Chapter Text
When Yuta said he was organizing a little party at a club, Doyoung didn’t think it would be the Medal, the hottest night club in all of Seoul. In just a few hours, Doyoung and Jaehyun would sign a contract starting their ‘exclusive relationship’ and pictures of them on their last date would be all over the internet and big newspapers. In 48 hours, everyone will know about a relationship they don’t have.
Doyoung was fucking terrified. Taeyong and Yuta on the other hand, were jubilant.
“Tell me, should I get leather seats for my Mercedes?” Taeyong asked, flipping through a Mercedes brochure as they head to the club.
“I think it’s a little premature to plan now.” Yuta said, sitting in the driver’s position. “The contract isn’t final until tomorrow, and the money isn’t in yet.”
“Doesn’t hurt for me to make some early decisions, that way I can walk into the showroom, put a wad of cash on the table and say ‘Gimme my car now’.”
“Oh geez.” Yuta rolled his eyes. Through the rear-view mirror, he could see Doyoung sitting pensively, thinking of something. “Doyoung, you okay?”
“Yeah.” He said. “I’m okay.”
“Are you nervous or something?”
“Nothing, just…” he bit his bottom lip. “Can’t wait to see Jaehyun.”
That was true. Doyoung was indeed looking forward to seeing Jaehyun after being busy for a few days. Jaehyun and Doyoung texted the night before the party and Jaehyun sent a sweet good night message. It was absolutely electrifying, each message making Doyoung’s spine tingle. He soon found himself waiting all night for a phone call or text.
The roses that smell like him remained on his bedside table, where every time he got a whiff of them, he would remember their first date. Jaehyun’s smile, his flirty demeanor, his strong arms…Doyoung would remember the way Jaehyun sniffed his neck, and suddenly that scent he could remember just became stronger and before you know it, Doyoung had a problem in his pants that needed to be taken care of.
Despite all of this, there was something deep inside that kept gnawing at him. Like a crack in a Ming vase, or a misplaced book. Or even, a white rose within a bouquet of red.
There wasn’t much time to figure out what was gnawing at Doyoung’s heart, because they soon arrived at the club. “Hey there!” Hansol was the first to greet them, giving Doyoung and Taeyong a fist bump. He pulled Yuta into a hug and planted a messy kiss on him.
“God, this is weird.” Doyoung grimaced. “I have never seen Yuta kiss anyone before.”
“I’ve never seen Hansol kiss a man before.” Jaehyun laughed. “I know he does, just never in front of me.” He reached his arm out behind Doyoung, pulling him close. “Are you okay?”
“Fuck do all models look as good as you?” Doyoung breathed.
“Do all singers look as good as you?” Jaehyun laughed, eyeing Doyoung up and down. Doyoung suddenly felt conscious of himself. His hands went up to his chest but Jaehyun pulled on them.
“Don’t. You look amazing.”
“Everyone, may I have your attention please?” Yuta clinked his glass with his fingernails, calling for everyone’s attention. “In just 12 hours, we will all officially be partners. One of the greatest publicity collaborations South Korea has ever seen will be open to the public. Gentlemen, I say, in order to celebrate our new partnership, let’s party!!”
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There is a reason people frequent clubs. With music, alcohol, lights so bright or so dark you couldn’t see the person next to you, it’s very easy to get lost in the moment and just dance. Two hours in and everyone was having an amazing time. Johnny and Taeyong were dancing on the couch, Hansol and Yuta were making out on the couch while Jaehyun and Doyoung were dancing as close as possible to each other.
“Hey guys!!” Taeyong tried to call out.
“What?” Doyoung responded.
“I heard security say there are some reporters in here.”
“Reporters?” Johnny raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah. Maybe even a group of paparazzi.”
“What do we do?” Jaehyun asked.
“Just keep doing what you are doing.” Johnny said. “Don’t bother stopping just for them. That’s not how it works.”
“Besides, the security says they are getting rid of them.”
“Looks like we have nothing to worry about.” Doyoung laughed. He threw his hands around Jaehyun’s neck. “Dance with me.”
“Of course.”
The beat was heavy and pulsating, running through Doyoung’s veins like blood. Jaehyun was a pretty amazing dancer himself, keeping in pace with Doyoung. Arms around each other and bodies so close, Doyoung started grinding against Jaehyun, foreheads pressing against each other.
“Oh god…” he moaned softly.
“Doyoung you are so beautiful.” Jaehyun mumbled into Doyoung’s neck, pressing small kisses. A flash or two appeared out of nowhere, but nobody seemed to care.
“Jae…” his mind was hazy, and his body seemed to have a mind of its own. Jaehyun’s hands were everywhere as he tried to pull Jaehyun’s face towards him. Then, he pressed his lips against Jaehyun’s, feeling the sting of alcohol against his lips.
Then it all came back. The feelings, emotions, memories…this is Yoonoh. This was the boy he fell in love with in high school. The shy boy who couldn’t raise his hand in class. The boy who was always so nice to everyone. The boy who stayed up all night talking to Doyoung. Jaehyun was kissing him, but his lips were Yoonoh’s indeed.
The two parted, breathing heavily as sweat trailed down their necks. Jaehyun looked at Doyoung with a gaze in his eyes, almost as if Doyoung was a painting that would disappear.
“I love you.”
Doyoung’s body stiffened. “No.” His heart begun to crack. This is it. This is what was gnawing at me.
“What’s…” Jaehyun couldn’t complete the sentence as he felt Doyoung slipping from his arms and walking away. “Wait, wait!”
It’s too late. Doyoung was running away like his life depended on it. A bunch of security guards were dragging away reporters by the collar, but no one seemed to notice.
************************
“Is Doyoung home?”
“He is.” Taeyong sighed as he opened the door to find Jaehyun there the next morning after their ‘disastrous’ club party. “But I don’t think he wants to talk to anybody.”
“Oh,” Jaehyun’s face dropped. “Then maybe I should…”
“Why should we listen to him anyways? Get in here.” Taeyong dragged the model inside and straight to Doyoung’s room. He drummed his knuckles against the door loudly and yelled. “Kim Doyoung!!”
“Go away.” Came a muffled, weak voice.
“I’m not leaving until you get out of bed and open the door you little piece of shitty raisin.” Taeyong snapped. Jaehyun made a mental note to never get Taeyong upset.
“Raisin?” Jaehyun asked, one eyebrow raised.
“He hates raisins.” Taeyong shrugged.
“By the way have you seen Johnny?” Jaehyun asked. “He didn’t come home last night.”
“I have no clue where he is.”
“But aren’t those his pants by the…”
“He opened the door now go go go go go!!!” Taeyong roughly shoved Jaehyun through the door and slammed it shut. Shoved and pulled twice in a day. That’s a record.
“Doyoung?”
“God Jaehyun…” a voice came from under the sheets. “Please don’t look at me. I’m hideous.”
“That’s impossible. You are the most beautiful person I have ever met.”
“I’m serious. I look like Satan’s disfigured son.”
“Doyoung come on.” Jaehyun moved to the lump under the sheets, and pulled it back, revealing a tired-looking Doyoung with bags under his eyes, red nose and messy hair. It was true, he looked terrible, but for some reason Jaehyun wanted nothing more that to kiss that red nose and wet those dry lips with his.
“Doyoung I want to explain…”
“First, you have to answer my question.”
“Anything.”
“Why did you leave?” Doyoung asked. Suddenly the mood collapsed, and the room felt colder than when it did in the beginning. Jaehyun’s face dropped, and you could tell this was something he had rather not discussed.
“You know my father worked in the military.”
“You didn’t tell me.”
“I was going to, I swear.” Jaehyun said, bringing himself closer to Doyoung. “Remember the night of your choir recital?”
“Yeah.”
“I was going to tell you then, but my dad got a call. He had to leave earlier than expected. All I could do was leave a letter.”
“I know.” Doyoung crossed his arms. “I still have it.”
“It’s been a great source of material for you I suppose.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Come on,” Jaehyun rolled his eyes. “Your debut track Go was about me, wasn’t it?”
“Why are you so sure it was you?”
“Those lyrics are similar to what I wrote in the letter to you. Come on Doyoung, did you really think I was stupid enough not to pick up the hint?”
“Are you going to sue for copyright or something?”
“I can’t sue something that belongs to you.” Jaehyun said. “Besides, that was all in the past.”
“If only you knew the shit I went through because of you.” Doyoung swallowed roughly. “I went through nights of pain when you left. I was so desperate for love I even dated Yongguk, who was the biggest asshole ever.”
“Did he hurt you?” Jaehyun’s back straightened when he heard that.
“No, nothing like that.” Doyoung shook his head. “He was a jerk. He kept seeing other people behind my back. Then after him it was just an endless pitfall of shit relationships and even shittier boyfriends.”
“Doyoung…”
“Now you’re back and…you’re not you anymore. I don’t know who you are but you are not the guy I fell in love with in high school.”
A heavy silence fell across the room as Doyoung hid his face. Jaehyun didn’t know what to say, and he didn’t need to as Doyoung lifted his face and spoke up again.
“I thought I would be angry with you. I thought I would hate you for what you did, but you send me roses, you make me laugh, you make me feel confident and attractive. You make my head spin, my heart pound, and you are making me fall for you all over again and suddenly it’s like I’m back in high school again with all these ridiculous feelings and I’m just so…I’m scared…”
“Scared?”
“Look at my records. My entire life is a Taylor Swift, Adele and Sam Smith album rolled in one. I’m the one people love and dump, the one who loves and never gets loved back... how can someone like you want someone like me?”
“Doyoung…”
“What if I screw things up? You don’t even know what you do to me, how much I’ve been wanting you, and to know that you are doing this just for publicity is…”
“Stop there.” Jaehyun grabbed Doyoung by the shoulders firmly. “Just. Stop.”
Doyoung bit his lip, looking at Jaehyun shyly through the mess of locks down his forehead. “This is not about that anymore.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I never stopped loving you after I left.” Jaehyun said. “When my publicist came up with this insane idea, I went along with it because I thought I could see you again. I even offered to pay you for each date because I knew getting you to see me again without a good incentive would be impossible.”
“You…you…”
“Yoonoh would have been afraid.” Jaehyun ran a thumb against Doyoung’s cheek. “Yoonoh would never have done what I did. Yoonoh would not have had the confidence to send you flowers or say all those things to you.”
“Damn right.”
“I’m not that same guy anymore. I’m not the person who was so terrified of hurting you he couldn’t tell you the truth. I want to be the one who is confident enough to tell you he wants you, the one who makes you feel protected, the one who will never hurt you.”
Doyoung could not find the words to say anything. For once, Mr. Thinks-He-Knows-Everything doesn’t know anything. All he could do was stare at Jaehyun with his mouth slightly agape, not quite believing what he is hearing.
“The world, and maybe even you might think this is an act, but I’m not pretending about any of this. For me, this is real life. My feelings for you, are real.”
Jaehyun pulled Doyoung’s face closer and pressed his lips against Doyoung’s. Doyoung’s eyes fluttered shut, a single tear escaping his eye.
***********************
“Tae, stop fidgeting.” Doyoung rolled his eyes.
“I can’t help it! My dreams are finally coming true!” Taeyong bounced in his spot as everyone gathered in the meeting room, expecting Junmyeon to show up any minute.
“What? Your best friend is going into a relationship with a contract whose terms are even lengthier than Mick Jagger’s pre-nuptial?” Doyoung groaned sarcastically.
“If it gets me a Mercedes I’m all for it.”
“I need a new manager.” Doyoung mumbled to himself. When Kim Junmyeon entered the room, everyone stood up instantly, surprising the lawyer.
“I’m happy to see everyone is so eager.” Junmyeon chuckled. “I suppose we better get started.”
Doyoung caught Jaehyun’s eyes from across the room. His expression was hard to read, so Doyoung just gave him a soft smile, as if that could solve everything. It will be okay. He remembered the kiss they shared earlier in the morning, and his heart pounded against his chest. He loves me. He wants this. He means this.
And I want him too.
“Alright, just read through it and sign.” Junmyeon placed the document on the table. Doyoung took the document and the pen, signing it immediately.
“Are you sure you don’t…”
“I know what’s in here.” Doyoung said. Taeyong clasped his hands together and looked up at the sky.
“Jaehyun?” Junmyeon passed the document to him. Jaehyun picked up the contract, flipping through the pages, reading the terms carefully.
Then, he stood up, held the papers between his hands and ripped it to shreds. Everyone stared in absolutely horror as the 15-page long contract became Mardi Gras parade confetti.
“What are you doing?!?!?!?!?!” Taeyong screeched. Jaehyun completely ignored him as he threw the confetti in the air and pulled Doyoung up from his chair.
“Screw the public. Screw the contract. Be my boyfriend for real Doyoung.”
“Aww….” Yuta and Hansol cooed, taking out their phones. “This is even better than we planned!”
“Yes.” And with that, under the fallen contract, Doyoung fell in Jaehyun’s arms and they kissed to seal it all, a promise even stronger than any law a lawyer can dream up.
“Taeyong, are you crying?” Johnny asked.
“I’m just… I’m just…”
“Awww those are happy tears.” Yuta ran over to comfort his best friend but Taeyong shoved him.
“MY MERCEDES!!!!!”
“Are you fucking serious??” Yuta groaned while Doyoung laughed into Jaehyun’s chest. “Doyoung is getting an actual boyfriend and that’s your only concern?!?”
“I was promised a car!”
“Don’t worry,” Johnny wrapped both arms around Taeyong, kissing his cheek. “I’ve got something better that you can ride.”
The whole room stared at Johnny. Doyoung’s jaw dropped while Jaehyun gave his manager the biggest ‘yeah boy’ look he had ever given. Taeyong’s face turned pink instantly. Yuta and Hansol were standing by with a big “Ooooooooooooooo…”
“I was talking about a Harley you perverts.” Hansol turned to kick Johnny in the butt as the manager cackled loudly. “I happen to have a Mercedes as well.”
“Can I get a ride in it?” Taeyong asked excitedly.
“Sure you can.” A naughty smirk on Johnny’s face did not escape Jaehyun’s eye.
“Yeah but don’t expect to reach your destination.” Jaehyun teased, receiving a middle finger from his manager who walked out with Taeyong hand in hand. Hansol and Yuta were already running outside to call newspapers while Junmyeon packed up his suitcase as he shook his head.
“I’m still billing you for those papers.” He said as he tried to salvage what he could with the shredded papers. Jaehyun felt bad for him, but the feeling quickly dissipated when Yuta started screaming.
“That damned paparazzi!!! They caught the Jaehyun and Doyoung kissing in the club! The internet is going wild!”
“Who is that guy?! We will sue!!”
“Did someone say ‘sue’?” Junmyeon perked up his head and left the office, papers flying behind him. Jaehyun and Doyoung could barely contain their laughter.
“It looks like the whole world knows about us. Maybe even before we knew about us.” Doyoung said.
“What should we do now?” Jaehyun asked.
“Ditch the team and go for a real date?”
“Deal.”