THE LAST NOTE: STARS AND FIREWORKS
Title: The Last Note
Genre: Romance {Yaoi}, Drama.
Characters: Yoochun, Junsu, Changmin.
Pairing: Yoochun & Junsu
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis: Yoochun is a twenty year old university student whose father owns his school. Being the richest and the best looking, his pursuers compete to beat the number of stars in the sky. However, things change when his popularity starts to decrease significantly one day, and the man finds himself both shocked and jealous.
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7: Stars and Fireworks
Before Yoochun could agree, a voice behind them sent shudders down his spine.
“Hi, I’m Yoona.”
Yoochun turned around and saw an outstretched arm. It was the same girl who had been staring at him whole afternoon.
Ignoring the hand that was offered to him, he asked with an apparent irritation, “Yes?”
“Could I have the honour of treating you to dinner?” She asked as she retracted her hand embarrassedly.
It wasn't rare for Yoochun to be recieving treats, and most of the time he'd just smile and accept them graciously. Those offers only proved him to be popular everywhere he went, and that pleased him much. Unfortunately, sorry for the pretty girl, but Yoochun was alone with Junsu today. And he was definitely not going to ruin his own date by exchanging his gorgeous crush for some stranger.
“Sorry, I already have a date.” Yoochun wrapped his arm around Junsu’s shoulders, pulling him closer to imply what he meant, and making the smaller boy blush unintentionally. The girl grimaced at the scene of the two men, before replacing the scowl with another grin.
“Alright. Will you mind if I join you two?”
The girl’s boldness was getting on Yoochun’s nerves. Releasing the grit in his teeth, he yelled, “YES.”
He then gruffly grabbed Junsu, who released a soft squeak, and dashed towards the exit.
“Maybe I can have your number?” The girl shouted after them but Yoochun couldn’t care less. He had wasted nearly one minute on some outsider who was spoiling his perfect day with Junsu.
Stepping out of the stadium, Yoochun’s joy returned as they were finally alone again. He freed Junsu in relief, only to set eyes on faint red marks on the latter's arm. Guilt crawled into him as he cursed himself for having been so rough with Junsu, subconsciously bringing a thumb to caress the offended area.
Junsu felt it and flinched in surprise. But he soon composed himself and watched Yoochun try to stroke the red prints away. Yoochun's touches were amazingly gentle - a sight of him that Junsu had not seen before.
“Junsu, dinner?”
Junsu snapped out of his daze and turned to look at Yoochun. “Huh? Oh, uh.”
“Let me bring you to my favourite restaurant,” Yoochun grinned as he opened the door for Junsu.
Junsu stared at the black Porsche Limousine in awe. He’d heard about it and all but never had he seen one in his entire life, let alone sit in it. He entered the car carefully, as though a wrong move could send the whole vehicle crumbling down.
“Do you go everywhere in this car?” Junsu asked, looking around the interior of the grand carriage. .
“Of course not,” Yoochun replied. For a second, Junsu was relieved to hear that. However the man continued, “I only use this around Seoul. If I have to go other states or countries, I would use my private jet. This car would take too long.”
Gawking at Yoochun, Junsu thought to himself, “Wow, he’s freaking rich. No wonder I’ve never seen him in the same shirt twice.” He then gasped upon realizaion on how much attention he had given Yoochun, to even studying what the student had been wearing.
“You’re pretty good on the piano,” Junsu said, changing the subject quickly. A scene of Yoochun playing the piano beside him flashed past his mind.
Yoochun looked up, surprised by the random comment, “No one ever told me that.”
“Really? What do they say?”
“They ask me if I’m going to take over my dad’s business when I graduate.”
“I’m not interested in that.”
Yoochun smiled. He liked Junsu’s reply. Junsu plainly did not heed his background, wealth or whatever.
Time ran while they engrossed in their conversation. It was also that Yoochun realised Junsu was a very innocent person, his mind simple and his heart pure.
When they reached the restaurant, Yoochun hastily stepped down the car and opened the door for Junsu, surprising the chauffeur who was about to do it and even Junsu himself.
“This place looks expensive,” Junsu stopped before the entrance, peeking inside the grand looking eatery.
“Don’t worry. This restaurant is mine.”
“Oh I see. This restau… WHAT?!” Junsu found it unbelievable for his student to be the owner of every edifice he was stepping foot on.
Chuckling, Yoochun dragged the bewildered man into the restaurant. However, they were soon stopped by the waitress at the door.
“I’m sorry sirs, but you cannot enter the restaurant without the required attire.”
Before Yoochun could say anything, an older woman appeared and lightly slapped the young waitress on her shoulder. “Tiffany, how can you deny Mr Park’s entrance to his own restaurant?!”
The young waitress looked like a tomato ready to burst while Junsu looked at her pitifully. Bowing to Yoochun apologetically, the older woman smiled, “Mr. Park, we’ll prepare two of your suits in the VIP room for you and your friend. Please follow me.”
After changing into the suits, Yoochun ogled at Junsu secretly, pleasantly surprised at how nicely Junsu fitted into his clothes.
Yoochun pulled Junsu’s chair back for him like a gentleman, the other smiling a thanks in return. He had no idea why he was treating Junsu like a lady but Junsu didn’t seem to mind anyway.
“Sirs, here are your menus.” It was the same waitress who had stopped them at the door. Her face was still booming red.
“Junsu, will you mind if I order for you?”
“Of course not! You know the menu here best. I trust your taste.”
Yoochun smiled at Junsu’s last sentence. He liked hearing Junsu trust him. Handing the menus back to the waitress without even flippin it, Yoochun calmly said, “Two sets of my usual.”
Although the poor blushing waitress had no idea what Yoochun meant, she quietly took down his order. She definitely didn’t want to embarrass herself a second time.
Shortly after, two smoking plates of lamb shanks were served to their table. The food seemed so good that Junsu was already stating to salivate once the plate was set in front of him.
“This is the chef’s speciality. Only seven plates are sold each day, so be honoured that you get to eat this!” Yoochun said playfully.
“Seven plates? And you ordered two of them. Isn’t it popular?”
Yoochun shot Junsu a ‘what the hell’ look, “Of course it is. It was probably already sold out in the afternoon. But shouldn't the chef makes two more servings for whoever's paying his salary?”
Laughing, Junsu nodded while the man opposite him enjoyed the melodious sounds. The two then started on their meal quietly.
/
“Yoochun,” Junsu called suddenly, his hand fidgeting with the fork still in his mouth. Yoochun looked up in surprise, before smiling in amusement at the sight. Junsu just had no idea how adorable he looked.
“What was with all the atiitudes you were giving your classmates during my lesson the other day?” Junsu knew the reason well, but he supposed hearing it a second time wouldn’t hurt.
A tinge of red covered the older man’s cheeks, “I don’t know. I just felt irritated that there were people not listening to you during your lesson. I didn’t want you to waste your efforts so…”
“Thanks,” Junsu muttered as he looked down at his plate shyly, successfully avoiding Yoochun’s surprised stare.
/
“Junsu! Let’s go to the beach!” Yoochun said excitedly as they stepped out from the restaurant.
“The beach?! It’s half pass nine! It’s going to be so dark out there,” Junsu stretched with a little jump, something he always did to ease his fullness. Blushing involuntarily, Yoochun turned away to hide his red face. Junsu was too tempting for a hug.
“Precisely. The beach at Westside is famous for its night scenery. Come on!” Before the smaller man could protest further, Yoochun pulled him into the waiting car.
Maybe it was the wine, for Yoochun became all fired up in the vehicle. Peering out of the window like a little child, he started making random comments about what he observed.
“Look at those grasses! They’re so tall!”
Junsu couldn’t help but laugh.
“Haven’t you seen grasses before?”
“Yeah, but those are really tall! I think they are taller than me!”
Yoochun continued to look out of the window, passing weird remarks until Junsu brought his vision back inside the car.
“Yoochun? What’s this?” Junsu had his index finger placed on a red round button at the side of the car.
“Don’t pre…” Too late. “…ss that.”
A small gap appeared across the roof of the limousine. With a soft creak, the gap continued to widen until there was a fairly large square hole.
“OH MY GOD!! I am so sorry! I didn’t know your car’s ceiling would break when I pressed this button!” Junsu hurriedly apologized.
Yoochun stared at him in disbelief, “He thought he broke my car’s ceiling? Is he really a professor and not some fake?!”
“I’ll... I'll pay for the damage…” Junsu clenched his teeth ,thinking of the money that’d have to come from his own pocket.
“You won’t be able to pay for it, Professor,” Yoochun teased, entertained by Junsu’s vexed expression.
“I… I’m super duper sorry… What can I do to compensate for it?” Junsu’s head fell. A worried pout formed on his face and his brows furrowed to form a gentle frown.
“Marry me,” Yoochun replied casually.
Junsu raised his head, widening his eyes at shock. That made Yoochun laugh, having to resist the urge to pinch the innocent guy’s cheeks.
“You didn’t break it, silly. You won’t have to pay for anything. This is a viewing window… to see the sky.”
“Ohh!" Junsu cried out in relief, "It’s so pretty! Why didn’t you want me to brea … open it?”
“Because that'll dirty my seats.”
“Oh, should I close it then?” Junsu’s voice had a tint of disappointment.
“Nah, we’ll leave it,” Yoochun wanted Junsu to be happy, even at the risk of his car seats blanketed with dust.
“Thank you!” The contented man smiled and looked up to gaze at the glamorous night sky.
Junsu loved the stars. He strongly recalled his mom’s words before she left…
/Flashback
“Mommy… Please… Please don’t leave me…” Junsu’s voice shivered as he held onto his mother’s cold hand. His mother seemed to be turning paler every minute, but Junsu found her to be the most beautiful woman in the world.
“I’m not leaving you, son. I’m turning into a star… The brightest star in the galaxy. You may not always see me in the sky, but you know I’m always there… And I’ll always watch over you.” Her voice was getting softer and softer, “I love you… Junsu…”
/End flashback
Junsu’s eyes started to water as memories of his mother filled his mind again. He quickly turned his head so that Yoochun wouldn’t see them. He then closed his eyes, preventing those tears from falling.
Unknown to Junsu, the man beside him was fully aware of what was going on. However, he had chosen to keep quiet. Yoochun could tell that Junsu wanted some time alone. Quietly, he took out his phone and sent a text message to Bae.
Right after the message was being sent, Yoochun suddenly felt a weight on his left shoulder. A faint strawberry scent overwhelmed the man as he felt the soft hair brush against his neck.
Junsu had fallen asleep. On his shoulder.
Yoochun smiled. His hand reached out to hold onto the hand of the sleeping angel. A need then pulled at his heartstrings; a need to protect this angel, a need to take care of this angel, and perhaps, a need to love this angel.
Yoochun turned his head lightly, leaving a soft gentle peck on Junsu’s head.
“Oh look. I’m taking advantage of him when he’s asleep. Park Yoochun, you’re hopeless.” Yoochun laughed at himself, before turning to look at the night sky while trying his best not to disturb Junsu.
The black limousine blended into the dark surroundings as the car sped along the secluded highway.
Finally, the car arrived at its destination.
“Junsu… Junsu? We’re here…” Yoochun whispered gently. Looking at Junsu's tiredness, he wondered if he should send the other home instead.
Before Yoochun could decide on it, the man began to stir.
“We’re here…?” Junsu asked sleepily, rubbing his eyes as he lifted his head from Yoochun’s shoulder.
“Yeah. Junsu, if you’re too tired, I can take you hom…”
“Wooo! Look at the sea!” Junsu exclaimed suddenly, opening the door of the car. He then ran towards the sea with his arms extended as though offering a hug, “WOOOOOH!”
Surprised by Junsu’s sudden energized state, Yoochun got off the car and chuckled, “His mood sure changes fast.”
“Yoochun! Come on quick!” Junsu was already rolling up his pants, ready to jump into the water.
“Give me a minute! I left something in the car!”
Junsu nodded and traced the water with his toes.
“Hey Junsu, look what I’ve got here!” Yoochun took a tube out of the paper bag in his hands and waved it as he ran down towards Junsu.
“FIREWORKS!! Where did you get them!” Junsu snatched the firework tube excitedly from Yoochun’s hands.
“I have my ways,” Yoochun said, winking. Junsu flushed, secretly thanking god for creating night so Yoochun wouldn't be able to see his red face in the dark.
“Let’s play with the smaller ones first!”
Yoochun took out ten small tubes and stuck them onto the soft dry sand. He then handed a lighter to the eager boy, “Junsu, I’ll light these five and you light the others.”
Immediately after all ten tubes were lighted, Yoochun took the opportunity to grab Junsu’s hand (again) and pulled him metres backwards.
Within seconds without warning, sparks began to shoot out from the tubes one by one.
“It’s so pretty,” Junsu watched in awe, not paying any attention to their linked hands.
Yoochun bit his lower lip. He so badly wanted to tell Junsu that the fireworks weren’t the prettiest on the beach. Unfortunately his guts had gone with the alcohol, and all he could do was admire the stunning view.
Once the sparks died down, Yoochun took out a few bigger tubes and stuck them into the beach again.
“Watch,” Yoochun smiled at Junsu before lighting the tubes himself, stepping back beside Junsu immediately once he was done.
Once again, the tubes blasted and greater sparks were sent rocketing up into the sky.
“Oh my gosh! They have colours now!” Junsu cried out as he pointed to the fireworks animatedly.
Yoochun laughed. He was used to pretty fireworks, but he had never felt so happy watching them.
Sparks of all colours blasted high into the night sky, illuminating it with splashes of bright colours which contrasted beautifully in the dark. Both men held their breath as more sparks were released into the sky with whizzing sounds.
“They are really beautiful,” Junsu sighed blissfully at the end of the firework presentation, “I wonder if I’ll get to play with them ever again.”
“Of course you will!” Yoochun handed Junsu a bagful of firework tubes. “Here. You can play with them any time you want to. And… we can watch fireworks together again.”
“Thank you,” Junsu smiled shyly.
He then spotted two smaller boxes in the paper bag, “What are these?”
“Fireworks sticks!” Yoochun excitedly took a box out and opened it. Handing two sticks to Junsu, he said, “Hold these, I’ll help you light them.”
“What do I do with them?”
“Wave them around. You can draw patterns or write something?”
“Really!” Junsu waved the lighted stick in circles, creating glowing loops in the air and laughing at them when they disappeared.
“Junsu-ah, I’m going over there for a while to set up some more fireworks. You wait for me here okay?” With that, Yoochun ran along the shore to an empty spot on the beach. He had something to show Junsu, and an answer to expect from the boy as well.
Junsu continued to create all sorts of letters and shapes with the fireworks in his hands.
“JUNSU,” He announced proudly as he wrote his name while chuckling to himself. Soon the firework sticks were burnt out. He then sat down on the beach and listened to the crashing waves.
After a few minutes, Yoochun was not back yet. Just as a worried Junsu was about to go find the missing man, he heard a shout from afar, “Junsu, come here!”
/
“Woah!” Junsu exclaimed when he saw the ring of lighted firework sticks in the sand. “What is this circle for?”
“Junsu, I hid something in this circle. Would you like to find it?” Yoochun said with a proud grin.
Junsu looked at Yoochun before turning to the circle suspiciously again, “How big is that… thing?”
“Smaller than this?” Yoochun held his fist out to show an estimation.
“I’m supposed to locate such a small thing in this enormous circle!?”
“The circle isn’t very big!” Yoochun shouted in protest as he looked at the area he plotted out. “Ah, did I make it too big?” He said worriedly as he scratched his head.
Laughing, Junsu hopped into the circle and began digging, making the corners of Yoochun’s mouth go up immediately.
Afraid that the glow would go off any moment soon, Junsu put in his all in uncovering the sand. While on the other hand, Yoochun started doing a ritual outside the circle.
“Park Yoochun. If you keep doing weird actions to distract me, I’m sure I won’t be able to find anything.”
“Weird?! I was doing a dance to cheer you on!” Yoochun pouted.
Cackling in amusement, Junsu went back to his search.
Yoochun decided to keep quiet and watch over Junsu instead. He wondered what the other would say when he found the treasure. “Will he even find it?” Yoochun sniggered.
“I FOUND IT, I FOUND IT!!” A high pitched shout broke Yoochun’s eardrums as Junsu waved the small black box in the air.
“Yah! Be careful! I’ll kill you if you drop the contents.”
“Fine!” Junsu pulled his hand down and carefully opened the box. Seated in the middle of the cushioned box was a ring. Taking it out, Junsu held the circular band in his hand. It was a simple black ring, undoubtedly of Yoochun’s taste. Looking at the inner side of the ring, Junsu realised that there was nothing engraved or whatsoever.
“Oh, the words that were supposed to be engraved are here,” Yoochun said when he noticed the man trying to look for something in the ring.
Junsu looked up, only to see Yoochun holding a lighted firework stick.
“Watch carefully. I’m only going to write this once.”
Yoochun then began to pen the message in the air.
“I… Circle… U…?” Junsu blinked confusedly at the disappearing figures.
“Yah! That was supposed to be a heart!” Yoochun yelled and redrew the shape in the middle.
Junsu tilted his head, thinking hard and trying to figure out what the message meant. Yoochun could feel his palms start to wet as he waited nervously for Junsu’s reply. Seconds later, Junsu looked up at Yoochun with a puzzled expression, “Huh?”
Yoochun totally felt like drowning himself in the sea. He had spent so much effort, and so much time. God knew how hard he'd tried to pick up all the courage to make this confession work. But Junsu was not making it as successful as it was supposed to be.
“Kim Junsu! Are you kidding me! How can a professor not even understand what I’m trying to say!? It’s so straightforward…”
“But…”
“… I love you!” There. He said it, out and aloud.
“You what?” Junsu dropped the ring onto the beach.
Yoochun sighed. Walking towards the shaken man, he carefully picked the ring up from the sand.
“I love you,” Yoochun repeated softly as he closed the gap between them, “And I’m asking you for a chance to show you my love. I want to gaze at night skies with you. I want to watch fireworks with you. I want to share this promise with you…”
Junsu stood stunned as he watched Yoochun prepare to slide the ring onto his finger.
“No,” Junsu stepped back suddenly. Yoochun bit his lips as the ring lost target. He clutched the ring tight and looked into Junsu’s eyes, “Am I rejected?”
“Of course you are!”
Yoochun felt his heart fall. The ring was still securely clutched in his fist. Nodding slowly, he looked away from Junsu’s eyes, “I…”
“Hello?! Do I look that easy?” To Yoochun’s surprise, Junsu interrupted before he could finish his sentence.
“I don’t even remember you doing anything to impress me for the past few days! Do not expect me to accept you with a few sticks of fireworks. That’s so not going to work! Of course you’re rejected!”
With a chuckle, Junsu opened Yoochun’s fist and retrieved the ring from within, “As for now, I’m going to keep this. If you do not manage to win my heart in two weeks, I’ll sell it.”
Satisfied, Junsu smugly walked towards the coast again, leaving a traumatized Yoochun behind. Just before he stepped into the waters, a pair of arms wrapped around his waist suddenly. Junsu squealed, a high dolphin sound that the only similar mammals in the waters would respond to.
“Just you wait, Kim Junsu! I’m going to kill you with my wooing! And don’t you dare sell that ring!”
Yoochun then lifted Junsu by his waist and ran towards the sea, with the younger man screaming and struggling with all his might. Laughter replaced the silence as the pair fought to drench each other.
A star shone brightly in the sky, dropping a gleam on the two men playing.
“I’m turning into a star… The brightest star in the galaxy…”