ONCE (JoongNine AU)

Chapter 5

Nine

"You're blocking the exit". I slowly opened my eyes and saw a cold face Joong that already held his belonging to go out from the van. Since he was sitting at the inner side, I was really blocking his way. I slept almost all the way, maybe, because of the lack of sleep from the night before, caused by my nervousness to see him again.

"Sorry. Couldn't you just tap my shoulder or something?", I grumbled while wiping my face, and then took my bag from the back seat to leave the van. Joong just snorted and waited until I descended and follow suit. As soon as we arrived, the crews were noted and they came to take the remaining equipments.

"Nine, Joong. Take a rest for a bit. Our shoot will start in the evening. Stay in your room, we'll shoot there", P'Kheng, the assistant director told us the schedule for today.

"Excuse me, P'. Shoot at what room?".

"The hotel wanted to promote their honeymoon suite. Didn't your manager brief you on this?", I just smiled and internally berated my manager. He did say a suite, but really left out the honeymoon part. Did he purposely do that so that I wont object? How to object anyway, we already signed a contract. The type of room and packages were decided by the hotel chain and the sponsor.

"Yes, but before this, we were given separate rooms, for promotion and to stay. Anyway, honeymoon suite, ermm, for us?". I said and pointed to Joong too. Joong just stayed silent and didn't put much query such as I did. P'Kheng raised his shoulders, he just assisted in direction, not the person in charge of arrangement. Just at the same moments, the sales manager for the hotel came by to greet us and maybe, he heard my query just now, answered with an apologetic face, "Our sincerest apology, to both of you. Our hotel now is catering to an International Conference. The few standard rooms; we'd already reserved for the crews, and only the suite that is reserved for shooting is available".

I immediately shook my head, in case the manager felt that I was demanding a better treatment, "No, it's alright. Just a curiosity; because you could have let out the suite to customer and give us any other standard room. If that was the case, we appreciate it very much. The suite will do, right Joong?", I asked the quiet person beside me. Joong looked at me and nodded.

"Thank you", the manager said in relief, "Let my staff bring your luggage to the room. We could go and have lunch first. After that, we shall tour this hotel facilities and I will also brief about the packages attached to the honeymoon suite in detail". I nodded my head in interest, and although Joong was a little quiet, I knew he also listened carefully to the client's need.

Joong

I woke up before Nine, and felt surprised that I was leaning heavily towards him too. Nine slept so well, he must be tired from the look of it. I could see the shadow that was so apparent under his eyes when observing him while he was asleep on the first half of the journey. Carefully, I extracted myself from him and moved back to my seating position. One and half hours of slouching, had taken its' toll on my waist and back as expected. The pain was bearable but still uncomfortable. 20 minutes later, the van had stopped moving, but Nine still had not awaken. I called his name softly a few times, and even touched his bangs that was in disarray, but as soon as his eyelids moved, I immediately returned back to my cold appearance. Coward! You're a coward, Joong!. After that, I remained stoic and only nodded when needed.

After the hotel tour and briefing, we were sent to our room, and were told it's okay to rest first, because the proper setting would only be done half an hour before the actual shoot. They needed to add a few decorative items and set it up to make the room looked screen worthy. As soon as we entered, I immediately lain face down on the bed; the pain had increased after the hotel walkabout. Nine just sighed loudly at my action.

"What, Nine? The manager said we could use it first, they will make it up later", I said with my eyes closed. Nine didn't answer, but I could hear him rummaging his belonging. I could feel the space beside me, was then occupied by somebody. And then, suddenly my shirt was lifted up, and that caused my breath to hitch and I immediately turned, sat up and moved away a bit.

"This is a honeymoon suite, I know, but they didn't say we are required to do anything...as a couple!", I said with widened eyes.

"Huh? What couple thing are you talking about, hmm, Joong?", Nine asked with a blank face.

"You...you...why did you lift my shirt?", I asked, befuddled too with his clear confusion.

My face was blushing, as soon as he showed me a small tube of balm in his hand. Damn, Nine. Why didn't you show me that from the start? This is so embarrassing. But, wait...

"You were so quiet during the briefing. And also, I realized, you keep massaging your back while we were walking just now".

"Wow, keeping an eye on me, didn't you?", I said, while inside, a trace of excitement was simmering, but I hid it well on the surface.

"Hmm, not exactly keeping an eye, more liked, waking up on the way because somebody was snoring on top of my head, and because he was slouching, half of his weight was forcing me to the side. If I moved, he would definitely fall on my lap, so I need to stay as static as possible and eventually went back to sleep too", Nine said with such straight face, that my blush had turned into a total red.

I tried to play it cool and reach out for the balm, but Nine just pulled his hand away and signalled me to lay back. I refused to move, and asked again for the balm.

"Either we do this without a fight, or I will just use force", he said in a very calm manner that irritated me more.

"I couldn't understand you, Nine. I could do that myself, anyway". I said in confusion.

"So, you choose force. Alright...", he said and really moved to force me down to my back.

"Stop! Stop! Gosh, what kind of treatment is this? Alright, I'll do it!", I said before we could be in fistfight, which was too ridiculous in this age. Petulantly, I turned and laid face down on the bed again. I could feel his hand lifted my shirt and pulled my pants down a bit, and then came the smell of mint, and the warm hands that massaged the area carefully.

"If you understood me, Joong, then you should know...I'm doing this not because you couldn't...", he said quietly.

"Then, for what?".

"For thinking about my comfort first, even when you didn't have to...it's a thank you...".

I remained silent; not answering to his quiet thanks; or reacting to the comfortable pressure of his hands; but my heart that had yet to calm down, was beating stronger than ever. This is trouble!. I closed my eyes and swallowed down my silent grunts.