Chapter Text
“Aww dear, just look at you. Looking as marvelous as always.”
“I may be marvelous but you are mesmerizing, Yukkuri Hyung.”
“But people here are mesmerized by you, Jaehyun.”
The said man chuckles and shakes his head as he says, “That's because they haven't landed their eyes on you.”
Now it was the Japanese male's turn to shake head. “That doesn't matter. All eyes will always be on you since you're the star and everyone knows it. Even Madame Irene acknowledges it. You're not her favorite for no reason.”
“As if she doesn't insist on you coming out of curtains and moving your body on the stage.” Jaehyun snaps sarcastically yet playfully.
Yuta moves his hands in the air and chuckles at the sarcastic compliment. “Oh no, no. I'm here good with just polishing your beauty.” He declares while finishing the glittery touch on Jaehyun's eyelids.
“Jaehyun! You were supposed to be performing by now. What are you still doing in the dressing room? Get yourself done and get on the floor.” One of the staff called loudly from the outside of the room.
“Okay and now I guess you're polished enough. Now go on and rock on.” Yuta insists and the latter couldn't help but hug the makeup artist as softly.
“Thank you Hyung.” Jaehyun said as they pulled back and then he took a final view at his reflection in the mirror before exhaling and making his way to the dance floor in delight.
He had always been delighted by the stage, spotlight and stardom. And the stage he always danced on did bring him spotlight and stardom. But it never brought him delight. And how could he be even delighted by the stage which was to showcase his body over talent. The audience, the people that were mesmerized by him were not actually mesmerized by him. They weren't even mesmerized.
They were just a bunch of rich people lusting over Jaehyun's exposed collarbones, thighs and glittery eyes. And probably dreamt of having one nightstands as well. Or numerous nightstands. Who knew?
But good to Jaehyun's fortune, Madam Irene's was just a bar and Madam Irene kept it that way. Yes, Jaehyun was a bar dancer and one of the most popular and appreciated one in the entire bar.
And, the bar itself was one of the famous and top standard bars in the town. Madam Irene's was not a place where a broken highschooler could get wasted. It was a place where high class rich people came to please their eyes by raving them on these professional dancers. Yes, all the bar staff, from sweepers to singers, dancers to bartenders, were very experienced and skilled at their duties. Many of the employees had ditched their previous respective jobs to join in here as the paycheck they were getting here was way higher than they could get in any other label or outsourcing meaning that Jaehyun's paycheck was high as well.
But no matter how fascinating, famous, desired or stable he was, in the end, he was a bar dancer, which was a disgusting stain on his identity that can never be erased no matter how strong his sanitizer was.
He tried to improve, move from this place but all the labels and agencies he tried to join, rejected him. And that's just because of his background. Even if behaved well, danced well and even sung harmonically to cover up the plus points, him being known as a bar dancer came before anything else and this sickening fact never let anything else come in the picture.
“And here our charming angel comes whom everyone was waiting for, please welcome our hot and stunning dancer, Jaehyun!” The bar's master of communication announced as Jaehyun appeared on the stage and garnered attention.
A series of applause and husky whistles came as soon as the petite dancer started moving his body with the rhythm.
Well, it was not as if Jaehyun wasn't grateful for what he had. But, he just wished if people could actually appreciate him for his hard work. Jaehyun practiced and practiced a lot to improve his skills. He even choreographed his own expressive dance style instead of doing those typical seductive dance moves. Only if his audience could think of him more than just as a decorated doll.
______
It was almost midnight when Jaehyun was finished with his shift and started leaving for home. Well, it always gets midnight as he had late night shifts which made it a bit hard for him to get home alone regularly. But he couldn't complain as it was his own choice to not live at the bar anymore.
He might have grown inside the bar as it was his boss and other seniors that raised him, but after he grew more and became more independent, he chose to have a home of his own so he could live his personal time in a place which wasn't labelled negatively.
“Hey sweetheart. How much for a night?” Jaehyun hears a drunk man in tux murmuring to him as he exits the bar. Jaehyun just ignored the man and kept walking steadily.
“Pretty much in a rush? We can take it slow baby. You should not disappoint your client like this.” Jaehyun hears the voice again, as well as the footsteps behind him. The man was freaking following him.
The dancer began to panic but this time he replied to turn the man's offer down. “I'm not what you're thinking.”
“What do you think, what I think?” The sound came nearer.
“I don't sell my body.” Jaehyun confirmed and tried to speed up his walking but his body entirely got stunned when a hard grip went onto his wrist.
“You kidding me? You can let us roam our eyes on your body for money then why not let us roam our hands as well?”
Slap!
“Keep your hands off of me you fucktard!” Jaehyun spat and the man just looked for a moment in shock while holding his cheek.
Just as Jaehyun was about to walk away, another harsh hold came onto him and started pulling off his coat. “You nullius slut!” The drunken man screeched in rage as he removed Jaehyun's coat entirely, revealing his thin see through shirt inside. “Let me show your real worth.”
Punch!
Jaehyun looked in surprise at the man who was now knocked down on the floor. He then looked at the person who caused the scene.
The newly appeared person was also wearing a purple simple yet elegant tux. Wow, it was weird that Jaehyun noticed this new man a bit differently. Well, it could be the man's utter fierceness that he had despite his height being shorter than Jaehyun himself. Or the intensive charming smile he had on his face despite being in such a fucked up situation.
“Fucker you should stay out of this!” The drunken man yelled at the person who had punched him while getting and settling himself up to attack back.
“And you should learn how to respect men.” The charming man softly said before landing another smack and his voice was just as hot as the man himself and Jaehyun should stop himself from thinking those things.
The two then stomped at each other but not so surprisingly the wasted man got wasted again and finally had to run to save his ass from this helplessly fascinating man. “You alright?”
Jaehyun's reverie got broken by the man's question and he noticed the man was forwarding his coat back to him and wow… He was indeed helplessly fascinating now that Jaehyun was facing him straight.
His skin was shining gold even in such darkness. Probably the complexion of his sun kissed shade. And he undeniably sculpted moles. And his eyes were just clipping Jaehyun inside out. It felt as if Jaehyun couldn't do anything but stare at the man in amusement, which he obviously was doing. Which he should not. “Y-yeah. Thanks uhh…”
“Donghyuck. The name's Lee Donghyuck.” The man introduces himself while still standing with Jaehyun's coat in his hands, waiting for the latter to take and wear it.
Jaehyun realizes that he was still staring and keeping the man standing there with his coat like a standee. He smiles sheepishly as he takes his cloth and rolls it on. “Please to you, Donghyuck. I'm… Jaehyun.”
“I know, Jaehyun. What I would want to know is, what you're still doing here? Wasn't your session over about an hour ago?”
“Uhh, yeah. It was actually but…” Jaehyun stops for a moment before he realizes, “Wait, how do you know that I'm, that I'm uhh…”
Donghyuck chuckles at the latter's mumbling. “Dancer? Oh of course I do. And who would not acknowledge such an amazing dancer like you.”
The taller man blushes at the compliment. Nobody has ever complimented him as a dancer. Let alone an amazing dancer. “I uhh… I don't think if others acknowledge me as a dancer. Or even as a normal person.”
“I mean, you're way astonishing to be just a normal person so...” The sunkissed man nonchalantly points and Jaehyun giggles.
“That was such a sweet remark, Donghyuck. But it doesn't change the reality.” A sad smile appeared on Jaehyun's face.
“Hey, hey Jae… Yes, the reality can't be changed and the reality is that you're really an independent and humble person. You see, people are people, they ain't so simple. One way or another, they will always find a way to drag down others. Their judgement doesn't define your worth. And surprisingly, you seem to be knowing your worth pretty well assuming your bold action to that poor man.”
Jaehyun couldn't control anymore and started openly laughing. “It's hard to tell if you're serious or you're joking.” He spoke as he held onto his laughter.
“Well, you can take it the way you like and I'll just let it flow with the vibe.”
“Oh gosh… You're undeniably entertaining.” The dancer compliments
“Only for your entertainment, Jae.” Donghyuck expressively purrs only to get panic after seeing Jaehyun making a confused expression. Maybe the latter noticed what he addressed him and maybe he didn't like it.
“Ahh, I'm sorry if you didn't like it. I won't call you that again just please don't slap me.” Donghyuck apologizes while shielding his hands in front in case Jaehyun would actually slap.
The shorter's dramatically cute behavior gave Jaehyun another crackle of giggle. “Don't worry. I won't. You can call me that, Donghyuck.” Jaehyun assures before a light tint came on his cheeks as he continued. “Besides, I like that. I like you.”
And that was when Jaehyun wanted either to be eaten by sky or swallowed by land. But none of them happened and he was still standing in front of the probably world's most captivating man.
Well, Jaehyun himself didn't know as to what had gotten onto him that he was feeling that way for Donghyuck when all his life he's been running away from all this feelings and affection stuff. He was not someone who tended to have so called friends let alone more than friends as he knew how fucked up the world was. And how sucked up the people were. Especially with people like him. So it was not surprising that Jaehyun chose to be on his own rather than having any unnecessary bonding but what was surprising that he didn't feel to follow his motives at this very moment.
The moment he was with Donghyuck. There was something about the grown yet young man. Maybe it was his welcoming aura. Or maybe it was his understandable personality. And to be honest, Jaehyun felt extremely great knowing that he finally met someone who understood him. Who didn't look down on him. Who appreciated him. Who appreciated his talent, over his body.
All those delighting perspectives were taking over Jaehyun's mind and heart for a man he just spent a span of five minutes with!
“Actually, it's been over an hour since we're here.”
Donghyuck's honey touch voice broke Jaehyun honey sweet thoughts and his face became as red as a pulpy tomato. “Oh…” He wonders to himself before smiling at the latter idiotically. “Oh, yeah! Now I should get going before the sun rises already.” He didn't really care about his lame joke. He just wanted to vanish already.
“Since it's me who got you late, it's my responsibility to drop you home safely.” Jaehyun widened his eyes and Donghyuck couldn't help but coo at his expression. “Don't worry, I don't have any unhealthy intentions. Besides, I wouldn't want to pick a fight against you. I wouldn't want to go home with a black eye.” He clarified and the taller male went into another laughing session.
“Alright then, let's just get home already.” Jaehyun smiles and accepts Donghyuck's forwarded hand. The sun kissed man led him to his car and his vehicle was just as elegant as him. Jaehyun wasn't really surprised with the sight.
They both got in the car with of course Donghyuck being the gentleman by opening the door for Jaehyun. The dancer just kept getting smitten and smitten.
“Where do you live, Jae? How far are we now?”
“Just a few blocks away. It's an apartment but I live in one of the flats. I mean, why would a single man need an entire apartment to live, right?” Darn Jaehyun's lame vocabulary.
“Oh… Is that an invitation?” Donghyuck asks mischievously and Jaehyun could only stare in utter embarrassment in response.
The mischievous man then started crackling lightly and Jaehyun was dumbfounded. “I'm just pulling your rosie nose, Jae.” Donghyuck purred and Jaehyun hid his face in embarrassment.
They then talked random things on their way. Sharing each other's hobbies and facts which raised the topic of family as well to which Jaehyun blandly replied as he had no family while Donghyuck just simply declared that he has a small and loving family and then ended the family topic right there not bothering to go deeply.
Jaehyun did want to ask if he said something wrong as to why Donghyuck was turning down the certain topic. But then he thought that it could be possible that Donghyuck wasn't talking much about family as Jaehyun was alone and maybe talking about that would make him feel uncomfortable? Gosh… Wasn't Donghyuck the gentlest man ever? Of course he was!
“Here we are. As you directed.” Donghyuck points when they reached their destination.
Jaehyun turned his face to look at the latter as he said, “Thanks once again, Donghyuck…” He stopped for a moment as if he was thinking of saying something further. Donghyuck raised his brow skeptically and it just made it harder for Jaehyun but he spilled nonetheless.
“Donghyuck, I... I mean you, will you come to the bar tomorrow?”
“Is that an invitation?”
This time the question was less questioning and more gesturing and Jaehyun was about to lose blood. “No! I mean, yes. I just want to meet you again. It felt so great to be with you today. I mean tonight.” He clarified and then they both went silent for a moment. Their gaze sharp into each other's eyes which soon rolled onto the lips and Jaehyun could already feel the intense sensation.
He closed his eyes because that's what people do to make their kiss romantic, right?
“Okay I will but only on one condition.”
Jaehyun choked on his saliva and intense sensation was replaced with intense embarrassment. “Oh yeah… I actually closed my eyes because I couldn't hear you properly, I was feeling dizzy as I had gotten lost in your daze…” He waited to see the shorter's reaction and of course, the latter was playfully smirking. “Cut the crap. What is that condition?”
Donghyuck chuckles and puts, “You will have to let me drop you home.”
Jaehyun rolled his eyes at the latter's demand. “Alright.” He knew he wouldn't have it any other way. “But only if you'd pay a visit at my home.”
“Now that's an open invitation.” Donghyuck implied as the other started exiting the car and making his way to his house before turning for a second and shooting his gaze at the man in the car.
“Of course it is.” Jaehyun confirmed and it was the first time he actually was confident with his words since they met. Interesting.