The Morning of All Mornin (1/1)

Eun Kyuk glanced at his wrist watch. "Let's go! We still have to grab your things." He held Jun Su by the wrist and dragged him out of Carmine after leaving some bills for their drinks."W-wait! What? Where are you taking me?" He asked in a semi-loud voice, competing with the sound of honking vehicles as he let Eun Hyuk lead the way to his car."Fairfax, where else? You both should talk it out, you know?" He rolled his eyes and unlocked the silver Mercedes Benz Maybach. Jun Su's mouth formed an 'O' upon seeing the car clearly. "Don't get any ideas. I just rented it." Eun Hyuk chuckled. "Get in.""Uhm, c-can we go someplace else before--" He started after strapping his seatbelt."Sure! Where to?""Bedford, New York." And without further a do, Eun Hyuk swerved harshly, almost hitting another car to get to the right exit. He was driving like a maniac and Jun Su silently prayed for dear life."Bedford, here we come!" He squealed.*****************************************************************************"Jun Su-oppa?" Jessica was quite surprised to see Jun Su standing at their doorstep, a slight man with a friendly smile right behind him."Can I talk to Yun Ho-hyung? Please?" He asked politely but Jessica didn't miss the urgency on his voice."Why, did something happen to Jae Joong-oppa?" She was immediately worried."Jessie, who's there?" Dong Hae appeared behind Jessica before Jun Su could answer, startling not Jun Su but Eun Hyuk."D-Dong Hae-ah?""I think you guys should come in." Jessica opened the French doors fully and took their coats from them. . .well, at least for Jun Su because Eun Hyuk was still in a staring contest with her cousin. She cleared her throat loudly, effectively 'waking up' the two. "Please have a seat. I'll just get my brother." As she lead them to the great room. It was almost dusk and her parents were busy at the kitchen."Come with me." Dong Hae snatched Eun Hyuk by the arm firmly, not giving the latter any way to protest and took him somewhere before Jun Su could say anything."O. . .kay? What was that?" Jun Su mumbled as he stared after the two retreating backs. But before his mind could process what relationship could Eun Hyuk have with Dong Hae, he already saw Yun Ho descending the grand staircase, a bored expression on his face. Which immediately turned into cold, emotionless one when he saw the person waiting for him. Jun Su stood up and bowed slightly."You wanna talk to me?" Foregoing the pleasantries. Yun Ho crossed his arms across his chest and stared at him."Yeah. . .'cause I can't take this anymore. My Hyung is already hurting too much.""And that's my fault? Is that what you mean?" He raised an eyebrow."No! It's nobody's fault. You two broke up because of all the wrong reasons!" His voice raised a fraction. He sighed audibly to calm himself. "Jae Joong-hyung found his brother." He said slowly."W-What?!"*****************************************************************************Christmas dinner was incredibly silent. Nobody dared to talk, especially that Dong Hae (the ice breaker) just disappeared with Eun Hyuk. Hyun Seung and Bae Kyung still can't grasp the idea of Dong Hae being married. To a guy too! They always thought their nephew was straight.Yun Ho was playing with his food. He was still thinking about the conversation he had with Jun Su. He stared at the food-laden table absently and realized something. Every given year, they would have the same Christmas menu. His mother was obssessed with it. They should have baked salmon creams and tikki-wacky salad for starters, apple and prune stuffed roast goose with giblet brown gravy, cranberry and orange relish for main course, roast baby potatoes, Brussels sprouts, parmesan parsnips and pumpkin pie for sides. Which Jae Joong would make every year. His Christmas staple. One of the two recipes that he mastered through the years.It surprised him that his mother didn't even bother to make one. One of the help served dessert--chocolate truffles. Jessica forewent her favorite dessert and asked permission to retire to bed early. Nobody seemed to care as each of them was lost in their own thoughts. If Thanksgiving was unbearable then this Christmas was a disaster. Bae Kyung looked disoriented and miserable and his father was preoccupied. He decided that what Jessica did was the best. He placed the linen napkin on the top of his plate and left the dining table without saying anything.He was contemplating on how to fall asleep when he remembered something--or rather someone. He fished for his mobile phone and dialed Zhou Mi's number.****************************************************************************"Yes?" A tall, cat-like young woman opened the door for Jun Su. Yoo Chun's house was hardly a house. It was a white colonial mansion in the heart of Fairfax, complete with white pillars and French double doors. The girl that he recognized as the youngest of the Park siblings, Alice Park Shin Hye, was obviously in a party mode. Her beautiful head was adorned with a Santa hat and was dressed to the nines."H-Hi. I am looking for. . .Dr. Dennis Park." He swallowed the lump in his throat. It was weird to ask for somebody else in his boyfriend's house."Let me--""Shin Hye-ah, who is it?" Yoo Chun was there behind his sister even before Jun Su could think of hiding himself. "Su?""Oh, you guys know each other? He's looking for Lee Teuk-oppa though.""What are you doing here?!" Lee Teuk thundered from the grand staircase, perfectly hearing what transpired."What the hell is going on?" Yoo Chun mused, evidently confused as his heart sank. Why would Jun Su look for his brother instead of him? Was Lee Teuk the reason why Jun Su seemed cold to him and refused to go to Virginia with him? He was devastated at the thought."Why don't you ask your little boyfriend what is going on, hmn?" Lee Teuk glowered at Jun Su."I came here not for anything else but to clear my name. Since you wouldn't want to hear me out then I guess these could explain everything." He handed Lee Teuk a relatively thick stack of papers and turned his back without giving Yoo Chun or Shin Hye a glance. He ran for Eun Hyuk's rented Maybach and opened the door in haste. He had to get out of there before he breaks down.*****************************************************************************"What is the meaning of this?" Yoo Chun knew he had to run after Jun Su but something was telling him that he should settle something with his brother first. He didn't have Lee Teuk's attention though as he was browsing through the papers with much urgency.He saw how Lee Teuk's face colored and then paled instantaneously as he read on. "C-Chun. . ." He croaked."Hyung! Will you please speak up?!" Their parents and Dara came over. The old people were worried while Dara was just plain curious."Yah, Oppa, are you sick?" She inquired but was ignored. "You look horrible.""Chun," Lee Teuk called his attention again while trying to regain composure. "Please get Jun Su back. I need to. . .apologize to him" He clutched the papers tightly as he bit his tongue forcefully."What is--fine." He rushed to get his keys and followed Jun Su. He figured that his questions could wait.Meanwhile, Lee Teuk went through the papers again. It contained copies of medical certificates, hospital billing statements, account statements from the three largest Swiss banks and whatnot. Apparently, his former partner, Marcus Rhind, who moved to Brazil shortly after the Regalado-Barrera case wrapped up, had crossed him and was being recalled under an extradition order. Rhind performed the autopsy on Lia Barrera and declared the girl raped. Annette Barrera and Rhind had been seeing each other behind Tomas Regalado's back and planned the whole crime perfectly. Billing documents from the a mental asylum in Rio de Janeiro confirmed Barrera's incapacity, thus, staging her own daughter's death to gain money.Regalado let Jun Su sign an agreement that whatever happens, he wouldn't implicate his former partner in the crime even if he goes to jail. Only, Jun Su was able to win the case even without the cooperation of his client at all. Lee Teuk thought he can never guess how a person's mind works. Especially when that person is in love. That had been the issue for Regalado. He had loved Barrera to a fault, to the point of destruction. He can't really blame him. He'd been in love, too, before. ****************************************************************************Armed with the gifts his family prepared for Jae Joong, he knocked on the apartment door gingerly, hoping against hope that Jae Joong didn't try to runaway for the holidays. After what seemed like eternity, he heard some shuffling behind the door and it opened soon after to reveal the love of his life in a dirty smock, his face was smeared with fresh paint. The pungent smell of acrylic filled his nostrills but Jae Joong's very presence filled his senses."Hi." He can't think of anything more to say. He missed him so much that he wanted to ravish him right then and there but held himself."Y-Yun Ho-ah?" Jae Joong's eyes were about to fall from its sockets, he rubbed them involuntarily to make sure he was not in a dopey dream or something. "Come in." He held the door open for Yun Ho and the latter kicked his moccasins and padded to the living area. He saw a synthetic Christmas tree at a corner and walked towards it."You used to hate fake trees." He mused and immediately regretted it. How could he forget that it was his duty every year to get him a dead pine tree to dress for the holidays? Too late, he already saw Jae Joong's glassy eyes as he smiled sadly."I didn't have time to get a real one."Yun Ho swallowed an imaginary lump. "These are from the gang." He placed the intricately-wrapped boxes under the tree and occupied an armchair, making himself comfortable while Jae Joong was starting to feel the exact opposite."Oh, sorry." He woke up from his stupor. He was racking his brains out on why his ex-boyfriend would be there in a Christmas morning. "Can I get you anything? Coffee?" He wanted to get out of there real quick. It was too hard for him to look at Yun Ho like that. Like they didn't share eight years of their lives together."I smell pumpkin pie." He said instead."W-Would you want some?" He remembered he heated the stupid pie for breakfast. He was too occupied painting though that he forgot all about it."If you don't mind." Yun Ho beamed."Okay, wait a second." He scurried to the kitchen with a great effort not to look back at the living room. He was about to place the pie dish back to the microwave when he felt a presence behind him. Turning around was definitely a wrong move when he realized that Yun Ho was hair's breath away from him. He greedily inhaled the familiar smell of woodsy aftershave that he loved so much. "Y-Yun Ho, what--"Yun Ho took a step back and smiled teasingly. "I was kinda hungry." He opened the cupboards in front of him and extracted some plates and cutlery. Jae Joong's head was spinning in confusion. "So let me help you."Jae Joong bit his lip and placed the pie in the microwave. "Uh, Merry Christmas." For the lack of anything to say."Hmn." Yun Ho opened the fridge and set the orange juice bottle in the table. The microwave ding-ed and for a long while, they just ate in companionable silence.Yun Ho realized he didn't want to miss the taste of Jae Joong's cooking again (no matter how awful it was). The pie was not special to begin with (it was crispy, not airy) but it was the best meal he had in weeks.Jae Joong placed the dishes in the washer and Yun Ho stared."Erhm," He started. "I was told not to leave until you open your presents.""Huh?" He eyed Yun Ho and discerned the seriousness in his features. "Alright." He gave in and walked back to the living room ahead of him. He figured he better get this done and over with. If this was a dream then he didn't want to get false hopes. He sat beside the tree and picked the first box. It was from Bae Kyung and Hyun Seung and was very light. He was a little surprised to see Yun Ho sitting Indian style in front of him, looking every bit excited. He opened the box, taking his time. His eyes widened (for the nth time) when he realized what it was. It was a plane ticket for two to Australia. He sent questioning looks to his ex-lover. "Tell them I said thanks."He picked Jessica's gift. It was a large box and when he opened it, it revealed an immaculate black and white suit and it came with a note. "I just know you will look good on this. Oppa, fighting!" He read out loud."You bet.""Excuse me?" He picked the third box but his forehead creased when he noticed that it wasn't for him but for Yun Ho. It was as big as what Jessica gave him. "I think you brought this by mistake." He handed him the box."Oh. Yeah. I was in a hurry. Sorry." He placed the box aside and stared. And it was giving Jae Joong creeps. He raised an eyebrow in inquiry. Wasn't it his cue to leave? "I'm jealous.""Pardon?""You didn't have a anything for me?" He asked and Jae Joong was caught off-guard."Uh, err, I was--I just didn't think you would want anything from me so. . ." He sputtered helplessly and got up. "Wait here." He disappeared to his room and showed up with a colorful paper bag which he gave to Yun Ho. "I hope it fits."It was a knitted navy blue sweater that had designs resembling the morse code in the palest of gray. It was slightly unproportional that he came into conclusion that Jae Joong made it himself. He looked up and his awkward expression verified it. "Thank you." Jae Joong panicked when he saw him taking off his jacket to try it on. "What? It looks warm, I want to try it. Or this isn't for me to begin with?" His face hardened."N-No, it's not that." He shook his head frantically. He tried it on and it indeed felt warm. It smelled so much like Jae Joong and it was akin to being hugged by the man himself. He shrugged it off and was stunned to see the phrase back-stitched on the reverse of the sweater. It says 'So I'll be standing at the edge of the earth. . .Hoping that someday you'll come back again.' His eyes watered instantly and grabbed Jae Joong for a bone-crushing hug."Honey, I'm so sorry! I'm so stupid, I don't deserve you at all!" He wailed on top of his head. Jae Joong, too, was sobbing. "How can I not trust you? How can I not trust our love?" He pulled out from the hug and held both of Jae Joong's hands. "Just hurt me, hurt me as much as you want, please" He slapped himself using his hands.Jae Joong held his tear-stricken face firmly instead and stared deeply onto his eyes. "I love you, Jung Yun Ho."Yun Ho wiped his tears using the back of his hand and pulled Jae Joong up. "Come." Jae Joong pouted when he didn't get an answer from him. Yun Ho took the sweater, his gift and Jae Joong's suit. He grabbed their coats from the hanger on their way out.***********************************************************************Jae Joong looked at Yun Ho in confusion. They were in Dalton High but instead of stopping at the front gates, Yun Ho made a turn on a private road towards the back of the school, stopping on a clearing that served as the school's private junkyard where old school buses and chairs were dumped. It's also the place for students to smoke pot or just plain cigarettes without getting caught. "What are we doing here? It's Christmas, we both know it's closed!""That's what you think." Yun Ho winked and opened the door for Jae Joong."But it's freezing!" He whined and clutched his coat tighter."We won't take long, alright?" He guided him towards the old wall and removed few rundown armchairs leaning against it and soon revealed a small hole through the wall, just enough for a grown up to pass through. Jae Joong could imagine there won't be any problem getting in if they were still in high school but unfortunately for Yun Ho, he just stopped growing when he was twenty-one. He chuckled at the thought. "What's so funny?""You think you'll fit in there?""I had a dry run." He smirked and let Jae Joong pass through first."This is tresspassing Jung Yun Ho!" They were inside and Yun Ho was brushing the dust off Jae Joong's behind suggestively and all he got was a death glare."What?" He smiled innocently."Don't try it." He rolled his eyes heavenward. "Okay, not now, araso?" He backtracked when he saw him wiggling his eyebrows playfully that Yun Ho laughed out loud."Shhhh! We will get caught!" He hissed. "What are we doing here anyway?" Nothing much has changed. It still had the beautifully-aged red brick walls and large church-like windows. They walked hand in hand towards the main school building and their footsteps made a hollowed sound that echoed through the walls. It was the very same hallway where Yun Ho confessed. He had to smile at the thought."Where could--aha! It's here." He opened the locker room where he dragged him to before and they saw that aside from the burgundy lockers (it was formerly pewter), it was still practically the same. "You remember, don't you?" Jae Joong nodded and hugged Yun Ho tightly."Of course I do.""I thought if we could go back to where it started then we would remember why we got together in the first place." Yun Ho said in a hoarse voice. Like his boyfriend, he was tearing up. They didn't know how long they were in that position when. . . "Uh, look, Hon. There's a package." And there it was, a medium-sized red box with a gold ribbon. "Let's take a look.""No! It may be a dead rat for all you know." *Ewwww* He thought. Too late. Yun Ho was already walking towards it. "Or a bomb! Aish!""It has your name on it though.""What?" He was beside him in a flash. He was a sucker for presents. "Awww." He cooed when he saw his name written in neat Hangul. "Shall I open it?""It might be a dead rat or a bomb though." Yun Ho smirked and he got a whack from him. "Ouch!" He opened it and it had two pairs of matching Berluti shoes inside. One in the darkest of brown in Yun Ho's size and in sleek black, his size."Wow." That's all that he could say. Even if he can afford it, he wouldn't dare buy a shoe that's worth over a thousand dollars."Who is it from?""It didn't say. I think the brown one is yours though.""Oh really? Then go grab it and let's get out of here.""But should we take it? We're not even su--""Come on, it has you name on it, has it not?" He scooped the box himself and lead Jae Joong back to where they came in.***********************************************************************Second stop: The ice cream parlor. "This is where we had our first date!" Jae Joong exclaimed. Unfortunately for them, it's long been converted to a Versace boutique."Let's go in." Yun Ho dragged him with."Is it open?""No.""Then why--" At the middle of the store, there's a high table and two red bar stools just like in a diner. Someone appeared from the backroom and served them chocolate sundaes and banana split. "Whoa. Who are you to order Gianni around?" Yun Ho just smiled."Why don't you try your suit here? I'm sure they won't mind." Before Jae Joong could say anything, Yun Ho was already out the door, taking out their stuff from the car. He smiled to the attendant apologetically.***********************************************************************Jae Joong thought it was weird to be walking around New York City wearing a very expensive suit on a Christmas morning but it felt so right that he didn't mind. When Yun Ho opened the box that he brought with him, it was a dark brown pinstripe suit. They both got excited and decided to wear it for the rest of the day."Where exactly are we going?" Jae Joong asked. They left the car in front of the boutique."Just wait and see.""We better be dining in a hotel, you know?""We'll do that but we have to do something first. Are you up for it?" Yun Ho pinched Jae Joong's nose lightly. Before Jae Joong could respond, they were already in the front of the Village Church of New York City. He was gaping at Yun Ho as he knelt down in front of him."I want to do this right, so. . .will you marry me, Jae Joong Kim?" He asked, holding a small velvet box open, it had two white gold band rings."Yah! Are we cutting costs?!""What?" Trust Jae Joong to say the weirdest thing ever. "I'm proposing here, in case you didn't notice.""But I am an events planner!""So?""Meaning you don't have to hire one.""Oh. I haven't thought of that. But now that you mentioned. . ." He grinned."Don't celebrate just yet. I'll make sure it will cost you an arm and a leg." Jae Joong pursed his lips. "And a trust fund!" He gathered his boyfriend on his feet and pulled him for an earth-shattering kiss."Now, I can finally say, Merry Christmas, love." He said as they parted for air and recaptured Jae Joong's lips.THE END