My Love... by My Side [COMPLETED]

15: Filler - Jazz And Joe

"Hello!" says Jazz in front of a mirror. He's fixing his vocal tune and practicing again.

"Hi, how are you today? Oh my, I sound like a miserable bitch!" he adjusts his composure. He clears his throat and starts again.

"Oh, hi there..." he freezes. Someone is standing behind him, and he knows exactly who it is.

"Oh... hi..." he slowly turns to face the person. There he is, standing there in a nice brown shirt and loose blue jeans. Joe gives Jazz a cute smile, flashing his killer move with his dimple.

"Are you waiting for me?" asks Joe.

"No... no! I was waiting for... Youn!" Jazz replies with an awkward smile.

"You can just go to his house. The school ended a few hours ago," says Joe.

Okay, I'm busted!

"Ah... ah... actually..."

"Are you okay, Jazz?" Joe notices Jazz sweating and fanning himself, but he remains calm.

Okay, Jazz... don't get so nervous...

"I lied... ahaha... I came to see you," he admits.

Joe smiles and looks at him tenderly. He notices that Jazz has something in his hand.

"What's that?" Joe asks.

"This? Oh, this is a bento. I wanted to give this to you since I saw you were quite busy, maybe even skipping a meal. So, why not bring you something? But since I'm coming straight from my office, I couldn't cook it personally for you, so I just bought it on my way here. I don't know if it's good or not... but boy, that shop was full of people! So I assumed it must be good. And I didn't even know your preferences, so I bought what I liked..." Jazz rambles nervously.

"I like your preferences, thank you..." Joe says warmly, interrupting Jazz with a smile.

I think, I talk too much!

Jazz clasps his mouth before standing straight, blushing.

"So, here! Enjoy it!" Jazz hands over the bento to Joe.

"Wait, are you leaving?" Joe grabs Jazz's hand.

"Why?" Jazz looks puzzled.

"Care to join me?" Joe asks, invitingly.

--------------------------------

"Are you always this busy?" Jazz asks, looking at Joe as he enjoys his spicy octopus.

"Not really, but the new semester just started. So, it's kinda chaotic over here," he replies. Jazz nods and places his bento box on the table.

"May I ask how you met Youn?"

"Oh, he's my high school buddy. We always hung out together, learning music, skipping classes, and flirting around, just for fun," Joe smiles, reminiscing about the sweet moments they had back then.

"But, before senior year, he suddenly moved to the city. From what I heard, he got a nice opportunity to pursue his future in music. So, we lost contact for a moment before I met him again when I attended Musical Symphony three years ago," explains Joe.

"Oh, he never speaks of anything about it. I almost thought that he didn't even have any friends. He always overworks, and I can say he hasn't got much of a social life. So when he mentioned this job, I was kinda shocked, but I think he made the best choice in his life," says Jazz.

"He had a rough time before he left. That's why he acted like that. He closed his heart because he was too heartbroken. I can understand why he shut everything out," Joe explains.

"I don't understand..."

"Something happened to him. He lost his first love. I knew about the relationship between the girl and him, but I'm not sure what made them part ways. But he was so devastated and broken. Maybe that's one of the reasons why he took the offer and left. He loves the girl," says Joe. And now he knows who the girl is, he eventually understands why Youn loves her so much.

"First love, huh? Well, do you have a first love?" Jazz's random question startles Joe.

"I... ahaha... I was too busy! I didn't even have a chance to meet someone who I could hold dear. But... it seems like I have some time to date now. Maybe I can just give myself a chance," Joe says, looking at Jazz, a sparkle in his eyes. Jazz blushes suddenly, unable to help it.

"So, what about you? Any girlfriend? Or... boyfriend?" Now it's Joe's turn to ask Jazz.

"I... well... I think I just found my first love recently. You see, I've never been so serious in my life. I love flirting a lot but never fell in love with anyone. But somehow, I just did..." Joe's face suddenly becomes gloomy. He takes a piece of cherry tomato and stuffs it into his mouth roughly.

Why do I feel so broken now? Joe murmurs inside.

"So, does the person know?"

"He doesn't know about it," Jazz nods. Joe doesn't ask for more and continues eating whatever is left in the bento box.

"I don't know if he loves me or not, because he keeps eating without even looking at me now..." Jazz speaks in the slowest volume but enough to make Joe hear it.

"Hmm?"

"Ah... I should probably get going..."

"Wait." Joe grabs his waist, making Jazz fall onto his lap. He frowns at this dimple fella act but later finds himself cozy in his arms.

"Maybe you should try talking to him about it," Joe suggests, whispering to Jazz.

"I'm afraid he might choke on some stupid cherry tomato," Jazz leans closer when Joe pulls his nape slowly towards him.

"He finished eating two seconds ago..."

"Really?" Their faces get closer... and closer... AND closer...

"Let's try again, shall we?" Joe asks. He prepares his lips to crash on Jazz's.

"I... I... like... you..." Jazz speaks between his heavy breaths.

"Are you sure you just... like me?" Jazz's face turns crimson red, redder than the cherry tomato.

"You looked naive.. and clumsy.. but it seems.. like you... keeps your claw inside, Mr. Bing.."

"I'm good at flirting too, Mr. Aramenta," Joes says as their lips seal together, crashing towards each other, chewing, biting, and gritting in a passionate embrace...

Ring... ring... ring...

Both of them pull away from each other, panting and are shocked by the phone. Joe clears his throat and picks up the phone. Jazz slowly wakes up from his lap, sitting next to him.

"It's Youn," Joe says. Jazz looks at him, giving him a signal to answer the call.

"Youn?"

"Joe, I'm screwed up!" Youn's voice trembles, and he's crying!

"Where are you? I'm coming right now!" Joe stands up from the sofa and grabs his coat.

"I'm coming," Jazz whispers to him. Joe just nods. They walk out of Joe's office and head straight to Jazz's car.