Fic: Searching for... ... - Chapter 3B
Title: Searching for... ... - Chapter 3B
Author: vic_sim
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, anything, except for the plot.
Characters: Super Junior + Henry, Zhou Mi, DBSK
Category: General
Rating: PG-13
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Kyuhyun walked into the café, noting that there was a different person behind the counter today.
“Kyuhyun-sshi, you’re early!”
Kyuhyun nodded his head, greeting the shorter boy.
“Good afternoon, Ryeowook-sshi.”
Ryeowook nodded happily, seeing that the other was willing to talk to him, despite what happened during their first meeting. Kyuhyun disappeared behind the kitchen to change and Ryeowook could not help but wonder why Kyuhyun had reacted the way he did that time. He had heard from Henry that the taller boy did not talk much to either of his roommates, but his other roommate - Changmin-sshi - almost worshipped Kyuhyun for all the food Kyuhyun had been feeding them with. At that thought, Ryeowook reminded himself to invite the other two to the café someday, seeing how food obsessed Henry and his roommate seemed to be.
Kyuhyun slowly changed into his working clothes at the locker, mumbling to himself.
“They are not the same person. Stop waiting for him to find you. You promised to start afresh. You promised Brian-sshi to look ahead.”
Kyuhyun nodded to himself, straightening his shirt before he left the room.
“Ryeowook-sshi.” The shorter boy turned towards him, not stopping in his cleaning of the table.
“I wish to apologise for my reaction that day.”
Ryeowook corked his head.
“You simply reminded me of my…friend in the past.” Kyuhyun tried to find a word to describe him, finally settling on friend.
Ryeowook shook his head, smiling at Kyuhyun.
“It’s alright. Shall we start again? I’m Ryeowook.” Ryeowook placed his hand in front of him.
Kyuhyun looked at Ryeowook, then towards the hand. Smiling slightly, Kyuhyun grasped Ryeowook’s hand.
“I’m Kyuhyun.”
Ryeowook smiled happily, bouncing away towards the sink to wash his cloth, leaving Kyuhyun to stare bemused at Ryeowook.
“I’m sorry I’m late!”
Kyuhyun glanced up from the coffee machine to see a figure rushed towards the locker. Before he could ask who it was, Ryeowook answered the question.
“Joongie-hyung, you don’t have to rush. We still have time before we open.”
Joongie-hyung?
As Kyuhyun puzzled over the name, the figure emerged from the locker rooms.
The figure looked at Kyuhyun, exclaiming. “Kyuhyun-sshi! I didn’t know you worked here.”
“That could be said the same for you Jaejoong-sshi.”
And that answers my question of whether Hankyung-sshi knows Jaejoong-sshi.
Jaejoong laughed. “True. Oh and don’t need to call me Jaejoong-sshi. You can call me Hyung, Joongie-hyung, or even Jae-Umma like what Chunnie and Su do.”
Jae-Umma? And who are Chunnie and Su? Kyuhyun wondered.
“Jae, you’re not planning to kidnap him from me, are you?”
The two turned towards the newcomer.
“Teukie ah, since when is he yours?”
“Since Hae claimed him, and Hae is mine, so he is mine as well.”
Since when have I gained an Umma? Kyuhyun puzzled over when he had suddenly gained two male mothers, not matter how feminine they look. Ryeowook walked up next to him, as they watched the two Ummas tried to establish whose child Kyuhyun was.
“Don’t bother with them. Just accept it.” Kyuhyun nodded, unsure whether he wanted to be associated with such a weird family dynamics.
“You already have Henry!”
“And you Changmin!”
“But you already have 12! I only have 4!”
“I want to see you being the one to explain to Hae.”
Jaejoong fell silent, knowing that Leeteuk had won with that statement. They had yet to find anyone who was able to resist Donghae’s puppy eyes.
“Compromise?”
Leeteuk stared at Jaejoong.
“He belongs to both.”
Leeteuk nodded, shaking hands with Jaejoong.
“Done.”
Ryeowook rolled his eyes at the two. “Ignore them. They behave like kids at times.”
“What did you say Wookie?”
“Nothing Teukie-Umma.” Ryeowook pulled off an angelic look, gaining a satisfied nod from Leeteuk.
Kyuhyun raised an eyebrow at Ryeowook, not suspecting the innocent-looking boy could do that.
“Joongie-hyung, we’re opening!”
Leeteuk sat down at one corner as Jaejoong moved to open the door to the café.
Kyuhyun was left to man the counter and the coffee machine as Ryeowook served Leeteuk and Jaejoong welcomed their second customer for the day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kyuhyun stretched as they bid goodbye to their last customer. Leeteuk had left when Kangin appeared in at the shop, with Ryeowook waving enthusiastically at them as they left. It had been a busy day for the café, with an endless stream of people coming in and out. It was expected though for it was a Friday, meaning that people had time to relax for the weekend ahead. Kyuhyun was surprised that Ryeowook’s mother did not appear in the shop, but he did not query about it.
“Joongie-hyung, Kyuhyun, any preference to what kind of food?” Kyuhyun looked up. He thought that the only people who offered the food were Hankyung-sshi and his mother. It turned out that it ran in the family. Jaejoong shook his head, a loving expression appearing on his face.
“Yunho is coming.”
Ryeowook nodded as if that answered the question, and indeed it did. Ryeowook turned to Kyuhyun, who tried to say that it was not needed.
“I can’t finish all the food anyways. Besides, you have two roommates who might want them don’t you?”
Phrased that way, Kyuhyun was unable to deny Ryeowook, especially when the other gave him a pout. Kyuhyun nodded, causing Ryeowook to turn happily into the kitchen, wondering aloud what he could create with the food.
Jaejoong picked up the mop and began cleaning the floor. There was not much to clean for the day had been exceptionally sunny, hence bringing customers with relatively clean shoes. He started humming a tune, something he did every time when he was cleaning. As he paused to dip the mop into the bucket, he heard someone humming the exact same tune. He whirled around, staring at the only other person in the place.
“Kyuhyun, how do you know the tune?”
Kyuhyun looked up from his cleaning. “What tune?”
He had not realized he had been humming.
Jaejoong hummed the tune, causing Kyuhyun to drop the cloth on the table.
“How do you know the tune?” This time, Kyuhyun asked the same question.
Jaejoong walked closer to Kyuhyun, dragging the wet mop behind him.
“Hyunnie?”
Kyuhyun had to blink back at the name. It had been years since he had heard that. And there was only one person who called him that.
“Jaejoongie!”
Jaejoong was distracted by the call of his name.
“Yunho!”
Jaejoong turned around to see Yunho entering the shop.
“I’m almost done. Just wait for a few minutes.”
Jaejoong quickly cleaned the rest of the floor, dashing to the locker to be changed. In his haste, he did not notice the calculating look Yunho gave Kyuhyun.
Jaejoong came out of the locker rooms, carrying his bag. He popped his head into the kitchen, bidding goodbye to Ryeowook. Grabbing Yunho’s hand, Jaejoong pulled his boyfriend towards the door.
“Bye Kyuhyun! We’ll see you around!”
As they left the café, Jaejoong suddenly paused, turning to look at the door that was swinging close.
Jae-ie-hyung…
All he saw was Kyuhyun back at cleaning the counter.
“Jaejoongie?” Yunho’s concerned voice reached his ears.
Jaejoong turned back to Yunho, shaking his head.
“I thought I heard someone call me. But it’s nothing.”
“You sure? You’re not overworking are you?”
“I’m fine, Yunnie. What shall we have for dinner?”
Yunho cast one last worried look at Jaejoong, before submitting to Jaejoong’s question.
As Yunho suggested several places, Jaejoong scolded himself mentally.
They’re not the same person, Kim Jaejoong. One, Hyunnie should either be at his third year in high school, or just entering university. Two, for all you know, the two of you did not come up with the tune yourself. Jaejoong shook his head. The first sign of mental illness is talking to yourself.
Jaejoong forced himself to listen to Yunho, putting the events that just occurred behind.
“So what do you think, Jaejoongie?”
“Anything is fine.”
Yunho nodded, dragging Jaejoong towards the restaurant he had just pointed out. Yunho had seen the way Jaejoong was looking at the other boy - was it Kyuhyun? - at the café just now. I’m not letting anyone steal you from me, Jaejoongie, especially not some new boy, whoever he is.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Part C