Everything Happens For a Reason, Chapter 23b
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Chapter 23b
Yunho whistled his favorite song as he drove his car nearing the hotel’s Valet stand. He got out, the valet boys already knew him very well and all shout their ‘hi’ as he tossed his car keys to one of them. He’s happy, he’s early and Jaejoong already texted him that his children were also here to have dinner with him. It’s Friday night, they all could stayed up late since there’s no school for Moonbin tomorrow.
As he looked around in the lobby Min Ji approached him, “Hello Yunho-ssi, Jaejoong-ssi is still in the Ballroom with Icksoo-ssi. He told me to ask you whether you’re going to see him there or going to see the children first at their room.”
“Hey Min Ji, your shift’s not over yet?”
“In another half an hour, Sir.” She smiled politely at him.
“I’ll pick up the kids later with Jaejoong, I’ll just go and see him now. No need to walk me there. Oh, and thank you so much for looking after the children. You didn’t have to go check up on them every hour, you know. Moonbin is pretty capable in handling his sister.” He thanked her sincerely.
“My pleasure, Sir. Just making sure that they have all they need. I’ll see you at the dinner next week, Sir.” She bowed politely at him.
“Thanks again, Min Ji. See you!” then he turned his heels to the Ballroom’s direction to find his man.
Jaejoong was standing still in front of the empty stage with Icksoo by his side. The banquet manager looked tired, Jaejoong could be very anal sometimes, close to perfectionist. And he didn’t take no for an answer. When it comes for the chilren, he only wanted the best outcome for the best result. Nothing out of place under his scrutiny.
Yunho put one hand on his shoulder and said, “Still very busy, I see. Should I go to dinner with the children first without you?”He asked and turned his head to the questioned man.
Icksoo seemed relieved to see him. Yunho’s presence meant that he’d be going home soon, he’d been working almost full day shift now.
Jaejoong just glanced at him, “Oh hey, don’t you dare. It’ll only take 10 more minutes. I have to make sure that they make the path for the wheelchair from the floor to the stage at the right length. Last time they made it too short so the angle was quite steep, I felt like pushing a cart full of groceries instead of a 5 year old on a wheelchair!” He shot a glare at the banquet manager next to Yunho.
Yunho tried to hold his laughter looking at the timid expression on Icksoo’s face. He really got a good one from Jaejoong after the event 6 months ago.
“No problem. I’ll wait outside and call the restaurant to prepare a table for the four of us then. Or would you like to join us too for a nice dinner, Icksoo?” He playfully asked the manager who quickly shook his head and mumbled a ‘thanks for offering’ to him.
He planted a kiss at Jaejoong’s cheek and walked outside. The restaurant was usually full on a Friday night but Min Young and Moonbin really loved eating there, and with his father as a shareholder he should be able to get a private room.
They have mended their relationship 3 years ago. After his breakdown from seeing his little baby’s suffering, he realized that he needed the other man in his life and no one else. Only Jaejoong could see him breakdown like this and only Jaejoong could get him back on his feet and be strong for his children. Over the years he learned a lot on how to be a father from the other man and he knew that he needed him more to get through the coming years.
Still in tears, he asked him to get back to his side as his partner and helped him in taking care of his children. Jaejoong was shocked but calmly told him that he wasn’t in his right mind, he was being emotional and probably would change his mind when he calm down. He would take care of them even though they’re not together, Yunho shouldn’t worry about that, was what he said. One year later, Yunho asked him the same question, sober and no tears. Jaejoong still couldn’t say yes, but he was willing to start over as bestfriends. Gradually, they shared more times together with the children at Jaejoong’s house, and eventually their skinship also grew.
Their first kiss was initiated by Moonbin. One night, the four of them were camping out in the living room. Moonbin’s idea after he got back from the summer camp. Since Min Young would never know how it feels to go camping, they set up a tent in the living room and brought out futtons inside to sleep in. Both of them kissed each kid goodnight when Moonbin came out with the smart question.
“Appa, why don’t you kiss Jejussi goodnight? Jejussi always kiss us goodnight, and we always kiss you goodnight too when we’re sleeping at Gappa’s house. But he never got a kiss from anyone else but us and JiHye Noona! That’s not fair for Jejussi!” the boy whined at the unfairness.
Min Young also giggled and yelled in English after hearing what her brother said, “Yeah! Kiss, kiss! Jejussi kiss Min Young, Appa kiss Jejussi!”
Jaejoong’s face was crimson red and he quickly told the boy, “Look Binnie, I’m an adult, I don’t need a goodnight kiss. Now both of you get to sleep, quick!” He told them as he pretended to lay down and closed his eyes.
Moonbin didn’t give up, “Appa is an adult and he still wanted a kiss from me! Even Gappa and Gamma said that adults need a kiss too, they always asked me to kiss them!” He’s sulking now.
Min Young was still yelling cheerily, “Kiss! Kiss! Appa kiss Jejussi!”
And Jaejoong didn’t dare to open his eyes when he felt Yunho’s lips on his left cheek as Yunho told him goodnight.
But alas, the children were not easily satisfied, “The forehead too! You always kissed my cheeks and my forehead too!”
Yunho happily complied, Jaejoong still closed his eyes and yelled, “Happy now? Now sleep, you two, or I won’t make you breakfast tomorrow morning.”
The children seemed satisfied with it, they giggled happily and fell asleep quickly. He was about to open his eyes when he felt a warm body next to his. He closed again more tightly.
Then Yunho softly whispered to him, “Hey, it was the kids, I swear! I didn’t ask them to say that, you have to believe me.”
Jaejoong turned to his right side, facing Moonbin and left his back to Yunho. He didn’t think he could look at the other man’s eyes right now. “I know. Now you should get some sleep too. “
Yunho didn’t move for a minute, but then he felt him kissed his right cheek as he whispered, “This one’s from me. I only got to kiss your left, now it’s even.” He chuckled and move to the other side, next to Min Young. “Goodnight, Jaejoong.”
He replied softly, “Goodnight, Yunho”.
From there, the goodnight kiss became a routine whenever Yunho spent the night at Jaejoong’s place under the request of his children, and hugs became more natural daily. Soon after they cuddled with the children in front of the TV watching movies or variety programs. But the physical progress stopped there.
They shared and discussed everything about the children like real parents… or perhaps deep inside they have considered themselves as ones. Of course the media didn’t miss the opportunity to blow up the scandal. After all, their relationship was already a talk of town since the days back when Jaejoong was still Yunho’s manager. But Yunho’s father used his power in business world to get the news disappeared soon after. No one dared to cross Jung Sang Hyun if they still want to run business in the country. They didn’t care about what people said behind their back, as long as it’s not printed and the children didn’t get to read them. So far it worked well.
But not well enough for Yunho. He needed more than just being a bestfriend. It’s been 10 years since their unfortunate separation, sometimes he’s still overwhelmed at how quickly the time passed. He’s already 33 right now, Jaejoong 35, they’re not young anymore and surely the children too. Moonbin would celebrate his 9th birthday next month, he’s growing up and soon would be asking questions about what’s really going on between them. They acted like his parents but they didn’t live under the same roof. Yunho already caught the boy stealing glances at them at many occasions. He couldn’t wait anymore and was looking for the right time to ask Jaejoong to be his partner for life.
After 20 minutes, Yunho got bored and almost left Jaejoong to his children’s room but then he saw the man walked out of the ballroom by himself.
“Done already? Where’s Icksoo?” He stood up from the bench in front of the elevator.
“Sorry it took longer, Icksoo really needed to improve on his memory… it’s already our third dinner here and he still messed up with the seating arrangement!” Jaejoong sounded a bit upset.
Yunho reached out and held him as Jaejoong leaned his head on his chest. “You should learn to hold your tongue too. He seemed tired, he probably had worked passed his shift because of the meeting.”
Jaejoong sighed, “I know, but I couldn’t help it. It’s only a week away, and the-“
Yunho held him at arms length and shut his mouth with one hand. “No more! We’re going up to pick up the children now, no more talking about work. We’ll have time for a discussion tomorrow, hm?”
Jaejoong surrendered, Yunho was right anyway… “So, did you get us a table at the buffet?”
"Better, I got us a private room.”
“On a Friday Night? Short notice?” He suspiciously asked him.
Yunho winked, “It’s an advantage of being a Jung.”
They laughed as they entered the elevator hand in hand.
“And maybe I should change my last name to a Jung too, it would came in handy when I crave for the pasta at the new Italian restaurant that you took me last month. I heard it’s hard to get a reservation, you should do it at least 3 days ahead.” He was still laughing when he innocently stated that. In the next 2 seconds he realized what he just said after he heard no reply from Yunho and quickly turned to look at him.
The laughter died on this throat as he nervously said, “Uhm, sorry… I- I was just saying that, I didn’t mean-“
But Yunho cut him off as he told him seriously, looking straight in his eyes. “I think you should, it’s about time don’t you think?”
For the rest of the night, Jaejoong found it hard to look into Yunho’s eyes and thus his sleepless nights started… Thinking about the unexpected proposal from Jung Yunho. But for the other man, it wasn’t unintended… it was a proposal 10 years too late.
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Chapter 24