[Drabble] Boundaries [4/?]
4. With All My Heart
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So the second time they meet, it’s the award show’s after party.
Back in his twenties and thirties, Jaejoong had been very liberal with attending social events, drinking, partying and dancing. It may have been the sudden strain of age-or just his doctor’s diagnosis of his liver-made Jaejoong become scarce at these scenes after he hit forty.
Watching the younger idols having a blast made Jaejoong think of the days he would be the one in the middle of the stage doing the same things. But he was forty-three already. He was past the time of drunken partying and public nonsense.
He was just going to kick back and watch the fun. He had found a corner with some of his colleagues closer to his generation and they had begun to just drink and catch up like the old geezers they were.
“DBSK’s doing very well,” Eugene from the former girl group S.E.S. commented. “Jung Yunho’s a cute kid. He came up to me several months ago and told me that he was a big fan. I was surprised! Is he old enough to know me during my S.E.S. days?”
“I heard he said the same to Jaejoong here,” Kangta injected. Jaejoong frowned at the former H.O.T. member and now mostly actor. “When did JYJ debut? Twenty something years ago? The boy wasn’t even alive when you, Junsu and Yoochun first took to the stage.”
“Doesn’t that make you even older, sunbae?” Jaejoong scoffed a little bitter and more sarcastic than he originally meant.
“Jaejoong-hyung,” Kim Hyunjoong chided his friend with a smile. “Don’t be so mean. It’s been a long time for any of us standing here. We’ve at least seen ten years if not more.”
“That’s for sure,” called someone in the back, shrouded by the lack of lights. “I wouldn’t be here if I had just debuted!”
Their small group laughed and some shouted their agreements while others pretended to be offended.
“…does this mean I’m unwelcome?” a new voice asked and everyone turned to look.
Jung Yunho stood unsure at the edge of the odd oval with a bright smile. He was still in his fashionable short jacket (Jaejoong was just waiting for the younger man to stretch-the jacket looks like it would show quite a bit of skin if Yunho even lifted his arms above his shoulders…) and the gold chains hung from his belt loops. His partner had already changed into something much more casual-Jaejoong had spied the seventeen year old in the corner joking with some friends.
It must have been uncomfortable because Jaejoong remembers watching the boy walk up to receive an award. He had shifted from side to side as though trying to balance the weight. But hot damn, did Yunho look absolutely delicio-handsome with that jacket and those pants hugging all the right places.
Immediately all the older singers, actors and actresses began dismissing that notion.
“Of course not Yunho-yah, you are absolutely welcomed here with all us old people,” Kwon Boa said sweetly, looking as young as ever.
Jaejoong sipped his soju and watched almost jealously as Yunho chatted with everyone so easily. Watching the interaction, Jaejoong finally realized exactly what kind of social situation Yunho was quite bravely walking into. This awards show had taken the powerhouse idols of Jaejoong’s generation and brought them together.
S.E.S., CN Blue, H.O.T., Boa, SS501, Big Bang and JYJ were just a few represented names. Looking around, Jaejoong had to raise an eyebrow. Exactly how much time did he use thinking about Jung Yunho to have not realized this before?
“Jaejoong-sunbaenim is something wrong?”
Jaejoong looked to the side startled as Yunho joined him leaning against the wall. Thank god it was dark and the music was still playing loudly or else the younger man might have heard his heart speed up and saw his face turn a feverish red.
“Nothing,” Jaejoong muttered before drowning the rest of his soju in one gulp. The alcohol immediately rushed to his head and that was exactly what he needed. “Nothing at all.”
They stayed like that for a long time. Side by side, leaning against the wall, shoulders almost touching. Later their friends would tweet pictures of them having a ‘former top idol to new top idol’ moment. The bad lighting would hide Jaejoong’s blush but it wouldn’t hide Yunho’s bashful stature. Aw, netizens would coo, even idols had people they admired.
Finally, Yunho pushed off the wall and said his goodbyes. He had to get his underage partner back home. His back was all Jaejoong could look at as the young man disappeared into the dark night.
Jaejoong would stay at the after party for just a half hour more with his hand curled against the spot where Yunho had rested his and pretended that it was warm flesh instead of cold plaster he was feeling.
Then he tore himself away, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and just something else.
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A/N: Back to Jae~ I touched on a couple of people in Jaejoong's age group (or older) and later I'll get more to Yunho's friends and colleagues.