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Forgetting someone is like forgetting to turn off the light
in the backyard so it stays lit all the next day
But then it is the light that makes you remember.
- Forgetting Someone by Yehuda Amichai
Yunho doesn’t know what to do at the sight of the man standing confused and so alone in front of the cat that refuses to come any closer to him, but is keenly purring and rubbing itself against the handsome – no, beautiful, stranger.
He puts down the bucket of water he was holding, and he slowly walks over.
“Is there something you want?” he asks, not a typical good morning or greeting, because Yunho knows that no one ever visits to see him.
All they want from him are wishes, but he is no fairy godmother that doles out blessings and gifts to each person as they come – each wish comes with a price.
The beautiful man nods, “I don’t remember who I am.”
Yunho stares at him – the man’s been cursed, that much is obvious. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to help you with that.” He replies. “Are you looking for a favor?” Yunho studies the man carefully, no, there’s nothing that the magical world would want from him – he has nothing to exchange. “I can’t grant you anything.”
The man sighs, “Not even my looks?” he asks, slowly lifting his chin to stare at Yunho with his dark doe eyes. “I don’t want them.”
“Well, neither does the Other side.” Yunho responds. He begins to walk away until he hears the man’s footsteps running up to him. He turns around and the man stops immediately. “What do you want?”
“I don’t know where else to stay.” The man breathes out, “I don’t know what to do, and all the people I ran into told me to find you. They told me that you’d help me.”
Yunho studies him carefully before he sighs. “You may stay with me.”
“I can?” the man asks, “Are you –“
“You can stay only until you get your memory back,” Yunho finishes before he hands the bucket to the beautiful man, “And you need a name.”
“Isn’t it better if I don’t have one?” The man asks.
Yunho frowns. “Names keep you attached to things – they help you remember what things are, who people are. If you don’t –“
“I don’t need one.” The man responds confidently, his eyes unblinking and solely focused on Yunho. “I just need to know your name, and we’ll get along fine.”
Yunho opens his mouth to protest but decides against it. “Fine then, my name is Yunho.”
Jaejoong holds out his hand, and Yunho stares down at it before he raises his eyes to look back into the man’s alluring orbs. “Hello Yunho. I wish I could tell you my name, but I don’t remember it.”
Yunho’s clear, loud and honest laughter rings in the forest.
Perhaps he won’t be so lonely anymore.
o-o-o
“So how does it work?”
Yunho looks up from his textbook and stares at the handsome face, “How does what work?”
“Magic.” The man answers as he takes the textbook out of Yunho’s hands and places the dusty tome on a stack of books nearby. “What’s it like to hear voices?”
“I don’t hear voices.” Yunho mutters. “It’s instinctive. It’s like…a different entity in my conscience, and it just fills my head with what it wants from me, or from other people.”
“Do you talk to it?”
Yunho swats the other man, “I told you, I don’t hear anything.” He sets his hand over his chest and breathes in deep as he cherishes the feeling of his beating heart. “It’s instinctive – it’s as natural as breathing and living.”
“I see.” The man whispers. He places his hand over Yunho’s before he raises his eyes, and their eyes lock once more. “Do you think I’ll ever get my memories back?”
Yunho listens to his heart and waits for the feeling – for the answers that always resound throughout his body and fill his soul.
He hears nothing – there is nothing but the beating of his own heart and the steady flow of blood in his system.
“I’m sorry.”
The man looks visibly disappointed before his gaze flickers over to a plant on Yunho’s windowsill. He stares at the plant, “Is that rosemary?” he asks softly.
Yunho glances at the plant and then back at his beautiful companion, “I don’t know. Is it?”
“I think it is.” The man answers, his voice a little more confident. He walks over to the plant and plucks out a part of it. Yunho watches as the other man stares at it, and it’s not long before he says something about it, “Do you want me to make you dinner?”
Yunho frowns, “Are you to be trusted in the kitchen? I don’t think you’d remember how to cook.”
The man just smiles and Yunho finds himself giving in at the sight of the other’s face light up in such an innocent and naïve way. “I’m sure it’ll be better than anything you’ve given me the past few days.” He takes the potted plant with him and finds his way to the kitchen.
Yunho shrugs away his concerns and turns back to his books, determined to find some way to help the man regain his memory. Nearly an hour later, a delicious aroma fills the house, and the moment Yunho turns his head, the man was standing at the doorframe.
“I made you chicken.” He says elatedly and he walks closer to Yunho, “Rosemary chicken.”
Yunho looks up into the man’s eyes, and his heart flutters in his chest. His heartstrings pull tightly in his chest, and his breath is stolen by the other man’s innocence and gentle personality.
“Thank you.” He breathes out finally, the words only a little more than hot air.
A beautiful smile graces the other man’s features, “You’re welcome.”
His heart flutters once more, and Yunho realizes the joy of being cared for.
o-o-o
They’ve been together for months, and Yunho wants to give him a name. He’s thought of countless ones, but there’s one that rings the clearest in his mind. He thinks of it as he sweeps the floor and he speaks it as he wipes the dishes.
Jaejoong – it’s perfect for him, he’s sure, but he won’t name the other man that until he has his approval to do so.
As soon as the door to his tiny home opens, Yunho rushes to the door excitedly, but the look on the other man’s face killed his excitement. He slows to a walk and he stops right in front of him, anxious and expectant.
“What is it?” Yunho breathes out, “Did something happen?”
“I…” he frowns for a brief second before his lips form an impassive line. He looks up at Yunho, his doe eyes boring into his. “I was approached by this man at the market, and he told me that he could give me my memories back.”
“He – what?” Yunho was flabbergasted, that much was obvious. He hadn’t heard a single thing from the Other side. “What else did he say?”
“He told me that you could lead me to where he lives – that the spirits would guide you.”
Yunho dreads the sinking feeling in his stomach – the selfishness and greed he’s feeling is threatening to swallow him whole. He sees the hopefulness on the other man’s face, and he keeps his idea about naming him a secret.
The other man reaches out and pulls Yunho into a hug, burying his face into the taller man’s chest, and Yunho can only wrap his arms around the smaller frame.
“I’m going to be so happy,” he whispers, the words floating to Yunho’s ears.
It’s then that Yunho realizes why he hasn’t been able to sense if the Other side finally had something they wanted from him, or why he hadn’t been able to perform any magic on the other man.
The first rule was that one could never perform magic on their loved ones, and it was obvious enough how he felt.
He loved him.
o-o-o
“Why do you think he’s the one that approached me?”
Yunho glances at his beautiful companion and shrugs, feigning indifference. “I don’t know. Maybe he’s just stronger and better at things than I am.” He holds the other man’s hand tightly and pulls him up towards the house at the top of the hill, “I’m not the best.”
The beautiful man turns, “Yunho, no matter what happens –“
The door opens, and an old man steps out of the house. He glances between the two of them before his wise eyes settle on Yunho’s companion. “You two should come in now.” He orders, and Yunho watches dutifully as his companion walks indoors.
Yunho walks as at a slower pace, and just as he’s about to enter the house, the old man takes hold of his wrist and stops him.
“This won’t end well for you.” The old man says slowly, his eyes boring into Yunho’s. “It’s best that you just leave now. You won’t be able to convince that boy to change his mind, and you will never be happy if you stay here and watch what is to happen.”
The man’s words pierce Yunho’s heart.
Yunho shakes his head, “I don’t know what’s going to happen –“
“Lies,” the older man wheezes. He shakes his hand at Yunho, “Turn back now.”
“I can’t.” Yunho utters pathetically, his eyes sad. He smiles at the old man, “I can only hope for the best. I love him, and I want to see him happy.” He pulls away from the old man, and he hears the words that escape the old man’s lips.
“You’re a fool.”
Yunho can’t help but agree.
He is a fool - a fool in love.
o-o-o
“Just sit.” The old man orders, while Yunho watches.
His beautiful love sits on the chair, his heart pounds too strongly for his chest as he watches the old man approach him. He swallows hard and the old man sets his hands on his beloved’s face, tilting his face upwards.
“You will lose something as you gain your memories back.” The old man recites, “Are you prepared to lose what you have?”
The young man turns his head to Yunho and smiles, “You’ll still love me if I’m old and wrinkly, right Yunho?” he asks, his voice lighthearted.
Yunho nods, holding back his tears, and replies, “Of course I will.”
“I’m ready.”
There is no swirl of lights, no magical smoke, and no heavenly glow – only silence. Minutes pass, and Yunho watches in silent trepidation. After what seems to be an eternity, the old man steps away, and the young man opens his eyes.
“What is your name?”
The young man thinks for a few seconds before he replies. “Jaejoong.”
Yunho’s heart cracks – so that’s why, that’s why his heart told him to name him Jaejoong, all along, the Other side had known. He swallows hard and waits for Jaejoong to acknowledge his presence. Beautiful eyes turn to him, and his heart pounds in his chest.
“Who are you?”
Yunho turns away before the tears fall.
o-o-o
He returns to the old man’s house a little before midnight.
The old man ushers him in and hands him a cup of tea as soon as they’re seated. Yunho grasps the mug tightly in his hands and stares down at the amber liquid, “Where is he...? Where is Jaejoong?” he asks.
“He’s back with his family.” The old man replies, “He’s back where he belongs.”
“His memories of me are all gone?” Yunho whispers, feeling tears threaten to fall from his eyes as he tries to stay strong. “All of them?”
The old man is silent, and Yunho hopes that words of comfort will come.
“Yes. They were taken in exchange for his old ones.”
The tears fall, and Yunho sobs onto the man’s table.
He falls back into solitude’s embrace.
>
Author’s Note: I have fulfilled your request ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif) blu_eyezz, I hope you like it and I will finish it later on! Don’t worry though guys, the second part will come soon, and that part will be told in Jaejoong’s POV. Things shall get explained, and everyone will have to see if Jaejoong gets his memories back if Yunjae reunite. :3 Also for tomorrow’s update, here are the selections you can guess from: NaNoWriMo story/Promises, The Effects of a One-sided Crush and Someday! Leave your guesses in your comments, and good luck on guessing correctly! Please do leave a comment, and thank you for reading! ♥
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little_passions
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CONGRATULATIONS!
Date: 2011-12-19 02:16 pm (UTC)Re: CONGRATULATIONS!
Date: 2011-12-19 03:34 pm (UTC)*rapes this spot* MINE! LOL
But seriously dearie, how could you break my heart with this...??? *_* *cries and if you don't let Jae gain back his memory, I swear, I will haunt you down and squish you so hard that you give me my selfish happy ending --__-- *glares and runs away blushing like mad*
hahaha, I could never hurt you...only weaken a little *wiggles eyebrows*LOL
Yours, Kelly *still spazzing* Christmas came early:D
I hope you like it so far! ♥
Date: 2011-12-19 02:16 pm (UTC)Re: I hope you like it so far! ♥
Date: 2011-12-19 07:14 pm (UTC)omg MAGICCCC~~ ^^v
IM LOVING THIS SO MUCH ;____; ♥ WAE U STOP THERE??!!
I wanna know more!!!!!!!!cant wait to read Jaes POV and the events leading up to their reunion ^^ I wanted to hug poor Yunho,now now Joongie will be back!hehe ~ did Jae think what he is going to lose is his looks?oh u!
I love ur writing,thanks for writing this for me :)
no subject
Date: 2011-12-19 02:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-19 05:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-19 02:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-19 02:54 pm (UTC)That's always the price to pay ;A; - you gain back your old memories in exchange for your new ones T^T it kind of reminds me of the MV of Davichi's "안녕이라고 말하지마" (Don't Say Goodbye). In the MV, the guy trades his new girlfriend for his old one, who was kidnapped by some dude. It was sad, because either way, the guy had to give up one of them; just like how Jae's new memories were lost after he got his old ones back ᅲㅅᅲ
The title and the summary are very reassuring though, so one way or another, I'm pretty sure Jae will remember :')
And if not...
Haha, just kidding about the gun thing xD You know I love you too much for that~
no subject
Date: 2011-12-19 02:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-19 05:10 pm (UTC)I find it really really weird or is it a coincidence~?
My emotions right now:
But i loved it. Angst is love.
Thanks for this!
no subject
Date: 2011-12-19 02:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-19 03:15 pm (UTC)i think is "someday"
no subject
Date: 2011-12-19 03:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-19 04:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-19 05:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-19 04:36 pm (UTC)-silent reader-
no subject
Date: 2011-12-19 05:03 pm (UTC)yunho-ah~ TT^TT
can't wait for the next part,
^^
no subject
Date: 2011-12-19 05:24 pm (UTC)But I recall reading something like this before.
People who have temporary amnesia when they recall their past forgets what happens in the present.
It's like the brain cannot store two different sets of memories.
I hope that Jae somehow in his heart remembers Yunho.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-19 06:05 pm (UTC)you will feel it rite? even if your brain no longer working, yr heart continues beating so does yr feeling. At least that part of Jae still remember who Yunho is! :)
I can't wait for part 2.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-19 06:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-20 01:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-20 01:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-20 03:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-20 04:37 am (UTC)I'm hoping for a happy Yunjae ending
no subject
Date: 2011-12-20 05:03 am (UTC)Thanks for the awesome christmas present tho. I love it
no subject
Date: 2011-12-20 03:46 pm (UTC)UPDATE SOON PLEAAAASE!!!! .__.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-20 03:47 pm (UTC)Poor Yunho. I hope Jae comes back to him.
no subject
Date: 2011-12-20 05:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-20 07:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-12-21 01:03 am (UTC)I think jj know yunho loves him right before that old man return his memory
but now, he cant remember yunho~~~~~~~
want more~~
no subject
Date: 2011-12-23 07:31 am (UTC)Anyway, I love this concept♥
I love Yunho, I love Jaejoong, I love everything!
Poor Yunnie must be heartbroken gahh... I can't even T__T.
I just want to hug him right now... He doesn't deserve that...
But this reminds me of xxxHOLiC, the whole exchanging a wish for something you own.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this^^
I can't wait to see what happens next with Jaejoong's POV.
Hwaiting ♥
Thank you for the great fic :D
no subject
Date: 2011-12-29 05:55 am (UTC)The young man turns his head to Yunho and smiles, “You’ll still love me if I’m old and wrinkly, right Yunho?” he asks, his voice lighthearted.
>> so does that mean that jae loves yunho too? 0___0
omona.. his memories of yunho were taken... *heart breaks*
no subject
Date: 2011-12-29 03:47 pm (UTC)poor yh :( i wonder what will happen next :')
no subject
Date: 2012-01-06 08:52 am (UTC)