheer gratitude in his eyes visible that Yoochun kind of wanted to turn away.
Later that night, he lay in his bed, awake and restless. A text from Jaejoong proved that the older man couldn’t sleep either. He didn’t need to call Junsu to know that the man was awake, too. He wondered if the two felt as anxious as he did. He wondered if his two former band members were feeling the same, too.
He buried his face in his pillow and tried to court sleep. Whether or not their minds were on the same thing for the first time in a long time, they’ll see tomorrow
***
*
AN: I had to do it. I had to post this or else it will sit in my u-drive for another year and then another and then another until it never sees the day of light again. At least now, I'd be pressured to finish the other half of this if I want to update Choices, which I hope to finish some time before May ends...
Oh, and I'll be turning twenty in a week or so (man, I feel old) which just plain sucks because I'm supposed to attend this big clinical thing that is very important to my grade. Speaking of that, I have two papers due this Friday that I haven't finished yet... Dang you, nursing school! *shakes fist*
Gabriel and Chris are mine, btw. Reviews and constructive criticisms are welcome. Thanks.