Project Yunho 19/? 1 of 2
i. story by: hydraheiress
ii. pairing: yunjae, yoosu
iii. genre: romance, humor, drama, fluff, action/adventure, sci-fi
iv. length: chaptered|series
v. rating: nc-17
vi. summary: Jaejoong and Yoochun, best friends for life gets into a car accident and runs a guy over. What happens when the victim gains consciousness?
vii. chapters: character profiles | [01] | [02] | [03] | [04] | [05] | [06] | [07] | [08] | [09] | [10] | [11] | [12] | [13] | [14] | [15] | [16] | [17] | [18] |
chapter nineteen [1/2]
"Yunho, slow down. What's wrong? You're scaring me." Jaejoong continued to plead while tryin to pry the other man's grip from his wrist. They were already a good distance away from the funeral gathering yet Yunho refused to stop walking or even slow down. He kept tugging him along as if he hadn't heard a word. The raven looked helplessly towards his best friend who responded with a shrug. He turned to look at his donsaeng, a questioning frown instantly appearing on his forehead upon seeing how Junsu's gaze was intently focused on the back of Yunho's head.
"Do you wanna talk about it?" Junsu suddenly asked, hand reaching out to touch Yunho's shoulder before turning him around as they stopped in front of their parked car.
"What? Talk about what?" Jaejoong piped in, eyes darting between the two, looking lost. Yoochun beside him looked equally bewildered. "Yunho?"
The two hybrids studied each other as if communicating by sheer sight alone before Yunho broke the contact, head turning to the side away from their stares. Jaejoong didn't know if it was just him, but Yunho seemed different.
"I don't wanna talk about it."
The hold over his wrist loosened. Yunho dropped his hand and hurriedly stepped inside the vehicle.
Jaejoong made to follow him, more confused than ever after witnessing the brief exchange between brother and lover. He watched as Yunho sank heavily against the car seat before tearing away the mask and the dark glasses covering his features. Jaejoong poked his head in, arms braced on both driver's and passenger seat's headrest, his onyx orbs momentarily widening upon getting an eyeful of his lover's tear-stained cheeks before shaking hands were brought to cover his handsome face. Within seconds, Yunho was crying.
The raven beauty felt his chest constrict seeing the other man's distraught expression and the strained sobs emitting from his lips, the all too familiar ache and worry coiling around his heart. In a fraction of second, Jaejoong was beside Yunho, collecting him into his arms as he began to gently whisper soothing words into his ear.
Yunho went willingly, burrowing his face on the beauty's neck, sobs rising as he held onto Jaejoong like a lifeline.
"Baby, please talk to me." Jaejoog softly urged, fresh tears threatening to fall at the sight of his beloved as he raked his fingers through the other's soft dark brown strands while rubbing circles across his back.
No response came, only the tightening of Yunho's embrace around his body as if Jaejoong was the only thing in the world keeping the hybrid from falling apart. It wasn't the first time Yunho cried in his arms, yet somehow Jaejoong couldn't shake off the dreadful feeling in his chest that there was more to his tears this time than the nightmares his past assassinations evoked. He's never heard his lover sound this broken before. "Yunho, please."
"Hyung, let him be."
Jaejoong slowly looked up, instantaneously rewarded with his dongsaeng's warm, compassionate gaze. It dawned on him just now how both Yoochun and Junsu were already occupying the front seats. With Yunho solely being the center of his attention, he hadn't taken notice of anything else happening around him.
"Junsu-yah." Yoochun opened his mouth but Junsu shook his head and continued. "He'll talk to us when he's ready."
"Ready? Ready for what?" Jaejoong worriedly voiced out as he continued to try calming down the sobbing lover.
Junsu's lips thinned, sad eyes directed on Yunho's shaking, crying frame. "Only Yunho can answer that hyung."
The young hybrid inwardly sighed. His brother had been too worried over Yunho seeing him in yet another one of his "attacks" from earlier as Yoochun crouched behind Jaejoong, trying to pacify the grief-stricken bestfriend into a state of calm that the body lying inside the casket had completely missed both their notice.
But not him.
He had been the first one that got to Yunho's side and was about to hand him his painkillers, force it down his throat if needed be, when the face beneath the glass panel of the coffin caught his trained eyes. Junsu couldn't believe what he was seeing at first, but the longer he stared, he couldn't deny the uncanny resemblance between the dead human being and his fellow hybrid. Giving Yunho his medicine was suddenly the farthest things from his mind.
Junsu had taken a good long look at the unmoving figure and had every reason to believe that Yunho did as well.
They visited Mr. Kim who had still yet to regain consciousness. Jaejoong had begged his mother to go home and rest but she wouldn't hear any of it. She simply refused to leaver her husband's side. As much as Junsu wanted to meet and trap his umma in his embrace, he had to accept the fact that making himself known to her wasn't possible at that point. It would be too much of an emotional trauma to the elderly woman.
People didn't just come back from the grave.
Junsu feared for what might happen to hear health if they ever came face to face. He was supposed to be dead and his father wasn't awake to explain, to lessen the shock of his continued existence to their mother.
With a heavy heart, Junsu chose to wait at the hospital's lobby, disguise intact until receiving a call from Yoochun telling him that Jaejoong had finally convinced their mother to let him take her out to lunch. Hurried footsteps made minimal sounds on the floor as he jogged to the direction of his father's room. Opening the door, he found himself on the receiving end of a tight hug and a sweet, deep kiss from his lover. A smile simultaneously flitted Junsu's lips as he kissed back, Yoochun's affections without fail lifting his mood and warming his troubled heart.
They pulled apart and Yoochun stepped away, giving him room as he approached his father's side. He glanced at Yunho who sat by the corner, solemn gaze fixed on the floor, seemingly lost his own world. He hasn't uttered a single syllable to anyone. They all voiced out their concerns for him, Jaejoong moreso, but Yunho remained eerily subdued. During the trip to the hospital, he would either stare at his hyung, looking at him as if something was weighing him down, then his expression would crumple before retreating to the confines of his mind.
He guessed he shouldn't be surprised why he wasn't following his older brother like an overeager puppy anymore. Ever since Yunho managed to put a stop to his tears, he had successfully acted distant from the rest of them.
Tearing his gaze from the forlorn-looking man, Junsu focused his attention back towards his father. It made his heart ache tenfold knowing what he knew now and of just how much the older man meant to his life. He hoped that he'd wake up soon. There were so many things he wanted to ask, not just for himself but about the agency as well.
After seeing Yunho's human template and realizing that his demise was very much recent, it utterly bothered him why was a replica created out of his DNA mark up or of why the Yunho they knew now was trained as an assassin, urged to have no sense of self just like the rest of their fellow experiments. He at least understood why he came into this world, but the reason behind Yunho's existence was a big question mark hanging over his head.
Yoochun's gentle fingers curled around his shoulder, cutting him off from his musings. "Sunnie."
Craning his neck, he was met with his lover's questioning gaze. He frowned in wonder. "What is it Yoochunie?"
Tilting his head toward Yunho's slumped form, he quietly asked. "Are you sure we should just leave him with his thoughts? He hasn't made any sound and I'm sure you've noticed how upset Jae-hyung has gotten ever since we arrived here." Sighing, he added. "Auntie even remarked how quiet hyung's boyfriend was."
Junsu blinked, mouth slightly falling open. "Wait. What? You guys introduced Yunho as hyung's boyfriend?"
"No." Yoochun replied with a shake of his head. "She simply came to that conclusion and no one bothered to deny it. When we came in, it only took one look at how close they were standing to each other and she seemed to figure it out on her own. She's always been an open-minded person. "Yoochun's lips quirked into a smile as if remembering a certain fond memory. "It seemed only yesterday when she liked to tease and play matchmaker between us."
The young hybrid smiled, recalling how accepting his mother had been of his and Yoochun's closeness. She hadn't shown any kind of disapproval and made Yoochun more than welcome whenever he visited. Junsu felt proud of her mother. A few days ago, Yoochun had told him how after he died, despite the pain of her loss, she never blamed him or hated him. She was just and kind. Even when his Jaejoong-hyung ran away after the huge fight that ensued between him and their father, once in a while she still tried to keep in touch with the two of them even if their appa banned her from making any attempt at communication. Though he was happy with their mother's actions, it however hurt Junsu to think that his father had treated his hyung worse after his death.
Noticing the sudden drop in his lover's mood, Yoochun tilted his chin and peered into his eyes. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"Nothing." Junsu morosely sighed. "I just wish that appa would start treating hyung better now that I'm back."
"Don't worry your head over that. I'm sure everything will work out fine." Yoochun soothed, palming his cheeks before giving him a gentle kiss on the forehead. Junsu's eyes fluttered close at the sweet caress, heart warming in his chest.
The sudden scraping of the chair brought their attention back to the silent figure by the corner. Junsu turned, gaze meeting that of Yunho who was approaching the door. Abruptly pulling away from Yoochun's embrace, he managed to stop the other man's hand from closing around the knob, grip tight on his biceps. "Where are you going?"
Yunho disdainfully looked at the grip on his arm. "Nowhere." he replied, jerking away from Junsu's hold. But the smaller man refused to let go, determined eyes directed at him. Yunho's teeth gritted. "I just need to be left one."
Jaw clenching, Junsu seized him tighter. "You're upsetting Jaejoong-hyung with your behavior Yunho-sshi."
"Yunho." Yoochun stepped in the conversation, having had enough of keeping his thoughts to himself. "I don't know what your problem is but Jae's worried sick over you and you're too busy brooding to care. As his best friend I ought to let you know how much your behavior also frustrates me and I'm this close to hitting you myself."
A few seconds of silence passed until Yunho's shoulders slumped and he exhaled sharply. Slowly, Junsu withdrew his grip and stood directly in front of him, hands reaching out to touch his shoulders. "You know you can talk to us."
Yunho's eyes darted from Junsu, to Yoochun and back before shaking his head wistfully. "I'm sorry. But I have to do this on my own." The forced smile on his face made Junsu uneasy. "Tell Jaejoong I love him and that I'll be back."
Before any of them could formulate a response, Yunho was already slipping through and out the door. Junsu would have made to follow him, but it was also in that instant that the soft groan of his father's voice wrenched his attention from the other hybrid and back to figure lying prone on the bed. Another groan reached him and in a heartbeat, he was by side, gaze widerning by the second as he watched his creator, his father, his savior slowly open his eyes.
"Junsu-yah..." The man blearily looked at him, a small smile making it's way onto his face, a hand reaching out.
Salty tears clouded his vision and before he could stop himself, he was already wrapping his father in his embrace, droplets of tears cascading down his cheeks as his name slowly, but surely were uttered past the scientist's lips.
Behind him, Yoochun could only look in dumbfounded silence.
"Appa." Junsu sobbed in immense relief. "You're awake."
Yunho walked Seoul's streets with a purpose on his step. Emotion after emotion were still warring in his heart, but his mind was finally clear and there was only one main thing in his thoughts. He had to avenge his death. He merely might be a copy of the real Jung Yunho, but everything that he went through in that Minho bastard's hand, all of his memories, they were choking him, urging his heart and mind to fight for all the injustice that's been done to his life.
And then there was Jaejoong. Sweet, innocent but stubborn Jaejoong. The raven-beauty of his past and present. On both lives he had been his savior. He was his first love, the very same person that taught him what emotions, love, happiness, pain and what being human was all about. For so long he'd felt empty as if something was not right with the life he led, but he didn't understand the world. He didn't even understand his own existence; he still didn't.
But now, even if it continued to confuse him how in hell's name was he cloned, his first life refused to retreat from the forefront of his mind. He was feeling a lot, too much in fact and his emotions only circulated around two things.
To get his revenge and to keep Jaejoong away from the very person who's existence he wanted to end.
"Where the hell did he go?" Jaejoong irritably paced across the living room of their apartment that evening, thoughts focused on Yunho and his whereabouts that the news of his father finally coming out of a coma that was supposed to fill him with happiness was suddenly short-lived when he found out about how Yunho literally ran from the hospital.
After making sure that his father was indeed out of harms way and thanking the doctors for all their help, his appa had been trying to get his attention, gaze directed at him as if there were questions he wanted to ask but couldn't because of their mother being in the general vicinity. Standing by the door, Yoochun then told him how Mr. Kim awoke with Junsu inside the room and thus was aware that his son was safe. A short conversation that involved a lot of tears and revelations regarding Junsu's importance in the scientist's life occurred between father and son before Junsu had to remind the elder Kim that their mother was coming back any minute and had to reluctantly leave.
His father was finally awake. Jaejoong had a lot of questions regarding the agency, but mainly about Yunho. His appa had known him inside that cursed place and even looked after him whenever he came back from missions. He wanted to be certain just how safe his lover and brother was from those cursed people that wanted them dead. But their mother was making it difficult for them to have a private conversation. She would never leave his appa's side.
It also didn't help that his worry regarding Yunho's whereabouts was increasing every minute. He wouldn't answer his phone calls and wouldn't reply to his text messages. It almost seemed like Yunho was really ignoring them.
"Hyung, stop it. You're making me dizzy." Junsu complained, eyes following his brother's pacing form. Yoochun stepped into the room and flopped down on the soft next to the young hybrid. "Who was that on the phone?" He asked, knowing full well it hadn't been Yunho since after quickly picking up said device and yelling Yunho's name, Jaejoong called for his bestfriend and ordered him to answer it before attempting to call Yunho's cell again.
"It was manager-hyung from the club." Yoochun bemoaned, the back of his wrist covering at his eyes, sighing. "You know how we haven't been going to work for nearly 2 weeks now. All three of us, Jae, Yunho and I just got fired."
"Ei? So you're jobless now?" Junsu asked, worried frown present on his forehead.
"Myeah, but that's okay. God knows we all need the break." Yoochun replied, throwing both arms and legs around the smaller male, cuddling like a koala. He just didn't know what personal space meant when it came to Junsu.
Looking up to Jaejoong and getting a smack-dab crystal clear picture of the apprehension in his eyes, Yoochun groaned and rested his chin on Junsu's shoulder, pouting. "Jae, give it a rest. He did say he was gonna be back. And this is Yunho we're talking about. He can't literally live without you. You're the very air that guy breathes. Sheeshhh."
"I'm just worried okay?" Jaejoong snapped. "He went out without his disguise on and it's not like him to reject my calls. Something's been bothering him ever since we left that burial gathering and he wouldn't talk about it." He whirled around and fixed his gaze on his younger brother. "You said something about letting him be and that he'll talk to us when he's ready. You know what's been bothering him don't you? Junsu-yah. Tell me what's going on."
Junsu's mouth opened and closed at a loss for words. It wasn't his place to say and besides, he really didn't fully understand what was going on in Yunho's mind either. All he knew was that Yunho was cloned after a human just like he was and that was it. Whatever it was that was causing his fellow hybrid misery, he had no clue was it was about.
"I don't know." Junsu replied apologetically. "Just calm down okay? He said he'd come back, so trust that he will."
However, for the next three days there was still no news regarding Yunho.
Tiffany's sorrowful gaze darted about the four corners of her cousin's room as she wiped the tears that stained her cheeks. She had always hoped that Yunho would be strong enough to fight the coma, that one day he will finally open his eyes and come back to them. Yunho could call her annoying or a nosy brat or anything he wanted and she won't complain. She missed him terribly and up until that moment, she still refused to believe that he was really gone.
Sitting down on the bed, she opened his drawers and pulled out his treasured posession, turning it page after page feeling sobs threaten to choke her again. Why did that accident had to happen to her beloved oppa? Everything was starting to go well. Minho made peace with him and they had become real brothers.Yunho had even told her that he was finally gonna try and approach the man he loved. She had been so happy and cheering for him nonstop.
She glanced at the portrait of his cousin, taken back when he reached 20 years old, situated by the head of the bed, sniffing pitifully. "Oppa, did you know that Jaejoong-sshi came to your burial? I was really surprised to see him there. He just suddenly ran inside the gathering, crying and hugging that ahjussi." Tiffany chuckled bitterly when she thought back to the lost chance of Yunho finding happiness with Jaejoong. "What did I tell you about him liking boys too huh? Why didn't you listen to me sooner? That man could have been you if you hadn't been so slow. Pabo!"
Tossing the sketchpad on the bed, Tiffany buried her face in her hands as another onset of tears leaked from her eyes. No matter how much she tried to be strong, her tears had a mind of it's own. She threw herself down on the duvet, hugging one of Yunho's pillows to her chest as she curled into a fetal position, shutting her eyes tightly.
Everything in the room looked the same, smelled the same, felt the same. Her Aunt and Uncle didn't dare change anything in their son's room with the eternal hope that he was still coming back. His books, his University materials, his clothes, everything that he owned was still there up to the very clothing that he wore that day of the accident. They all wanted to pretend the accident didn't happen, that her cousin had just gone some place far away, but will be back soon. She could almost imagine him, coming from his long trip and whining about how he missed Jaejoong.
A chuckle sprang from her lips at the mental image of her silly oppa, the back of her hand hastily rubbing her eyes. Lying on her back, Tiffany looked up at the ceiling. She was gonna go back to America in a week's time and her oppa's things were gonna be moved to storage three days from now. She was going to extremely miss this place.
"Uncle said that he was gonna find Jaejoong-sshi for you. He said he wanted to tell him about you and how much he meant to your life so that at least somehow, he would know you exist. He wants to make amends for neglecting you and being an ass all these years as if that's gonna erase all the pain he's caused you with his stupid prejudices."
Glancing to the side, she picked up the sketchpad, a smile quirking the corners of her mouth when an idea hit her. Once her Uncle was able to pinpoint where Jaejoong-sshi lived, she was gonna give her oppa's most treasured possession to his most precious person, jealous ahjussis that could be or not be his boyfriend be damned.
It was the least she could do for Yunho.
I love you... baby i’m not a monster, neon al-janha...
Tiffany's head snapped to the side so hard she almost gave herself a whiplash. What the hell? Sitting upright, she looked around the room trying to pinpoint where the noise was coming from. She knew that song. It was Yunho's ringtone. Her eyes widened, realization dawning in. Her oppa's cellphone was still inside this room? For all the time she's stayed in this house, it was the first time she ever heard that ringtone again. "Oppa's phone is really ringing."
... sarajyeo beoril tende keu ttaen al tende baby. I need you, baby I’m not a monster...
She strained her ears to find the exact location of the music as she walked about, going from one place to the other, opening and closing drawers and closets. "But who could be calling him now?" She pondered, bewildered. Tiffany, didn't know where such feeling was coming from, but somehow she felt a strange sensation coiling around her heart at the prospect of answering that call. Why did she feel like it was something very important? "Right, very important after four years? It could just be a wrong number being dialed." Gaze focusing on the foot of the bed, she readily sank down to her arms and knees and looked underneath, mouth falling open upon seeing the vibrating phone.
"Omo. It really is there." Scooting closer against the edge, she reached for the device, straining her arm to it's full capacity until she was able to touch material. Quickly picking it up, she sat on the floor, letting out a triumphant ha! as she held the phone gingerly in her grasp, seeing an unknown number flashing across the cracked screen.
...nal al-janha ireohke kajima neo majeo beorimyeon nan jugeobeoril tende, I’m not a monster...
Swallowing thickly, she placed the phone by her ear and expectantly let out a shaky, "Yoboseyo?"
There was silence on the other line as she waited with bated breath for a response. The next words she heard almost caused her to drop the phone as she gasped, hand instantly clutching at her chest at the familiar voice.
"Tiffany-yah, I see eomma and appa still hasn't gotten rid of my phone."
Mouth falling in shock, Tiffany couldn't believe what she was hearing. It can't be him. He's dead. "Y-yun...oppa?"
Next
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A/N: OHEMGEEEEE! LOL. Yunho's ghost is haunting you Tiff. *bricked* Thank you so much to everyone who's been cheering me up and encouraging me to write! You guys are so sweet and the best ;____; Kamsamnida! Comments are greatly loved and appreciated. I've beta'd this once, but I would still apologize if there might be any grammar problems and spelling mistakes that I forgot to check. Mianhe. Hope you guys enjoy this! 'Til next update =)