Title: Love You More
Pairing: Yunho/Jaejoong
Length: One shot under
EHFARGenres: AU, Drama, Romance
Rating: PG
Summary: When children grow up and someone feels like he’s left behind.
~ o ~ o ~
The pale skinned man sighed noisily for the umpteenth time as he stole glances at the other man who’s concentrating in his reading next to him.
No reaction at all.
He pretended to stretch himself with exaggerated movement and stood up.
Still no reaction.
He finally lost his patience and suddenly grabbed away the reading material from the other man’s hand. The said man jerked on his seat. ‘Ha! Now you pay attention!’ was what he thought as he smiled sweetly at him. But he didn’t get what he expected in return as that man looked at him with annoyance.
“Honey, you know that I have to finish reading the script before the shooting starts tomorrow. I want to be able to memorize my lines be-“
“I don’t care. You just finished the movie shooting last week and we haven’t been able to spend a quality time together when you decided to take this new role without consulting me.”
Yunho tried to keep his composure, “I understand Jae, but this is a role that I’ve been longing to play! You know that the director didn’t agree to cast me at the first place, but I want this role! I need to prove myself!”
“You’ve proven yourself well enough! You’re one of the highest paid actors in the country and if it’s not enough do you want me to re-polish the awards lining up on the rack that you got for your acting?”
“It’s not about that! I told you that this director didn’t like me at all, he thought that I’m just a good looking actor and nothing more but-“
“And isn’t that enough?” Jaejoong yelled at him. “Isn’t that enough that others think differently of you but one man’s opinion still matters more than me?” He blinked, trying to prevent the tears from falling.
Yunho sighed in frustration as he took a step forward and embraced his husband. “Just this once… I’ll take a year break after this movie then we can do whatever you want. Visiting Moonbin and arran-“
Jaejoong shoved his chest with the script. “Fine. Sorry for being such a bother to you. I can wait for a few months.”
“Jae… I’m sorry. But I really want to do this one, I have to! I-” he looked at the ceiling, “I didn’t mean to abandon you, in my entire career this is one person who doesn’t believe in my ability at all and no matter how many times I’ve tried to get a role from him, he didn’t even want to spare me a casting until now.”
He looked at his husband’s glassy eyes, “I’m sorry for being selfish. But just this once… then I won’t take anything that you don’t agree with. I promise.”
Jaejoong didn’t say anything for a moment until he smiled understandingly but he couldn’t hide the pain reflected in his eyes. “I understand, I’m sorry for being needy. I- I’ll leave you to your reading then… I’ll be checking up on Min Young at her studio, she wanted to show me her latest work.” He gave a peck on Yunho’s lips before he turned around and walked to the door. Yunho tried to say something but nothing came out of his mouth as he saw the love of his life walked out of the door.
~ o ~ o ~
It’s been two years since Moonbin’s away in college. Yunho knew that Jaejoong missed him so much but their son was also studying hard. Moonbin wants to finish early so he can return and start working at the family firm. They visited him a couple of times in his first year but as a sophomore now he has a lot more to handle and requested that his parents shouldn’t ‘bother’ him too much. In this case, what he really meant was that his ‘Daddy’ shouldn’t be calling him every single day or whenever he feels like Yunho is ignoring him. Jaejoong understood.
Min Young is now pretty much a famous artist herself. She spent more time in her studio at the main house, fulfilling request and working together as World Vision Ambassador, she donated the sales of her works for the foundation and helping Jaejoong also in his own managed fund raising for children with illness who don’t have enough money to pay for their medication. So in another word: She’s pretty much independent and does not require a lot of Jaejoong’s assistance unless it physically related.
And as the husband, Yunho is still actively working his acting career seriously. Winning awards every now and then, but still… he was always obsessed with this one director who never spared him a glance in his entire years of being an incredible actor. So when opportunity came for a casting, Yunho took it more seriously than ever. Trying to get into the role deeply, memorizing the lines, interpreting the script… and it’s the just a casting! Not the real shooting! Jaejoong understand everything, his need to prove himself as Jung Yunho the actor, not just a handsome face in the industry.
Jaejoong tried to be understanding but he can’t help feeling lonely and not needed. Everyone is settling down and he needs some private moments to reconnect with his spouse. But he selfishly took the casting opportunity without consulting him. Not that he needed to, it’s just that he just finished a long running serial drama that took up almost all of his time out and energy. He missed Yunho.
“Jae, it’s rare to see you here staring at the TV when Yunho is home.”
The voice broke his train of thoughts as he suddenly realized that he’s been staring at Animal Planet on TV. He felt sheepish all of a sudden in front of the old woman who was sitting next to him now.
“Wanna share your thought to this old woman?” Jung Umma asked him gently while taking his hand into hers.
“Nothing… it’s just, I- Yunho-, ahhhh…” The wrinkled hand holding his felt warm and Jae just broke down. “No one needs me anymore. Everyone is moving forward when I’m just staying where I’ve always been. Yunho didn’t even consult me when he took this casting, Moonbin told me to stop calling, and Min Young is too busy to let me take her out for lunch together. I’m useless…” He rested his head on the woman’s shoulder.
She smiled at him as she reached out to caress his cheek. “You’re lonely, aren’t you? You must’ve missed Yunho so much after he spent all of his time for his last serial drama. Am I right? You’re calling Moonbin most of the time because you just needed someone to talk to… and you know that Min Young is preparing materials for her third exhibition.”
“Umma, are you a mind reader?”
Jung Umma chuckled, “I’m definitely not. But I’ve lived long enough with your workaholic father and don’t forget that I gave birth to the man you’re married to… I know him well, if not better, than you do.”
“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to complain and being needy.” He closed his eyes in shame.
Jung Umma laughed, “Nothing to be sorry about! I complained a lot about my husband too even now. And my son isn’t always listening to what I’m saying either. But after all these years… let me say that it becomes something that I like from him. When he’s focused on something, he looks… much more of himself, always thriving for the best. Like father like son. When he has something that he’s determined of, Yunho would see only in that direction. That’s what happened when he first attracted to you…”
“He did?” He never heard of this from anyone, not even his husband. Honestly, he never heard anything about how Yunho felt about him that he decided to date him at that time.
Jung Umma smiled tenderly at him, patting his hand on her knee. “You know, we suspected about his sexuality since he was in middle school… there were signs, but he’s never opened about it to us. Maybe because he knew that we wouldn’t agree. It’s not that we would hate or disown him but your Appa always dreamed to pass on the company to his only son. But one day he came home and suddenly told us, ‘Appa, Umma, you may hate me for this but I’m in love with a man. He doesn’t know that I love him yet but I’ll do anything to make him mine. It hurts to see him so lonely and I want him to feel loved… I know that you’ll like him too.’
What could we say to him? Nothing… His mind was preoccupied with you and you alone… When you got into the hospital, he called us again, ‘He’s sick because of me and had no one to take care of him. I’ll take care of him, please understand.’ So we knew how broken hearted he was when you two had to be separated. Yet he’s also believed that you’re strong and would understand his decision. I’m not trying to defend my son, but trust me, by now he might be thinking of ways to make up to you already and neglected the script.”
Jaejoong was stunned by the revelation of the past.
It was Yunho who brought him back to the world after losing his parents.
It was Yunho who loved him when he though he wouldn’t get to love again.
It was Yunho who gave him the worst heartache of his life.
But then again, it was also him who blessed him with their little family… their children, siblings and a new set of parents.
There hasn’t been anything that he hadn’t done for him. And this time he just wanted to prove himself that he was much more that what people gave him credit for. Why should he complain?
He embraced Jung Umma tightly, “Thank you Umma. I feel much better now. I should’ve been more patient.”
“No you shouldn’t. There are times when you have the right to demand attention from him, but for this one time, let him pursue what he’d been waiting for so long. He doesn’t want to prove himself only to that director, but also for you. He’s a man, he has pride, and he wants you to see him as someone who accomplished his dream.”
She pulled off and patted his cheek. “Now do what you have to do… I’m going to see JiHye and the girls at their place.”
“I’ll see Min Young in her studio first and maybe call Binnie. I haven’t talked to him in a few days.”
She laughed. “Fine… I’ll see you later.” She left a kiss on his cheek as she walked away.
Jaejoong sighed… Guess it’s time to check on his little girl now. And maybe when he returns Yunho would have finished reading his script.
~ o ~ o ~
Yunho was pacing back and forth, completely absorbed in his thoughts and forgetting the script he was reading. He has let his husband down.
He called Yoochun already and he answered his rambling with: ‘You started it, you deal with it. I’m on vacation with my baby so I don’t want to hear you again. Bye!’
He contemplated for awhile before he took the phone back and dialed a number. And the first thing that he heard was: ‘Appa, you know what time is it now?’
“Oh!” He stupidly looked at the mobile screen instead of the two clocks on the wall that show Seoul and San Francisco time that Jaejoong put in purpose. But it must be before dawn in there.
‘You’re clueless as ever…’ he heard his son sighing heavily. ‘Now what’s up?’
“Errmmm, I think your Daddy is angry with me…”
‘What’s new? You pissed him off all the time.’
“… I did?”
‘Appa, forget what I said… but seriously, this means Daddy will call me too after this… and that also means I’m losing another few hours of sleeping.’
“Should I hang up now?”
‘You’re such an idiot, Appa! You woke me up and now you’re being kind and leave me wide awake? Trust me, Daddy’s going to call me anyway, so it’s fine… now spill it!’
He felt like he’s the son with Moonbin sometimes. His son is so mature, too mature for his own age actually, but he really cares about his parents.
After 10 minutes on the phone he finally asked him what he thinks he should do.
‘Appa… just give him some time, he’ll be okay once he speaks with me. Just do your best with the casting right now, he’ll get over it. But don’t forget your promise that you’ll spend more time with him when it’s over.’
“You sure? He’s not going to leave me or-“
‘He’s not going anywhere! Trust him will you!’ Yunho can almost see the scowl on his son’s face by hearing the tone of his voice. ‘Now go do whatever you left to call me. I’m sure he will call me any minute now.’
“Ah, OK… thanks Bin. I love you.”
‘Love you more. Kiss Min Young for me.’
“I will. Bye.”
Moonbin’s right. He’s always right. He should do what he has to do now and make it up to Jae later. And he picked up the script that he left on the sofa once again. Ready to absorb himself in the character to show the director that Jung Yunho is a real actor.
~ o ~ o ~
One week has passed and it’s finally the day of the casting. It’s been half a day since Yunho left and Jaejoong anxiously waiting for his man to return and bring the good news.
When he called Moonbin last week he told him that his Appa called first. His heart softened at the thoughts that Yunho was afraid he would leave him just because of that little thing. As if. There’s nothing that would make him leave ever again. His family is too precious.
He was thinking too deeply about their family that he jumped on his seat the moment he heard the door clicked. Yunho entered with a tired face and he ran to his side as he strode across the foyer.
“How was it? Did you get the role? Did you show him what a great actor you are? Or did the stupid director was too idio- Hhhmmph…” Yunho stopped his rambling with a heated kiss. And soon he was concentrating on the feel of his lips and slowly put his arms around his husband’s neck.
Yunho caressed his sides and slid his palms to his back… and down... Jaejoong felt his arousal was building up but just when he was about to take the kiss further Yunho ended it with a smack and a squeeze on his butt. He was met with a grin, “I made it. I got the role.”
He’s still hazy from the kiss and could only blinked his eyes, “You- wha- huh? You got it? YOU GOT IT!!”
He jumped on his husband and kissed him again with more vigor, this time his fingers raked through Yunho’s hair… encouraging him to go deeper. He didn’t know how but when he came back to his senses he was already lying underneath him on their bed. And Yunho was looking down on him with so much affection and adoration that he blushed like a teenager.
He put his palm on Yunho’s cheek, “You’re the best, baby, I know you are… don’t ever think that you’re not good enough anymore no matter who said that to you.”
Yunho put his hand on his, “Thank you Jaejoong, I won’t make it if not because of you. Thank you for your understanding, honey…”
“Does it mean that you’re going to start shooting again soon?” Yunho knew that he’s going to ask this.
“No… I told him that you’re more important than his movie. He acknowledged me, and that’s enough… I told him to call me again in another 6 months if he wants me.”
“Hmm… I have a cool husband…” He smiled seductively… “And what are we going to do for the next 6 months?”
“I don’t know…” He started opening Jaejoong’s button one by one, “What do you have in mind? I’m all yours…”
Jaejoong sighed in ecstasy as he felt his husband’s fingers on his skin, “You seemed to know already what I have in mind… you better work on it well… Aaahhhhh!” He moaned as Yunho trailed kisses on his collar bone.
“Don’t worry honey… I trained myself well.” And thus the long awaited quality time began for them.
They devoured each other gently and slowly… Till they ran out of energy and finally lying on the half wet sheets…
“It’s past dinner time… we should get something to eat…” Yunho stroke his hands on Jaejoong’s arm as he cuddled closer.
“No… too tired to move.” He replied sleepily.
“At least let me changed the sheets, it’s sticky. Come on baby, up!” He pulled him up, and seated him on the lone sofa in the bedroom. He cleaned and dressed him up first before he changed the sheets and when he’s done he put him back on the bed before he went to the bathroom to clean himself up. When he’s back on the bed, Jaejoong scooted closer and he put his arms around him.
“Sleep tight, baby… I love you…”
“I love you more…” and he fell into deep slumber, leaving him and his thoughts in the darkness of their bedroom.
He really is the fortunate one… to be able to get a second chance to be with the love of his life. He never regretted the painful past; it’s his destiny, his fate. If not because of his late wife, he wouldn’t be blessed with his lovely children. But he still has to work his way with Jaejoong… that much he owed him.
He gazed at the man who had loved him unconditionally… who had given him his life and loved his children and cared for his parents like his own. Nothing else could compare to the love that he has in him… so much to give that he sometimes forget about his own happiness.
He leaned down and kissed his lips softly as he whispered his goodnight, “You have no idea just how much MORE I love you, Jae. And I’ll spend the rest of my life to prove it to you.”
Their life might not be perfect… but it becomes perfect because they love each other more every day.
~ o ~ o ~
You Are Here For a Reason