smoke and mirrors

4

"Oh mo..." Yuta points at taeyong and Jaehyun when they walk in the door. "You two are glowing." He couldn't help but tease the two. The glimpse of pure shyness never ceased to amaze the Japanese.

The complaisant of Taeyong smiles a little too giddy for both Yuta and Taeyong's liking. He didn't mean to but the smell of bacon in the early morning makes him so happy.

Taeyong grins as he remembers how Jaehyun's arms were wrapped around his waist. Of course, it wasn't in a romantic way. He was just content that he and Jaehyun could act like they did years ago.

Yuta didn't miss a single moment to tease them. He smirked and made kissing sounds.

"How old are you?" Jaehyun questions as he approaches Yuta. "You are acting like your shoe size and not your age." Jaehyun starts to tickle Yuta.

The Japanese flinched. He couldn't stop laughing like a hyena, meanwhile taeyong sounded like a spray bottle.

The kids walk in, and glance over the scene with mesmerized eyes. Hira points to Yuta. "I didn't think adults could smile, I just thought that they were grumpy like Papa Mark and Papa Sickening."

Baejin chuckles. It sure did seem that way for the past few years. Maybe this is the Era of happiness for the sweethearts. He was so elated just viewing the three being happy.

The door busts open, and bae jin quickly pulls Hira into his arms. He snatches Tinder away from the door. The three males' head snaps to the door.

Jaehyun huffs out. "I will be back...."

"Don't you dare come near me!" Johnny yells. He looked so upset. His face was redder than blood, jaehyun could tell that his blood was boiling.

Jaehyun wanted to laugh so hard. This was the reason he came, he wanted to face the things he could never. "Why are you so angry with me? I thought w..."

"Why would you kiss me in front of her? She didn't do anything wrong?" Johnny rolls his eyes. "You just had to go and ruin everything between me and her. Now she won't even answer any of my calls."

Jaehyun smiles. "That was my plan. I told you." He steps over to Johnny. "I never said I was done with you. I remember telling you the day we got married that there is nothing that would make me leave your side."

"You..." Johnny grasps his forehead. "You called me your ex... what do you mean you never left me?"

Jaehyun looks away from Johnny. He did take that ex-comment in his letter. Now he sees how confusing it could have been for Johnny. "But I didn't leave my ring."

"Just kiss already." Yuta throws a piece of bacon at Jaehyun. "You know you want to....."

"Red room," Jaehyun whispers as a tall brunette steps into the house. He could only glance back at taeyong.

"Papa?" Taerin questions. Her eyes widened. It's been years really since any of them had heard from Baekhyun.

Taeyong looked away from the man. " bae jin, taerin, and Hira go upstairs." Taeyong makes his way over to the taller one. "Why are you here?"

"I came back for you... I know I'm crazy and you are done with me. However, I love you. It took leaving and clearing my head to figure that out."

"How many more times would you need to clear your head?" Taeyong questions. "That's all you ever do, you just clear your head and leave me and the kids."

"I know."

The bickering goes on and on between Taeyeon Baekhyun. Jaehyun locks their eyes with Johnny. Almost as if they were back when they first started dating.

"You want to end up like them?" Jaehyun questions. He frowns when Johnny turns away from him. "Johnny I'm back and you still won't even look at me. You are..."

"Treat me like crap, but don't do it to Joey. She did nothing wrong." Johnny more than snaps at Jaehyun. The harsh tone makes Jaehyun want to shrink back into his clothes.

Jaehyun was irrevocably in love with Johnny. It's so obvious that a blind man could see. The only person not understanding where he is coming from is the one he loves. Isn't it ironic that inherently Jaehyun came back for the Americans however it looks like the Americans didn't want him back.

Maybe Jaehyun should let him go. He is a firm believer that if he is hurting Johnny then he should leave.

Just like that Baekhyun and Taeyong were all over each other, all while Jaehyun was choking back his sobs. He is done feeling like a burden but he longs to be the one for Johnny. Why can't the older ones just see that?

"Jaehyun, I will tell you this because I do care for you. Joey and I are...."

"I'm going to go." Jaehyun cut Johnny off. He didn't want to hear that those two were tying the knot. That knot is already his.

Johnny snatches Jaehyun's arm. "Stop moving. Listen to me." Johnny firmly grabs Jaehyun's chin. He made the younger look at him. His words were caught in his throat when he saw the tears streaming down Jaehyun's pink cheeks. "Ja..."

"Move, I need to go." Jaehyun quickly wipes his face. He storms out fleeing the questions and embarrassment of his tears.

Is he losing the person he built to withstand this storm? Maybe coming back wasn't such a great idea. Maybe he should let the placeholder become the placekeeper. It's all so obvious now, because he left Johnny and fell in love with someone else. It's all his fault.

Johnny stood in the middle of the room shocked. He didn't expect to see tears. How bad has he hurt Jaehyun? "Jae.." Johnny walks out after him. "Jae, wait please."

Jaehyun wipes the final straggling tears. "No, I'm sorry for ever working on myself. I'll admit it. But you should at least think about how I feel."

"Jae..." Johnny tries to restrain from touching Jaehyun's face. He wanted to wipe every single tear away.

"No, you lied to me. You were so selfish and broke my heart. Now you make me feel like an ass for doing what I did. But you promised..." Jaehyun looked away. "You told me I am the only person you would want in your life. I guess taeyong was right."

Jaehyun swings his car door open. He jumps in. After placing his seatbelt on he pulled out.

Jaehyun starts to wipe his face. He still remembers the letter Johnny gave him. He remembers all of the times he told Jaehyun not to worry about others. He can still hear how Johnny swore on every single star that jaehyun was his one, now look at them.

Two years ago he would never fathom his heart being shattered to the brim as it is now. Guess he deserves to be alone.