Whispered Lullaby: Chapter 6
i. story by: hydraheiress
ii. pairing: yunjae, yoosumin (kind of)
iii. genre: romance, drama, fluff, humor, highschool, fantasy
iv. length: 6/18
v. rating: nc-17
vi: warnings: hinted incest, mention of drug overdose, character death, sexual content
vii. summary: To Jaejoong, Appa Yunho was his everything. But what if circumstances one day will force his father to leave his side?
viii. chapters: [1] | [2] | [3] | [4] | [5] |
chapter six
Sitting on the plush couch with his legs crossed, Max contemplatively stared at the ceiling.
Earlier that day, he had Yunho admit to his son's high school as a student himself. Tomorrow, Yunho was to start attending classes in the same room as Jaejoong. In the documents that Max provided with little to no effort, the recently de-aged mortal was now eighteen years of age, Park Yoochun's only son and had spent almost his entire life in America.
It wasn't easy to fully convince Yunho at first. After recovering from his fainting episode, the mortal was very adamant to tell his son the truth; even tried to escape the house they were staying in that belonged to Yoochun on numerous instances to find Jaejoong despite Max's warnings. The angel wasn't willing to help him find his boy just yet due to the fact that his primary concern for the meantime was for Yunho to familiarize the details; every nook and cranny of his new life.
Max explained the situation, but Yunho seemed to really hate the idea that he couldn't be Jaejoong's father anymore. He particularly kept stressing about being the wrong age. The same complaints pretty much occurred repeatedly for the first two days that they began living under the same roof under the pretense of parent and child. Well, Yoochun's persona as the father to be precise.
To win Yunho's cooperation, Max promised that he could reveal the truth to his son if the right chance came. Max would give him that perogative, but for now his focus was to at least befriend Jaejoong. The angel reasoned that whatever angle he looked at it, telling the teen that he was his supposedly dead father would only lead him to being on the receiving end of his son's fist.
Yunho was technically a stranger now. He might still look like Jung Yunho, but he was a teenager and no one would be crazy enough, even Jaejoong to connect the dots on the first meeting. He was dead to the world and he'd only be locked up in a mental institution if he insisted on making such claims.
Besides, his main reason in not wanting to crossover was to be there for Jaejoong, to protect him and love him and be his best friend. Max expounded that it didn't matter if he was young now, he could still do all those things even as a friend. As long as he was by Jaejoong's side, shouldn't that be all that mattered? To his relief, Yunho grew considerably cooperative after that conversation.
Absolutely certain that Yunho was finally able understand the importance of his identity being kept a secret, Max decided that it was time for Yunho to finally meet Jaejoong, thus he had his documents prepared and they went to the kid's high school to get him enrolled. The admission went by pretty smoothly until the commotion regarding Jaejoong wrecking the teacher's car happened.
Max checked the master clock and sighed. It was already nearing eight in the evening and Yunho has yet to make an appearance.
The shock on the mortal's face when he saw his son for the first time in a long time earlier that day kept replaying in his head. Max clearly heard the thoughts racing through Yunho's mind. The mortal had been in denial. He had a hard time processing the information that his sweet, innocent boy grew up to be a young man filled with anger. Hearing the students talk about Jaejoong's reputation of being a delinquent and a troublemaker, the pain in Yunho's eyes showed how such revelation affected him.
When Jaejoong bumped into him in the hallway with his head lowered and sobbing, Yunho almost ran after his son. Max was almost certain that Yunho would disregard everything that they've agreed upon the past couple of days, but Yunho held his ground. He became silent and very subdued however.
Passing by the Principal's office, Yunho saw his wife inside. She was desperately asking for forgiveness for Jaejoong's behavior to the Principal, explaining that her son was still adjusting. Overhearing Ara tell the elder about his boy's deep, emotional scars caused by his absence, Yunho could no longer contain himself and he ran out of the building, tears blurring his vision and his heart breaking in his chest.
Arriving somewhere around the east side of the school, there Yunho wept for nearly an hour. It was painful watching him, but Max let him be as he poured all his regret, self-hatred, despair and sorrow. The angel comforted him in the only way he could; to be a shoulder he could cry on.
Later on when Yunho managed to stop his tears, he told him that maybe it was better this way. As a father, he only ever gave Jaejoong pain and suffering until his very last breath. What good would it accomplish if he did tell him the truth? Yunho was certain that even if Jaejoong believed his story, his beloved boy would undoubtedly only harbor hatred in his heart for him.
Taking a deep breath, Yunho swore that he was going to try his damnest best from then on. The reality hurt that Jaejoong would no longer know that he was his father, but he sure as hell won't let that get in the way of him wanting to make everything up to his son.
Yunho followed Jaejoong for the rest of the day and Max simply let him. He understood Yunho's need to look after his boy even from a distance for the time being. The possibility over Yunho spilling the beans to Jaejoong no longer concerned the angel after seeing Yunho's little outburst from earlier that day. However, he was getting quite worried for the mortal's continued absence.
Being stuck in a human body set him up to certain limitations, one of which not being able to have a full scope of his current subject's whereabouts twenty-four seven.
Suddenly, the doorbell buzzed. Max shuffled to the visual intercom plastered beside the front door. Upon seeing Yunho's image on the other side, Max didn't feel surprised anymore to see Jaejoong's dead weight on his back. With a sigh, he opened the mahogany door and got a full-view of the two young men, quickly realizing that Jaejoong was drunk from the reek of alcohol he could smell coming from him.
**
"So, you trail after him and this is what you do? Take him home? You better be prepared to deal with what I could already imagine the kid's major freak out in the morning, Yunho." The angel currently wearing his friend's body lectured upon opening the front door. No matter how many times Yunho's talked to Max for the past three days, it was still somewhat of a mindfuck every time he sees Yoochun's face yet talking to something else entirely inside him.
Yunho glared at the other and balanced Jaejoong carefully on his back. "What was I supposed to do? I followed him to a bar Max and I had to painstakingly watch my boy drown himself in alcohol."
"Wappwaa... wuussh zeh ahzusshi?" The teenager draped against Yunho's back like a fur coat asked, hazily squinting at Max slash Yoochun with his lips protruding into a pout, eyebrows furrowed.
"It's fine, Joongie. He's Appa's friend. Go back to sleep now, okay?" Yunho automatically replied before resuming his conversation with the angel. "And his so-called friend, Seunghyun I think was his name just left him outside the bar pissed drunk afterwards. I couldn't just leave him there."
"Mhhmm, comfy." Jaejoong hummed and snuggled against the nape of his neck, slurring words in his drunken, half-awake state. "Appa, you're gonna sleep with Joongie tonight, right? You promised."
"Yes, of course. Appa will sleep with you tonight, baby." Yunho soothed. Seeing the look Max was giving them, Yunho knew exactly what was going on inside that head of his. "Max, he's too drunk to remember anything from tonight. I'm not stupid enough to treat him like this if he's sober."
"Still Yunho, bringing him to stranger's house? It's only gonna cause problems." Max dubiosly stated as he followed him inside after shutting the door. "He's gonna be asking questions in the morning."
"Do I look like I care about that now?" Yunho shot back while stepping foot into his bedroom. He heard Max exhale heavily behind him and Yunho felt like punching himself in the face for being a dick.
After placing Jaejoong gently on the middle of his bed, Yunho proceeded to gently take off his son's shoes and socks. Jaejoong readily grabbed one of his pillows and hugged the plush cushion against his body as he curled into a comfortable position. Yunho's heart easily melted, enamored by the innocence coming from his boy. He softly caressed his dark locks and kissed his forehead before egging Max out of the room. Once they were outside, Yunho faced the other, gaze set into a grim expression.
"Look, I'm sorry." Yunho began as he took a deep breath. "I know you're just trying to help Max and I get it I do. I couldn't even thank you enough for giving me this second chance, but please just..." he faltered as he felt tears prickle his eyes. "I need to be left alone with my son, even just for tonight."
There was silence for a while before Max reached out a hand and lightly tapped him in the shoulder, nodding sagely. "Alright. Just for tonight and I'll help you explain things in the morning."
A smile filled with gratitude etched Yunho's face. "Thank you, Max."
**
Yunho watched Jaejoong's sleeping figure from the foot of the bed quite content of simply gazing at his boy. However, seeing him still clad in his school uniform didn't sit well with him. After changing into a white wife-beater and dark-blue pajama pants, Yunho also pulled out a pair of light-blue plaid flannel pajamas from his closet. The bed dipped with his weight as he scooted beside Jaejoong's lying form.
Slowly, Yunho unbuttoned his uniform jacket and the white polo shirt underneath. The second he saw Jaejoong's bare torso, Yunho's fingers shook at the sight that met him. His jaw slackened as widened eyes roamed the expanse of skin. "What..." He couldn't even formulate words. Yunho forced himself to take in calming breaths, his eyes closing in an effort to contain himself. The sight of Jaejoong's upper body littered with bruises both fresh and old had him teetering on the edges of exploding.
He knew he should have seen it coming. Knowing how Jaejoong lived his life now, it was already a given that he would've been hurt or wounded in fights. But still, seeing those ugly marks with his own eyes, it was only natural for Yunho to wanna rip apart the fuckers that dared lay a finger on his boy.
"Appa?" The small, almost childish sound of Jaejoong's voice pulled Yunho from his murderous thoughts as he lifted his gaze and met his child's half-lidded onyx orbs. Jaejoong was rubbing his eyes in such a cute manner, almost like the way he used to when he was but a toddler after waking up from a nap.
Yunho took one last deep breath and forced a smile on his face. He leaned down and lovingly caressed his boy's forehead, pushing his anger to the furthest part of his mind momentarily. He just wanted to enjoy this time with his baby without any unpleasant thoughts ringing in his head. "Ne Joongie-yah?"
Jaejoong stared at him for a few moments before his eyes began to water and his lower lip quivered.
Suddenly, Yunho found an armful of the teenager as Jaejoong sobbed into his neck. Confused and worried, he began rubbing soothing circles on the other's back, gingerly asking what was wrong.
"I had a bad dream." Jaejoong brokenly sobbed and hugged him tighter, face burrowed deeper into his neck. "I dreamed you left me and you died. Appa, I was so sad and scared. Don't leave Joongie, okay? Promise me, you won't leave me! I don't want you to leave me. Appa, I don't wanna be alone."
It was apparent that the teen was still half-awake and very much drunk, not really grasping what was going on around him. And though it pained Yunho that he would most probably not remember this in the morning, he had to acknowledge that things couldn't go back to the way they were; at least not yet.
"Sshh, sshh, it's okay. I'm not going anywhere. Appa's here, Joongie." Yunho's eyes misted and a lone tear rolled down his cheek as he held Jaejoong tighter in his embrace, cheek pressed firmly to the side of his head, kissing the mop of his hair. "I'm never gonna leave you again." His eyes fluttered close as more tears trickled down his face. If he was to be honest with himself, it still breaks his heart to think that he wouldn't be able to do this on a regular basis anymore. Starting tomorrow or as soon as his son was sober enough, Yunho would no longer have this freedom and that in itself was tearing him apart.
But for now, he was gonna be content with what little reprieve this night was bringing him.
Slowly, Jaejoong pulled back from the embrace and Yunho was subjected to a pair of tear-filled eyes and tear-stained cheeks. "Appa... sarangheyo." Jaejoong murmured, voice wistful and sad yet still filled with emotions before cupping Yunho's face in his hands. "I will always love you... forever."
Yunho brushed his cheeks gently with the pad of his thumb and laid a soft kiss on his boy's forehead. Hearing his son utter those wonderful words again, it was enough to heal even just a small part of his wounded heart. "I love you so much, Joongie-yah." He professed back, pouring all the love he had for Jaejoong into those precious words. "Appa, will never stop loving you."
Pulling away an inch with every intention to trap his baby in another embrace, Yunho however stilled when he felt soft lips press up against his. Even when Jaejoong was but a child, he had a strong knack of kissing him square on the mouth. It wouldn't have startled him so hard if it was a simple brush just like how his son so often did in the past. But no, Jaejoong's kiss this time- it was something else.
It wasn't a light smack that lasted nothing more than a second. Jaejoong was holding his cheeks and kissing him with fervour and passion... just like how a lover should. "Appa, I want you. Please." Yunho heard him groan before his mouth was once again fused firmly with his son's own in a heated kiss.
The second Jaejoong nibbled on Yunho's bottom lip and an insistent tongue slipped past his mouth, the shock was able to break him out of his frozen stupor. Placing both hands on Jaejoong's shoulders, he quickly yet gently extracted himself from his son's hold, panicked. "J-joongie, stop."
The moment he was able to hold Jaejoong at arm's reach, Yunho blinked, baffled at the sight his boy made. Jaejoong's head was lolling back and his eyes were closed, fast asleep. Yunho blinked again, a sharp exhale of relief coming out of his mouth. He forced himself to calm down and for his hammering heart to get back to it's normal pace. He groaned. "Aish, you're gonna give me a heart attack."
Shaking his head in an attempt to clear his suddenly conflicted mind, Yunho let Jaejoong drop back on the pillows and repeatedly tapped his own cheeks, inhaling and exhaling. "Eish Jung Yunho. Get a hold of yourself." he strongly berated, frowning. "He was drunk. I'm sure he didn't understand what he was doing. There's no way your boy actually meant he wanted you like that."
Forcing his mind to not think of what just transpired between them, Yunho neurotically proceeded to change his boy's school uniform to a more comfortable clothing. It frustrated him how every few seconds, his eyes would linger on Jaejoong's lush, half-parted mouth out of his control.
Yunho blamed it to the shock and the memory of Youngwoong.
Right, as if Youngwoong had anything to do with that, his mind mocked at him. You didn't even think for one second that your son's looks reminded you of Youngwoong if not for that kiss happening.
Yunho ignored the voice and metaphorically zipped it's mouth shut. Looking down at Jaejoong's sleeping form, a doting smile grazed his lips at the peaceful expression adorning his son's face. The teenager stirred in his sleep, arm springing forth to blindly grab at something. His hand landed on Yunho's arm and the latter was suddenly tugged down on the bed, face falling on the spot beside Jaejoong's head.
"Appa..." Jaejoong murmured in his slumber, curling against Yunho's body. Left arm draped across the other's chest, he rested his face at the crook of Yunho's neck and threw a leg over his thighs.
Seeing that he was pretty much locked in place, Yunho mentally chuckled and decided to just make himself comfortable. Turning sideways, he circled an arm around Jaejoong's back and tucked his head directly under his chin. Kissing the soft, dark locks, Yunho closed his eyes and bid him goodnight.
He was gonna worry in the morning over his son's reaction, but right now- Let me just enjoy this.
**
Jaejoong pulled a pillow on top of his head and groaned. Not only was the sunlight seeping through the window being a complete bitch, his head was also giving him hell. Jaejoong inwardly cursed. He remembered his friends taking him to a bar to have fun. Drowning himself in alcohol seemed to be a very tempting idea at that time, but he was seriously regretting it now. He guessed he was so pissed drunk last night he didn't even recall leaving the bar, let alone coming home. Then again, Seunghyun always did took it upon himself to bring him home whenever he was too drunk to function.
Turning to the far side of the bed away from the evil, evil sunlight, Jaejoong slowly pulled himself up while still resting his cheek on the soft, fluffy pillow. He inhaled deeply and a happy, dazed smile grazed his lips. There was something about the scent that was so comforting as it eased his killer headache.
Yawning and rubbing the drowsiness from his eyes, Jaejoong's bladder chose that time to remind him of it's existence as he automatically rested a hand on his lower anatomy. "Ugh, dammit." He jumped out of bed and scrambled for the bathroom. He was still pretty out of it to realize that the door he opened shouldn't have been there or the fact that there was a shower running when he went inside.
After emptying his bladder onto the toilet, Jaejoong stumbled over to the sink and washed his hands before looking up at the mirror. He blinked, realizing that the bathroom he was in sure didn't look like the one he had at home. "Did Seunghyun take me to his house?" He pondered as he looked about him.
The sudden turning of his neck had pain shooting up his head. Jaejoong grimaced, reminded all over again by the killer hangover that he was sporting. Fingers nearly rooting his scalp, the raven-teen stumbled sideways as he lost his footing. Grabbing the nearest thing he could get his hands on, he latched onto the shower curtain and clumsily collided with something on the other side.
Jaejoong yelped, feeling the sensation of the shower spray's onslaught rain down his body, drenching him completely as the world tilted downwards. The raven-teen's eyes closed as he prepared himself for the impact with the floor. But to his surprise, there was something solid, yet soft beneath his body breaking his fall. Opening his eyes, Jaejoong gasped, gaze wide as saucers when he realized his face had landed on a chest. A broad, male, naked chest. Jaejoong almost screamed. He scrambled to pull himself up, unconsciously rubbing his lower half against the exposed body underneath him.
"Are you alright?" Undoubtedly a man's voice asked in obvious concern, but with a mixture of strain could be heard from his way of speech. "Oh god, could you please stop doing that?"
Hastily taking a good look at the face below him with his hands resting absently on the man's chest, Jaejoong's mouth fell agape, struck at how familiar the other's appearance seemed to be. "A-Appa?"
A flicker of emotion flashed in the man's eyes before he slowly sat upright, elbows resting on the tiled floor as he shot Jaejoong an offended look. "Who are you calling appa? Do I look that old to you?"
"W-wait." Jaejoong stammered, baffled, hangover nearly forgotten at the face he was seeing. Slowly, he reached out to touch the man's face, a sharp gasp escaping his throat at how even that, felt very familiar. He looked so much like his Appa, but- he looked as young as he was. "H-how..."
"I saw you last night outside a bar pissed drunk. I didn't know where to take you so I brought you home with me." The teenager, yes teenager just like himself, explained. Jaejoong withdrew his hand, swept under the storm of emotions suddenly coursing through his body. He wasn't his father. Of course he wasn't his father. He was too young to be him. His appa was dead and he was never coming back. Seriously, what the hell was he thinking coming down to that conclusion?
Jaejoong felt his eyes water again.
"Hey, are you okay?" The other worriedly asked, a hand touching his shoulder and Jaejoong nearly sobbed. Why... why did his voice even sounded familiar to him?
He was soaked to the bone now as the shower spray continued to rain down his back, but Jaejoong couldn't even begin to be bothered by the state he was in. He looked at the other's face with glassy, widened eyes. He just lost his father and now he was seeing a boy his age that could almost pass up as a younger version of his appa? Was the universe really fucking with him?
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
Suddenly, the bathroom door was flung open and the shower curtain was pushed aside. "Yah, Yunho! What happened to the kid you brought-" Jaejoong looked up at the older man in sudden horror who was gazing down between them with an almost amused expression. "Am I... interrupting something?"
"Yah! Appa! Get out!" The other teenager spat, sounding absolutely horrified himself at the intrusion.
"Ahh, my baby boy is finally growing up. Yunho-yah, be sure to use protection okay?" The 40-year old looking man, the boy's father teased, and Jaejoong almost felt faint when he heard his name.
"Yah! That wasn't funny!" Yunho, his name was also Yunho raged before the older man sauntered out of the room looking absolutely pleased for embarassing his son in front of a stranger. "Please don't mind what he said. He's got a very twisted sense of humor." Jaejoong was in too deep within his heartache that it took him awhile to get his bearings. "Ummm, can you move? I'm starting to freeze here."
Gaze snapping to the other teen's face, Jaejoong quickly hauled himself up, eyes roaming every corner of the bathroom but the naked body in front of him. "Thanks." He heard the shower being turned off and the shuffling of a towel being used. "By the way, Jaejoong's your name right?"
The raven turned to address him, relieved that he at least had something wrapped around his previously naked waist. "Y-yeah. How'd you know?"
"Saw your school ID." The guy simply replied before standing directly in front of him. Jaejoong looked up, flustered at the close proximity as chills coursed up and down his spine. Or maybe that's just due to the fact that he was soaked. Then again, with the way the droplets of water trickled down the other's neck down to his abs maybe- "It's actually a great coincidence that I saw you last night."
"W-waeyo?" Jaejoong eloquently asked, feeling his heart ram within his chest.
"I'm a transfer student." Yunho smiled and even the way his eyes crinkled into half-moon crescents resembled his father so much. "I'm gonna be be attending the same school you're going to."
No matter how cliche it sounded, Jaejoong felt his knees weaken at his disarming smile.
"You should take a bath since you're already soaked." Yunho suggested as Jaejoong absently nodded. "Don't worry, I got your uniform dry cleaned last night. It should be okay for use today."
And with those words, the teen who shared not only his father's appearance but also his name left the bathroom's premises. Jaejoong fell limply on the bathroom floor, hand firmly clutching at his chest as he felt fresh tears prickle the back of his eyelids. It was official. The universe was out to get him.
A spark of hatred ignited flames in his chest at the reminder of the other teenager's face. How was he supposed to move on and forget his father when that guy exists? And he mentioned something about being school mates as well. Jaejoong was suddenly angry, angrier than he's ever been his entire life.
And yet, he couldn't help but be drawn to him.
**
Perched on the bed with his shoulders hunched, Yunho's entire body trembled in barely suppressed self control. Even though he's already drilled it into his head that he shouldn't show Jaejoong any indication that he liked him more than a concerned stranger should, he knew it still seeped through his gestures.
It took almost his entire self-control to not fuss over his son when he fell on top of him. When he saw Jaejoong shivering from the cold, he almost forgot himself and he would've trapped him in his arms in a warm hug if he weren't able to hold back at the last second. Hearing Jaejoong call him Appa, Yunho nearly blurted it out right then and there that yes, it was him, that he was Appa.
"Shit." Yunho cursed under his breath as he took in a deep, calming breath. In time he knew that he would be able to adjust to the situation. He just hoped that he didn't manage to mess up and screw up his relationship with his son so much more than it already was.
Right now, he should be content of being merely his friend.
Rubbing a hand across his face, Yunho stood up and knocked on the bathroom door, clearing his throat. "Jaejoong-sshi, you can join us for breakfast if you want. Just come downstairs okay?"
"N-ne." came Jaejoong's weak reply from the other side. Yunho's forehead connected with the door, teeth gritted, jaw clenched. "Joongie, please bear with it for now. I know we'll be together soon and I'll finally be able to love you freely like how I used to." he silently murmured, clinging to the hope of Max's promise that he could tell Jaejoong everything when the right time came.
Speaking of which.
Tearing himself from his spot, Yunho opened his bedroom door and stalked down towards the dining room. What the hell was up with that angel? When Max came bursting in and began teasing them with their compromising position on the floor, it was seriously the last thing he expected for the angel to do. He knew firsthand that Jaejoong was his son, so what gave him the idea to make those lewd remarks?
How he desired to cave his face in for making such stupid jokes.
Next
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A/N: Thanks to everyone that wished me well =) My neck has a good range of motion now after my visits to the chiropractor, but he did saw that I have to continue treatment to straighten my spine ;_; but seriously, I am SCARED. Whenever he cracks something in my body, I feel really bad afterwards, like "I'm-about-to-die" kind of feelings. I've suffered from constant nausea, vomiting, lethargy, dizziness and headaches after the session and I don't really wanna go through that again. Though, I'm feeling quite better now, I'm still scared with the after effect T_T
Anyway, comments are always loved and fawned over like WOAH!!! Doc still told me not to spend too much time on the computer that's why my updates are gonna be a little bit late. Maybe once a week or once in 12 days at the most. Please bear with me people T^T Thank you so much for everyone that's been encouraging me and leaving such wonderful comments about the story and also sharing your thoughts on the story so far. It really makes me feel like I've done something good to have the readers actually talk about the plot and the progression with each chapter =) Kamsamnidaaa!!!