Redeeming Eden Chapter Twenty Three
Title: Redeeming Eden
Length: Chaptered
Rating: PG and growing
Pairings: YooSu, JaeHo, MinOther
Summary: Love, Hatred, Gratitude, Revenge. Is love worth all the pain they have to go through?
lmaii's creation
12th December
Nearing the peak season for skiing, Naeba was showing its popularity among locals and foreigners.
East Side Buffet Restaurant was bustling with a happy crowd early in the morning as Junki led the project group entourage towards their reserved seats.
There was no way that he could miss the face that had been in his mind all night, and Junsu made no attempt to hide the fact that he was captivated by the sight as he followed the rest of the men to the correct table.
Yet Yoochun never once glanced his way as he remained in his role of a businessman here with a purpose, discussing work with his subordinates who where seated around.
As luck would have it, their tables were in the same row, and the ex lovers sat diagonally across, allowing them to see each other with the slight turn of a head.
However, Junsu's effort was never reciprocated the entire morning and he found it harder with each passing second to hold in the running moisture in his eyes as he looked at the head of glossy black hair. I know I no longer deserve your attention. I can't blame you even if you would rather look out of the window than look at me.
The glare reflected from the slopes hurt but it was no competition for the pain in his heart if he did not look. Forcing himself to accept the little contentment that came with the picture on the pane of glass, Yoochun scrutinized every feature he could pick up of the other's reflection. Are my eyes wet? Or are those yours? What is it that can still drive you to tears when you see me? Don't you even want to see me anymore?
---
13th December
Temperatures have dropped below the usual average for the month and he was nearly frozen from the few forgotten hours spent immersed in his study of the area to be used for the project. The calculations for the necessary details totally occupied his mind as time and his body temperature was stolen away.
A detour to the restrooms cleared the snow from his shoes and part of the cold from his body.
Perhaps, Kim Junsu would have wished not to warm up, to still be frozen and to have his hearing and sight frozen senseless.
That name which only he used to call with such affection was now pronounced by a female voice.
"Yoochun-ah, where are we going? It's so cold out there, don't you want to stay indoors for a hot drink instead?" The past 2 months have gradually allowed the betrothed couple to grow in familiarity, and Kang Eunbi was able to move on to speaking without formalities.
Even though he took no notice of the change and did nothing to have her refrain from her present behavior, his attitude towards her spoke nothing of the relationship between them. Ignoring the words, Yoochun continued in the direction he was headed for.
Hidden from view in the passageway, the smaller male figure held a hand over his lips, trying to stop himself from crying out as he silently sobbed at the sight of the 2 persons who walked passed without noticing him, the female obediently following her soon-to-be fiance despite her dislike for the weather outside.
Yoochun-ah, looks like I can never call you like that again. And you have her to do that for you now...
---
Her mindless chatter and endless complains brought no irritation to him for he had pushed the young woman's existence out of his thoughts. He stepped out onto the frosted ground, offering no assistance to the one who had insisted on following.
Concentrating on the footsteps that had yet to fade into the falling snow, Yoochun traced the path that had just been created less than half an hour ago. He walked, placing his feet where the prints appeared. Finally coming to a stop where the other man had last stood before turning back, he halted, looking back at his own former step.
The shoe print was clearly outlined and yet within, a smaller set of a different sole pattern could be seen; the bigger picture on the outer circumference, as if holding the smaller one in an embrace to keep it safe.
Is that the only way that I can ever hold you again? When can I look at you straight and talk to you normally again? Su, baby, I don't know how long more I can go on like this, I really don't know.
---
14th December
His keen attention and tactful questioning brought Lee Minwoo to the conclusion that the younger man did not have a girlfriend. Whatsmore, nobody mentioned a boyfriend.
Therefore, armed with a heartload of confidence, the young executive was prepared for his confession of love to the Korean vet.
While waiting patiently for the other's arrival, he could not help feeling nervous, and then dismissed the uncalled for feeling with a sigh.
Junsu was surprised to find out that he was turning up for a drink alone with the man, as he expected the rest of the company's employees to have been invited as well.
Nevertheless, he took his place at the table, knowing that it would be inappropriate for him to leave now. "Sorry for being late, I guess I was too engrossed with the study of the details for the natural habitat."
Promptly waving a waiter over, Minwoo offered the drinks menu. "It's alright, I didn't wait long. What would you like to drink?"
"I'm fine with anything but I'm not really good at drinking, so.."
A light blush crept up the fair skin adding to the younger man's attractiveness, drawing him into a momentary daze before he broke back into reality. "Oh, in that case I'll just get us something light. If you don't mind, that is."
"Of course not."
The drinks had barely arrived before an emergency situation at the other end of the hotel was reported.
As the general manager, Minwoo had no choice but to leave with apologies, to attend to the matter.
Left at the table, Junsu was not frustrated by the turn of events but more relieved that he did not have to be alone with the older man whom he hardly knew.
A scan around Chatelaine Bar showed many tables occupied by courting couples who were enjoying each other's company in the cosy ambience.
He looked down at the ceramic bottle and cup on the table, memories of the previous day replaying in his mind. Remembering the sight of how Yoochun walked pass with Eunbi, the young woman's hands wrapped around his lower arm; the dread of spotting them among the happy couples became overwhelming and he bit down hard on his lower lip, fighting not to let the burning liquid blurring his vision spill out.
The ceramic cup was drained in one gulp and he refilled it without any hesitation.
---
Looking up from his blank perusal of the carpet flooring as the lift doors opened, the young businessman was his observant self as he instantly picked out the white figure huddled in the corner of the lift lobby.
Holding his head high and acting as if he had seen no one, Yoochun headed straight towards his suite.
It was unexpected for the younger man to have moved so fast but he was still a few steps to the correct door when his hand was grabbed by a cold pair.
"Chun-ah, can you just hold me for a while please?"
The glazed eyes, rosy cheeks and a hint of the fragrance of sake told him that the other was not sober.
He felt a tug in his heart, another surge of pain at the obvious unhappiness his beloved was living in.
Yoochun closed his arms around the smaller body, burying his face into the silky brown hair that he used to finger lovingly.
Inhaling the familiar scent of their once shared shampoo, he was reminded of the promise they made. Even if we were apart, our love would never end...
Pulling a short distance apart, he pressed his lips to the soft pink pair that waited.
Junsu returned the kiss fervently, parting his lips and slipping his tongue into the older man's mouth as soon as he found a chance to, wanting to give as much of himself as possible to the man he deeply loved.
They stayed tangled for a while, both drinking in what they could of each other. Their arms only tightened, never wanting to let go for as long as the flurry of strong emotions lasted.
But when the small left hand travelled to the nape of his neck, the absence of a band of precious metal drove a sudden coldness into Yoochun's heart.
Unlike how he had used to hold the sweet lips ransom till both of them were turning blue from lack of air, this stoppage came abruptly.
Breaking the kiss, he pulled down the collar of the white cashmere coat and bit down hard on the exposed pale skin.
The sudden delivery of a hurtful sensation seemed to have woken Junsu slightly as he shouted out in pain.
Backing the shocked figure against the wall, he trapped the other between his arms and closed in, forcing their faces to be less than an inch apart. "You must be lonely here without him. Is that why you came to me? Did I satisfy you with the kiss just now? You know what? I can offer you more, I can make you moan in estacy all night long. Do you want that?"
Dark brown orbs looked with disbelief at the face of the man that had just spoken. You don't mean that, you wouldn't say this, wouldn't do this to me..
Grabbing the ringless hand, the bigger man began to drag his 'victim' towards the door he was originally headed for.
Flustered from the force that threw him forward, Junsu began to bat at the hand that held his. When that proved useless, he lifted the joined limbs and sank his teeth into what he could.
This apparently bought him the freedom he needed in that situation, and he ran off into the opposite direction, warm drops from his eyes spotting the dark blue carpet that paved the corridor.
Yoochun remained where he stood, looking at the marks left on the back his hand. Baby, why are you running away from me again? Don't you want me anymore?
---
His eyes were dry by the time he reached the main lobby and his heart had nothing left that he could feel. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat was a process he could not care less for.
The previous encounter had crushed any last source of hope he subconsciously carried for the past few months.
When Minwoo came up to him, once again apologising for leaving him alone in the bar, all that he could register was a person trying to talk to him. It no longer mattered who was talking and what was being said.
"Minwoo-sshi, that cable car system you were telling us about, the Dragondola, is it still operating now?"
If the man was puzzled by the sudden change of subject, he did a perfect job of hiding it. "I'm afraid it is closed now. What brings your interest in it now?"
"I was just thinking that the stars were really beautiful tonight and how nice it would be to see them from the top of the mountain where I could be nearer to them. But I guess that's not possible now." Even as he turned around, the disappointment was clearly shown by the decline of his shoulders.
"Wait, Junsu-sshi. I know of a hidden pathway that I can bring us up using just a jet ski."
The small smile he got made the effort to please a miniscule price to pay.
---
There was no other source of illumination apart from the moonlight.
And that was sufficient for Minwoo to clearly see what he wanted to.
As the younger man looked up at the stars above, his eyes concentrated on dancing with the never ending sparkles and the pink petals of his lips formed a slight pout, as if pursing to kiss every diamond he found.
They stood, each quietly looking at what he wanted to.
Finally, sensing that the other might be tired from standing for such a long period of time on the cold ground, Minwoo broke the silence. "Junsu-sshi, I'm going to go back to the jet ski and get us something to sit on and rest our feet."
The smile carried a sincerity but it was still unsettling in an unexplained way. "Thank you."
Walking back up the slope from where they had to leave the jet ski due to landscape incompatibility, and in addition carrying the insulated mat, consumed much of the man's energy and slowed him down considerably.
But instead of panting from the exertion, he began to drink in the cold air in large gulps, hoping that the low temperature would awaken him from his deep slumber.
Unfortunately, Minwoo did not need to wake up as he had not fallen asleep.
The white cashmere coat and woollen scarf that laid in a heap on the ground became the biggest nightmare that ever happened to him.
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A/N:
1) Minwoo is a gentleman here. He was not lusting after Junsu and did not plan for anything bad when he brought Junsu up the mountain. He was really just attracted to Junsu and was trying to court the younger man.
2) Junsu didn't throw the ring away. Next chapter will reveal where he left it.
3) Yoochun has not accepted Kang Eunbi, he just can't be bothered to do anything about her. (All he can think of is Junsu, Junsu, Junsu...)
4) Junsu is lost in the snow mountains. It is about minus 6 degrees Celsius and about to snow soon... *runs away* Don't kill me!!!
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Lee Minwoo
Park Yoochun x Kim Junsu