Second Chances (Chapter 30d)
Title: Second Chances
Author: VampireMadonna
Pairing: Main: YunJae; Secondary: JaeMin, HoMin
Rating: PG-13
Length: Chaptered
Summary: After Changmin's death, how are Jae and Yunho going to cope with their grief and their increasing attraction to each other?
A week later…
“Are you sure you have to go?”
Jaejoong sighed, trying to be patient. His mother had asked that question at least twenty times - a million if he wanted to exaggerate - since he’d gotten there.
It was his and Yunho’s last morning in New York, their flight to South Korea leaving in three hours. They’d spent the last two days at his parents’ house, his sisters and their brood of brats having descended to make it a family affair.
“I’m not sure how I feel about this,” his middle sister, Sohyun, spoke up.
“No one asked for you opinion,” Jaejoong retorted.
“Jaejoong!” his mother admonished.
“I mean…he already hurt him once, how do we know that he won’t hurt him again?” Sohyun continued, as if her brother hadn’t spoken.
Yunho blushed deeply and Jaejoong gave the hand he held beneath the breakfast table a comforting squeeze.
“So!” his mother exclaimed, turning on her daughter.
“What?” the offender asked, doing her best to look innocent. “He’s my baby brother, I love him,” she said defensively.
“Oh, please,” Jaejoong muttered. At his mother’s glare, he put on his best “good boy” expression and said, “Yes, mom, I do have to go. Yunho already delayed an important venture to give me more time to prepare to leave, time to say goodbye to everyone.”
Yunho smiled inwardly as Jaejoong spoke, noting how he didn’t bother to mention that the day after their…reconciliation, he’d arranged a video conference with the owner of the business Yunho’s company was planning to buy and, pretending to be Yunho’s secretary, said in no uncertain terms that Mr. Jung was unavailable for the foreseeable future and while he was most interested in a business arrangement with the man/company in question, he did not appreciate being threatened or having his hand force and if the heavy-handedness in which the order to appear in person had come down was any indication, perhaps forgoing a business relationship was best altogether. The owner of the company had bristled and gone off but in less than five minutes, his secretary returned to wish Mr. Jung luck on his trip and a speedy return, adding that his boss was more than satisfied with the way Mr. Jung’s associates had handled the buyout thus far and he would patiently await Yunho’s return.
Yunho had been in awe. Jaejoong was a master at dealing with difficult people, it seemed. Yunho himself was rather soft-handed, a fact that his father often mentioned he needed to work on if he wanted to last and stay sane in the business world. Even hard-hitting Hana couldn’t deal with the man, thus she’d turned to Yunho feeling like she had no other choice. Yet Jaejoong came along and cleaned up the situation in a mere five minutes. If he wasn’t head over heels in love with him already, he would definitely have fallen hard then.
Jaejoong also didn’t mention that he’d done most of his preparation in the five days where he’d supposedly been ignoring Yunho. Yunho had been a little embarrassed when he’d found out that Stefan and Maggie had been helping Jae settle his business affairs all along. There wasn’t much that needed doing since they’d already had experience with Jae living in South Korea and them handling things back in New York, they just needed a more permanent arrangement because Jae wouldn’t be coming back this time, not for any lengthy period at least. He’d decided to reassign his customers, the ones that were easiest to work with, and the ones that couldn’t be reassigned - Kitty and her ilk - he would keep and return to New York to work with them but only for a couple of major events a year. He’d given them the option of suggesting other firms they could work with but they’d sworn their loyalty to Jaejoong. Yunho had been surprised yet touched by it. Only one customer chose to walk but Jaejoong said it was no huge loss because she was cheap and a pain in the ass anyway. For Jaejoong to call someone a pain in the ass and mean it… The woman had to be a termagant. The three friends also decided that, perhaps, it would be a good idea to open a small branch in South Korea. There was no guarantee that it would be a success but there was no harm in trying. And it would give Jaejoong something to do.
“I understand,” Jaejoong’s mother was saying. “It’s just hard to think of you so far away from us, on your own.”
“Mom…” Jaejoong reached his free hand across the table to pat hers. “I won’t be alone. I have Yunho. You know him. More importantly, you like him.” His gaze shifted to his sister, cooling considerably. “And there are no guarantees in life or love. You should know from personal experience, right noona?”
Sohyun’s eyes widened in shock then narrowed a second later. “You little…”
“Enough!” His mother snapped. If the two of them got started, they’d never stop. It was common knowledge that Sohyun had horrible luck when it came to relationships; it certainly didn’t help that her baby brother, her gay baby brother, had found and settled down with the man of his dreams. She was the only one of her children that was still unattached.
“I’ll miss you, Joongie,” his eldest sister spoke up. Although Jaejoong loved all his sisters, he liked her and the youngest the most. “It feels like we only just got you back but I can see how happy you are, how perfect you are together, and I know you’ll be okay.”
Jaejoong flushed prettily. “Thanks noona.”
His father, a usually silent, unemotional man, surprised them all by saying, “Make sure you keep in touch regularly. And visit, as often as you can.”
Jaejoong smiled at him. “I will, dad. I’ll call every Sunday. And I’ll come back for Christmas, or New Year’s.”
When his phone rang, Jaejoong stood without bothering to look at it.
“I think that’s Stef. We’ve got to go.”
There were a lot of hugs, kisses and tears. Even Sohyun cried and squeezed him tightly when it was her turn and he didn’t have to force himself to lie when he said he was going to miss her: he meant it. The last time he’d left, it was with every intention of coming back. This time was different and everyone knew it. It scared him a little, he had to admit, but he was excited as well, looking forward to really starting his life with Yunho.
“Take care of my baby,” his mother said as she kissed Yunho’s cheeks.
“If anything happens to him, I’m coming to get you,” Sohyun swore. “And I already talk to your sister so don’t think I won’t find out!”
Yunho smiled. She’d reminded him of EunHye the minute he’d met her so it didn’t surprise him that they knew each other.
“He’s my most precious possession,” he assured her. “I’d sacrifice myself before I let him get hurt.”
After another round of tearful goodbyes, they were on their way to the airport. Driving through the city, Jaejoong kept up an endless stream of chatter, partly due to nerves. The closer he got to the airport, the realer his situation became. Yunho had come for him, like he’d hoped, and he was taking him back home.
“I love my loft, it’s my baby, so remember to screen applicants as closely as you can,” he was saying.
“Jae, we heard you the first time,” Maggie grumbled.
“I know but…”
He broke off as his eyes fell an a beautiful glass building as the sun reflected off of it, making it seem as if it was nothing more than a huge mirror.
“Stop!” he ordered. “Stop the car.” He turned to Yunho. “There’s something…someone I need to say goodbye to.”
As soon as Stefan pulled to the curb, he jumped out.
Stefan and Maggie exchanged a knowing look, both glancing at Yunho out of the corner of their eyes.
Yunho smiled at them reassuringly, understanding what Jaejoong’s words and their looks meant. Jaejoong had never talked about the guy Stefan mentioned but he clearly existed and he’d obviously meant something to Jae.
Jaejoong ran across the busy street, barely dodging a cab, the cabby honking his horn rudely behind him. He stopped to calm his breath before he pushed open the door and entered the lobby. He walked directly to Kai’s secretary and asked if he was in. She recognized him but when she went to buzz Kai, he asked her not to announce him.
Walking down the hall to Kai’s office, he wondered what he could possibly say to make up for ignoring him for two months. No…he hadn’t exactly ignored him. He’d been on his mind a lot, he just hadn’t given in to the urge to do something about it.
He knocked on the door and when he heard a muffled “come in”, he slowly pushed it open.
Kai was just as handsome as he remembered. He froze momentarily, stunned by Jaejoong’s sudden appearance, before his face split in a huge grin.
“Jae.”
Jaejoong smiled, feeling his lips tremble, his eyes beginning to burn slightly. “Hi.”
“What are you doing here?” he asked, walking around his desk. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“It was…spur of the moment,” Jaejoong replied. It was the truth, more or less.
“I wish I’d known you were coming, I would’ve cleared some time for you. I have a business lunch that, unfortunately, I can’t get out of.”
Jaejoong shook his head. “It’s okay. I…” Deep breath in, slow breath out. “Actually, I came to say goodbye.”
Kai’s smile slipped. “Goodbye?”
“I’m going back…to South Korea. For good.”
Why did he feel like he couldn’t breathe? He and Kai hadn’t officially been together but he felt like he was breaking up with him and he hated it. Kai was so sweet and wonderful… He’d never been in a situation where he cared about two people at the same time and to such an extent. He loved Yunho: there was only Yunho. But Kai was someone who, if the circumstances were different, he knew he could have loved. He was sure of it.
“South Korea… I see.”
Jae had no doubt that he did see. Kai knew the reason he’d gone to South Korea the last time, and the reason he’d stayed. It didn’t take a genius to figure why he was going back.
“I’m sorry,” Jaejoong breathed, his voice breaking slightly. “I didn’t mean for it to end up like this. I never meant to lead you on and I hate that I was such a coward, too afraid to face you these past months. I’m not going to make any excuses, I just want you to know how sorry I am.”
Though it killed him, Kai smiled. He walked up to Jaejoong and brushed his tears away with gentle fingers.
“Come on, now,” he said. “This is a happy time.”
Jaejoong shook his head, struggling to hold back the deluge that threatened to come. He was surprised by just how affected he was.
“I just want you to be happy and I think you are now. We had fun, neither of us made any promises so don’t feel bad. You were up front with me the entire time so any bruised feelings I have are my own fault. It’s impossible not to fall for you, though,” he teased. “You need to stop being so damn adorable.”
Jaejoong laughed tearfully and threw his arms around Kai’s neck, burying his face in his shoulder. He would miss him, miss the way he made him feel. Kai was such an easy guy to like. He was fun, so cool and laid-back. There was no pressure, none of the intensity that there usually was with Yunho. But, he’d made his bed and he was happy going to lie in it. With Yunho. They were going to flame until they burned out. He’d always been a fire over water kind of guy anyway.
Kai pushed him away and knuckled his tears again. “Go…and be happy. If you really want to make it up to me, then make sure that those shadows in your eyes never come back. I hope that whoever he is, he knows how lucky he is.”
Jaejoong smiled fully this time. “He does.”
Lucky bastard, Kai thought. He was tempted to know who he was, to see him with his own two eyes and size him up, but it was better this way. It would be harder if he saw them together. At least he had his memories with Jaejoong to tide him over until his heart was ready to connect with someone new.
“You’ll find him,” Jaejoong said abruptly. “The one for you… You’ll find him. Someone like you could never stay single for long. As soon as I’m gone, there’ll be a million guys lining up outside your door. I hope whoever you choose deserves you. You deserve the best. You’re the closest to perfect I’ve ever met.”
Before he got emotional again, Jaejoong pressed his lips to Kai’s for a short, hard kiss, then turned around and sped out the open door, not bothering to close it behind him.
As he watched him go, Kai hoped Jaejoong was right. But if he was, why did he feel like the best had just walked out his door?
“I’ve never been good at goodbyes,” Maggie said, sniffling softly.
She hugged Yunho, kissing his cheek. “Take care of m’boy. If you hurt him again, I’ll castrate you m’self, swear I will.”
Yunho grinned. “You might have to get in line, behind my sister and his own.”
“Yes, well… Us girls are very protective of our Princess.”
Everyone ignored Jaejoong’s soft growl.
Turning to Jaejoong, she kissed both cheeks before kissing him softly on the lips and enveloping him in her arms. “I’ll miss you.”
Jaejoong rubbed her back, urging himself not to give into the overwhelming need to be emotional. He’d already been a mess after seeing Kai, he didn’t know how he was going to get through saying goodbye to his two favorite people in the world.
“Miss you too, Red.”
He kissed her cheek and released her, turning to Stef. He took a deep breath, blowing it out slowly. Stef was like Changmin: a piece of his heart, another soul that blended so perfectly with his own.
“Now now, Princess, no waterworks,” Stef teased. “You’ll ruin your mascara.”
“Asshole,” Jaejoong breathed, burying his face in Stef’s chest as he pulled him into his arms. He allowed a few tears to escape, sniffling softly and wiping the accompanying wetness of Stef’s shirt. They stayed like that for several minutes before either one made a move to pull away.
Like Kai earlier, Stef dried his tears. “Now I expect you to be deliriously happy, okay? I’ll need someone to live vicariously through once this one here shackles me with the old ball and chain.”
He admirably ignored the hard smack on his back that followed his words.
“Seriously, though,” Stef continued, all trace of humor gone. “I have great expectations of the both of you. Don’t let me down.” His eyes swung to Yunho’s and at Yunho’s nod, he met Jaejoong’s gaze once again. Kissing Jaejoong’s forehead, he gave him one last bear hug before turning him over to Yunho’s waiting arms.
As Yunho led Jaejoong into the airport, he didn’t look back.
He wasn’t saying goodbye to his past. Everything and everyone he cared about would always be there for him in New York if and when he needed them.
No, there were no real goodbyes. Only second chances and new beginnings…
Author: VampireMadonna
Pairing: Main: YunJae; Secondary: JaeMin, HoMin
Rating: PG-13
Length: Chaptered
Summary: After Changmin's death, how are Jae and Yunho going to cope with their grief and their increasing attraction to each other?
A week later…
“Are you sure you have to go?”
Jaejoong sighed, trying to be patient. His mother had asked that question at least twenty times - a million if he wanted to exaggerate - since he’d gotten there.
It was his and Yunho’s last morning in New York, their flight to South Korea leaving in three hours. They’d spent the last two days at his parents’ house, his sisters and their brood of brats having descended to make it a family affair.
“I’m not sure how I feel about this,” his middle sister, Sohyun, spoke up.
“No one asked for you opinion,” Jaejoong retorted.
“Jaejoong!” his mother admonished.
“I mean…he already hurt him once, how do we know that he won’t hurt him again?” Sohyun continued, as if her brother hadn’t spoken.
Yunho blushed deeply and Jaejoong gave the hand he held beneath the breakfast table a comforting squeeze.
“So!” his mother exclaimed, turning on her daughter.
“What?” the offender asked, doing her best to look innocent. “He’s my baby brother, I love him,” she said defensively.
“Oh, please,” Jaejoong muttered. At his mother’s glare, he put on his best “good boy” expression and said, “Yes, mom, I do have to go. Yunho already delayed an important venture to give me more time to prepare to leave, time to say goodbye to everyone.”
Yunho smiled inwardly as Jaejoong spoke, noting how he didn’t bother to mention that the day after their…reconciliation, he’d arranged a video conference with the owner of the business Yunho’s company was planning to buy and, pretending to be Yunho’s secretary, said in no uncertain terms that Mr. Jung was unavailable for the foreseeable future and while he was most interested in a business arrangement with the man/company in question, he did not appreciate being threatened or having his hand force and if the heavy-handedness in which the order to appear in person had come down was any indication, perhaps forgoing a business relationship was best altogether. The owner of the company had bristled and gone off but in less than five minutes, his secretary returned to wish Mr. Jung luck on his trip and a speedy return, adding that his boss was more than satisfied with the way Mr. Jung’s associates had handled the buyout thus far and he would patiently await Yunho’s return.
Yunho had been in awe. Jaejoong was a master at dealing with difficult people, it seemed. Yunho himself was rather soft-handed, a fact that his father often mentioned he needed to work on if he wanted to last and stay sane in the business world. Even hard-hitting Hana couldn’t deal with the man, thus she’d turned to Yunho feeling like she had no other choice. Yet Jaejoong came along and cleaned up the situation in a mere five minutes. If he wasn’t head over heels in love with him already, he would definitely have fallen hard then.
Jaejoong also didn’t mention that he’d done most of his preparation in the five days where he’d supposedly been ignoring Yunho. Yunho had been a little embarrassed when he’d found out that Stefan and Maggie had been helping Jae settle his business affairs all along. There wasn’t much that needed doing since they’d already had experience with Jae living in South Korea and them handling things back in New York, they just needed a more permanent arrangement because Jae wouldn’t be coming back this time, not for any lengthy period at least. He’d decided to reassign his customers, the ones that were easiest to work with, and the ones that couldn’t be reassigned - Kitty and her ilk - he would keep and return to New York to work with them but only for a couple of major events a year. He’d given them the option of suggesting other firms they could work with but they’d sworn their loyalty to Jaejoong. Yunho had been surprised yet touched by it. Only one customer chose to walk but Jaejoong said it was no huge loss because she was cheap and a pain in the ass anyway. For Jaejoong to call someone a pain in the ass and mean it… The woman had to be a termagant. The three friends also decided that, perhaps, it would be a good idea to open a small branch in South Korea. There was no guarantee that it would be a success but there was no harm in trying. And it would give Jaejoong something to do.
“I understand,” Jaejoong’s mother was saying. “It’s just hard to think of you so far away from us, on your own.”
“Mom…” Jaejoong reached his free hand across the table to pat hers. “I won’t be alone. I have Yunho. You know him. More importantly, you like him.” His gaze shifted to his sister, cooling considerably. “And there are no guarantees in life or love. You should know from personal experience, right noona?”
Sohyun’s eyes widened in shock then narrowed a second later. “You little…”
“Enough!” His mother snapped. If the two of them got started, they’d never stop. It was common knowledge that Sohyun had horrible luck when it came to relationships; it certainly didn’t help that her baby brother, her gay baby brother, had found and settled down with the man of his dreams. She was the only one of her children that was still unattached.
“I’ll miss you, Joongie,” his eldest sister spoke up. Although Jaejoong loved all his sisters, he liked her and the youngest the most. “It feels like we only just got you back but I can see how happy you are, how perfect you are together, and I know you’ll be okay.”
Jaejoong flushed prettily. “Thanks noona.”
His father, a usually silent, unemotional man, surprised them all by saying, “Make sure you keep in touch regularly. And visit, as often as you can.”
Jaejoong smiled at him. “I will, dad. I’ll call every Sunday. And I’ll come back for Christmas, or New Year’s.”
When his phone rang, Jaejoong stood without bothering to look at it.
“I think that’s Stef. We’ve got to go.”
There were a lot of hugs, kisses and tears. Even Sohyun cried and squeezed him tightly when it was her turn and he didn’t have to force himself to lie when he said he was going to miss her: he meant it. The last time he’d left, it was with every intention of coming back. This time was different and everyone knew it. It scared him a little, he had to admit, but he was excited as well, looking forward to really starting his life with Yunho.
“Take care of my baby,” his mother said as she kissed Yunho’s cheeks.
“If anything happens to him, I’m coming to get you,” Sohyun swore. “And I already talk to your sister so don’t think I won’t find out!”
Yunho smiled. She’d reminded him of EunHye the minute he’d met her so it didn’t surprise him that they knew each other.
“He’s my most precious possession,” he assured her. “I’d sacrifice myself before I let him get hurt.”
After another round of tearful goodbyes, they were on their way to the airport. Driving through the city, Jaejoong kept up an endless stream of chatter, partly due to nerves. The closer he got to the airport, the realer his situation became. Yunho had come for him, like he’d hoped, and he was taking him back home.
“I love my loft, it’s my baby, so remember to screen applicants as closely as you can,” he was saying.
“Jae, we heard you the first time,” Maggie grumbled.
“I know but…”
He broke off as his eyes fell an a beautiful glass building as the sun reflected off of it, making it seem as if it was nothing more than a huge mirror.
“Stop!” he ordered. “Stop the car.” He turned to Yunho. “There’s something…someone I need to say goodbye to.”
As soon as Stefan pulled to the curb, he jumped out.
Stefan and Maggie exchanged a knowing look, both glancing at Yunho out of the corner of their eyes.
Yunho smiled at them reassuringly, understanding what Jaejoong’s words and their looks meant. Jaejoong had never talked about the guy Stefan mentioned but he clearly existed and he’d obviously meant something to Jae.
Jaejoong ran across the busy street, barely dodging a cab, the cabby honking his horn rudely behind him. He stopped to calm his breath before he pushed open the door and entered the lobby. He walked directly to Kai’s secretary and asked if he was in. She recognized him but when she went to buzz Kai, he asked her not to announce him.
Walking down the hall to Kai’s office, he wondered what he could possibly say to make up for ignoring him for two months. No…he hadn’t exactly ignored him. He’d been on his mind a lot, he just hadn’t given in to the urge to do something about it.
He knocked on the door and when he heard a muffled “come in”, he slowly pushed it open.
Kai was just as handsome as he remembered. He froze momentarily, stunned by Jaejoong’s sudden appearance, before his face split in a huge grin.
“Jae.”
Jaejoong smiled, feeling his lips tremble, his eyes beginning to burn slightly. “Hi.”
“What are you doing here?” he asked, walking around his desk. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“It was…spur of the moment,” Jaejoong replied. It was the truth, more or less.
“I wish I’d known you were coming, I would’ve cleared some time for you. I have a business lunch that, unfortunately, I can’t get out of.”
Jaejoong shook his head. “It’s okay. I…” Deep breath in, slow breath out. “Actually, I came to say goodbye.”
Kai’s smile slipped. “Goodbye?”
“I’m going back…to South Korea. For good.”
Why did he feel like he couldn’t breathe? He and Kai hadn’t officially been together but he felt like he was breaking up with him and he hated it. Kai was so sweet and wonderful… He’d never been in a situation where he cared about two people at the same time and to such an extent. He loved Yunho: there was only Yunho. But Kai was someone who, if the circumstances were different, he knew he could have loved. He was sure of it.
“South Korea… I see.”
Jae had no doubt that he did see. Kai knew the reason he’d gone to South Korea the last time, and the reason he’d stayed. It didn’t take a genius to figure why he was going back.
“I’m sorry,” Jaejoong breathed, his voice breaking slightly. “I didn’t mean for it to end up like this. I never meant to lead you on and I hate that I was such a coward, too afraid to face you these past months. I’m not going to make any excuses, I just want you to know how sorry I am.”
Though it killed him, Kai smiled. He walked up to Jaejoong and brushed his tears away with gentle fingers.
“Come on, now,” he said. “This is a happy time.”
Jaejoong shook his head, struggling to hold back the deluge that threatened to come. He was surprised by just how affected he was.
“I just want you to be happy and I think you are now. We had fun, neither of us made any promises so don’t feel bad. You were up front with me the entire time so any bruised feelings I have are my own fault. It’s impossible not to fall for you, though,” he teased. “You need to stop being so damn adorable.”
Jaejoong laughed tearfully and threw his arms around Kai’s neck, burying his face in his shoulder. He would miss him, miss the way he made him feel. Kai was such an easy guy to like. He was fun, so cool and laid-back. There was no pressure, none of the intensity that there usually was with Yunho. But, he’d made his bed and he was happy going to lie in it. With Yunho. They were going to flame until they burned out. He’d always been a fire over water kind of guy anyway.
Kai pushed him away and knuckled his tears again. “Go…and be happy. If you really want to make it up to me, then make sure that those shadows in your eyes never come back. I hope that whoever he is, he knows how lucky he is.”
Jaejoong smiled fully this time. “He does.”
Lucky bastard, Kai thought. He was tempted to know who he was, to see him with his own two eyes and size him up, but it was better this way. It would be harder if he saw them together. At least he had his memories with Jaejoong to tide him over until his heart was ready to connect with someone new.
“You’ll find him,” Jaejoong said abruptly. “The one for you… You’ll find him. Someone like you could never stay single for long. As soon as I’m gone, there’ll be a million guys lining up outside your door. I hope whoever you choose deserves you. You deserve the best. You’re the closest to perfect I’ve ever met.”
Before he got emotional again, Jaejoong pressed his lips to Kai’s for a short, hard kiss, then turned around and sped out the open door, not bothering to close it behind him.
As he watched him go, Kai hoped Jaejoong was right. But if he was, why did he feel like the best had just walked out his door?
“I’ve never been good at goodbyes,” Maggie said, sniffling softly.
She hugged Yunho, kissing his cheek. “Take care of m’boy. If you hurt him again, I’ll castrate you m’self, swear I will.”
Yunho grinned. “You might have to get in line, behind my sister and his own.”
“Yes, well… Us girls are very protective of our Princess.”
Everyone ignored Jaejoong’s soft growl.
Turning to Jaejoong, she kissed both cheeks before kissing him softly on the lips and enveloping him in her arms. “I’ll miss you.”
Jaejoong rubbed her back, urging himself not to give into the overwhelming need to be emotional. He’d already been a mess after seeing Kai, he didn’t know how he was going to get through saying goodbye to his two favorite people in the world.
“Miss you too, Red.”
He kissed her cheek and released her, turning to Stef. He took a deep breath, blowing it out slowly. Stef was like Changmin: a piece of his heart, another soul that blended so perfectly with his own.
“Now now, Princess, no waterworks,” Stef teased. “You’ll ruin your mascara.”
“Asshole,” Jaejoong breathed, burying his face in Stef’s chest as he pulled him into his arms. He allowed a few tears to escape, sniffling softly and wiping the accompanying wetness of Stef’s shirt. They stayed like that for several minutes before either one made a move to pull away.
Like Kai earlier, Stef dried his tears. “Now I expect you to be deliriously happy, okay? I’ll need someone to live vicariously through once this one here shackles me with the old ball and chain.”
He admirably ignored the hard smack on his back that followed his words.
“Seriously, though,” Stef continued, all trace of humor gone. “I have great expectations of the both of you. Don’t let me down.” His eyes swung to Yunho’s and at Yunho’s nod, he met Jaejoong’s gaze once again. Kissing Jaejoong’s forehead, he gave him one last bear hug before turning him over to Yunho’s waiting arms.
As Yunho led Jaejoong into the airport, he didn’t look back.
He wasn’t saying goodbye to his past. Everything and everyone he cared about would always be there for him in New York if and when he needed them.
No, there were no real goodbyes. Only second chances and new beginnings…