a semi, kinda, sorta fairytale [1/5]
title: a semi, kinda, sorta fairytale
pairing: baekhyun/chanyeol
rating: pg
genre: romance, au
length: 26,811wc , 5 parts
warning: the usual cliche and dumb, and then more dumb
summary: Where Park Chanyeol is a modern day prince looking for his true love and Byun Baekhyun isn't exactly Cinderella. Also, there are no magical pumpkins or a fairy godmother here but there may be a talking mouse.
an: written ages ago for cj. ily bb even if u won't read this lol
an2: ty to nikka, steph and rebecca senpai and everyone who patted my potato head thru this ♥♥♥
Our story starts when Park Chanyeol is roughly awakened by the shrill ring of an alarm clock. He tries to turn his head away but the annoying sound follows him even under the sheets. The ringing grows infinitely louder and so he grudgingly opens an eye only to see the face of a clock-a black mouse in red underpants smiling happily at him, its short gloved hand pointing to eleven.
"Baek, what the hell?" he whines as he pushes the annoying thing away. Park Chanyeol doesn't get up until 1PM and that's a rule. The dastardly ringing thankfully stops, the sound replaced by a throaty chuckle.
"Rise and shine, your majesty," Baekhyun says, a little too cheerfully in Chanyeol's opinion. His assistant's totally enjoying this, he thinks in resentment. "Half the day's already gone and you still have a lot of preparing to do before the ball."
The ball. Fuck, Chanyeol groans.
"Go away," he replies as he buries his head under a pillow.
"Oh, the pwincess is being gwumpy. Poor pwincess has a hangover. Maybe the pwincess should have listened to me and shouldn't have stayed up all night bar hopping and drinking like an idiot," the smaller man coos.
Chanyeol sits up, reddish brown hair sticking out in all directions, and glares at the man standing by the foot of the bed. Sure, Byun Baekhyun has been in his family's employee since forever. Sure, they've practically grown up together-Byun Baekhyun has been his childhood playmate, his babysitter, his overall assistant and well, his closest friend. But that doesn't give Byun Baekhyun the right to smile that smug smile and gloat because he was right. Park Chanyeol's still his boss.
"I'm having you replaced," he threatens.
"Thank god," Baekhyun answers, grin widening. "I've had my resignation letter ready since we were eight. Please." Then the man had the audacity to give him a salute before he walks away.
"Hey, where are you going?" Chanyeol calls out. He can already hear it, the resounding sound of defeat. He never wins against Baekhyun.
Baekhyun looks over his shoulder at him. "But I thought you already fired me?"
"Very funny," Chanyeol mutters, choosing to ignore the knowing look in his friend's eyes. Everyone knows the only heir to Park Industries can't survive without Baekhyun.
There's that quirk in Baekhyun's thin lips again which makes Chanyeol want to do something, he's just not sure what. The older man pads back towards him and stops by his bedside. Baekhyun does look so very prim and proper in his sharply pressed shirt and slacks. Chanyeol's brain clicks. Time for revenge.
"Come on, Park. You know tonight's important." Baekhyun starts straightening things on the bedside table, the habit of cleaning up after Chanyeol instinctively taking over. "Tonight, you have to find the person you're going to marry or else your parents will do it for you. And the pwetty pwincess wouldn't want that, would he?"
Chanyeol tunes out his friend's chatter--the subject irritates the hell out of him anyway--and instead busies himself looking for an opening. He gets a little bit distracted by Baekhyun's slender hands while they plump up his pillows but he quickly snaps out of it when he realizes the elder just has to bend a few inches closer so Chanyeol can reach him.
"But seriously, this is the only chance you have left so you can't screw up. You should be grateful your parents invited at least 300 of the most eligible people in the country. You have a lot to choose from. And it isn't so bad, is it? You just have to get hitched to--Hey!"
The taller male grabs for Baekhyun's waist with both hands as he was straightening the bed covers. In one quick motion, using the sheets, Chanyeol has Baekhyun rolled into a squirming sushi. He then settles on top of his assistant, not minding that he's pretty much naked without the bed covers. "Ha!"
Chanyeol proceeds to rest his head against Baekhyun's chest.
"Get off me, Park!" Baekhyun tries to buck up but Chanyeol remains unmoving. "Get off."
"Not until you shut up about the party."
"But it's important!"
"Then, no. Not getting up." Chanyeol finds a more comfortable position and closes his eyes.
"I'm not being paid for this," Baekhyun grumbles.
Chanyeol nods. "Yeah, you're paid to powder my butt."
"I'll sooner kick it than do that," his assistant mutters and then says in a louder voice, "You're ruining my clothes!" He attempts to knee the taller man off but the blanket's too tightly wound around him. "This is really childish of you. Why do you even get angry when your parents say you need to grow up?"
"Not listening."
"Chanyeol," Baekhyun says in exasperation.
The younger male's eyes remain closed. "I know it, Baekhyun. I know what I have to do, okay?" He sighs.
Perhaps it's not surprising that Baekhyun stops squirming and lets Chanyeol lie there. His best friend has always known what he needs. "Five minutes and then we go prepare, okay?"
Chanyeol nods and rolls off of the smaller man, ending up on his back. Baekhyun straightens and Chanyeol can feel the other's eyes on his face. His vision is blocked when his best friend covers him with the sheets. "Nothing you've never seen." He huffs and pulls it down. "And I'm still angry that you're going to abandon me tonight," he says petulantly.
"As much as I want to attend your party," Chanyeol snorts at that piece of bullshit and Baekhyun laughs before he continues,"I was really not invited. Which is wise of Mr. Park because you'll just end up clinging to me all night and using me as your shield."
Chanyeol braces himself with his elbows and scowls at his assistant. "But isn't that your job? To take care of me? Do anything I ask?"
"I should really read my contract again."
"You can't and you're changing the topic!" The taller male falls on his back again and stares in frustration at the high ceiling of his room. "I don't get why they have to do this. I'm an adult for god's sake."
"Maybe they won't if you start acting like one," Baekhyun answers matter of factly.
"I'm your best friend, aren't you supposed to take my side?"
"I'm on your side, Chanyeol," Baekhyun answers seriously. "Always. That's why I want for this to work so you'll be able to settle down and be happy. What if you were meant to find the one tonight and you missed the chance because you're being such a big baby?"
The shorter man cocks his head to the side and sighs when Chanyeol doesn't answer. He moves to stand and Chanyeol grabs for Baekhyun's hand, effectively stopping him. "How would I even know if they're the one?"
"When you see them, you'll know," his friend says, thoughtful. "There's this feeling--it happens slowly and then all at once and before you know it you've fallen hard."
Chanyeol stares at Baekhyun. "You sound as if you've already found someone," he tells him, more than a bit suspicious of the wary expression that flickered past Baekhyun's eyes.
His best friend shrugs which puzzled the taller man further. Baekhyun liking someone and Chanyeol not knowing about it? That's impossible.
"Forget about it, your highness," the older male says with a playful smirk, enough to convince Chanyeol that he was just fooling around, making him easily dismiss the thought altogether.
"Baek, you really think if I find that soul mate--whatever you're talking about--I'd be happy?" It isn't that he doesn't believe in love. He knows it existed but for it to happen to him just as simply as Baekhyun described it? He's a bit skeptical.
"Yes," Baekhyun replies with a confident nod, standing up. "So you better get up and let's have your butt powdered and all that shit."
Baekhyun disappears into the walk-in closet, leaving Chanyeol chuckling, the tension in his limbs easing. Somehow, no matter how hopeless a situation Chanyeol finds himself in, his best friend can always make everything seem bearable.
He still thinks tonight will be an utter waste of time but if Baekhyun says otherwise then he'll believe it. After all, although he won't ever admit it out loud, Baekhyun's always right.
Baekhyun's wrong.
After standing for three hours straight with all the matchmaking mamas eyeing him like a tasty morsel, Chanyeol's so done. He's been introduced to every eligible person in their circle-in every shape and size, he might add-but he hasn't felt even a tiny spark with any one of them. The worst part is Baekhyun's not even there to receive the scolding Chanyeol believes his friend deserves for making him believe all that nonsense about happiness and finding your soul mate blah, blah, blah.
The ballroom of their large country house is filled with people he barely knew. He's tired and bored out of his wits. And the skin around his eyes is itchy beneath the black silk eye mask he's wearing. Baekhyun insisted on him dressing up as an 18th century prince but he stepped his foot down against those horrid pantaloons, thankfully getting away with just wearing a somber black suit that he thinks makes him look like a gorgeous god of the Underworld. ("You look like a chauffeur," Baekhyun had said.)
But whatever, who even thought to make this a masquerade ball? Chanyeol sighs, dare he even ask? It was most probably his mom's idea, executed with the help of his traitor of an assistant. Those two have always been close, always finding time to chat, probably plotting more ways to torture him.
There's a young woman-wearing a duck-swan-whatever headdress-currently draped against his side while her mother tries to catch Chanyeol's attention by waxing over her daughter's achievements. From what he can see of her face below the bedazzled half-mask, he vaguely thinks she's pretty but nothing special. She's quite an accomplished girl with a degree in Physics and a published paper on Thermodynamics but all of it's lost on Chanyeol who is too busy thinking of ways to extricate himself from her rather tight hold (and her headdress which kept on poking his cheek). He also can't breathe because of her cloying perfume and he fears he'll faint soon and hit his head on the marble floors of the ballroom.
On second thought, that isn't so bad. If he cracks his skull, they'll let him leave and rest in peace, right?
Luckily, before he can take himself seriously, he sees his parents walking his way. Chanyeol cut off the older woman's monologue with a quick smile and an excuse that his mother's asking for him. He exhales in relief when he reaches them. Chanyeol waits for his father to finish talking with his business partner before speaking.
"CEO Park," he says, bowing to the older man, and then he turns to his mom, smiling teasingly, "Hello, Queen Mother."
Mrs. Park rolls her eyes but lets her son kiss the back of her gloved hand nonetheless. "Silly child."
"Well, you're dressed as a queen," he replies. He leans closer to his mom and stage whispers, "But who is this aging peasant you're with?"
His father shakes his head-mask off and tucked in his pocket-and plucks two champagne flutes from the tray of a walking server. He hands one to his wife and says,"We saw you with Mayor Kim's daughter. You were talking for longer than usual."
"Do we finally have a winner?" his mother asks expectantly.
Chanyeol visibly shudders at the thought. He chooses not to tell them that the only reason he stayed with the mother and daughter duo was the girl's tight grip on his arm. He's convinced there's going to be bruises there by tomorrow.
"Sorry, but no," he answers.
"But why not?" his mother says in disappointment.
The wife of the CEO of Park Industries is a petite woman with delicate features and a generally happy disposition. It's quite hard to believe that she was the same woman who told him in no uncertain terms that she would see him wed by his 27th birthday next month or he would losehalf of his inheritance (she wasn't that heartless) to his cousin, Kim Jongin. And Chanyeol hates that because he absolutely disliked Jongin-his perfect looks and his perfect manners and his perfect smile and his perfect everything.
Sadly, he can't take her words lightly for although his mother is gentle, she also has an iron resolve and will make good on her threat.
Chanyeol's father on the other hand-tall, stern and known to be strict with handling his company-is a total putty in her hands and is no help to his only son. "How about Secretary Lee's daughter?" Mr. Park suggests. "Or Chief Oh's son, even. Sehun is just a few years younger than you are and his father's a good friend of mine."
"He's boring as hell," Chanyeol mutters.
"No matter, the night is young and you still have at least half of the guest list to meet," Mrs. Park hands back her glass to her husband and pats her son's cheek. "I'm off to freshen up. You better have someone with you when I come back."
The two men watch as the short lady makes her way to the restrooms. Chanyeol kind of dreads being left with his father but it's still better than having someone hanging onto his arm and squeezing the life out of it.
"Your mother," the older man starts, "only wants what's best for you. We both want what's best for you."
"I know, sir," Chanyeol says quietly.
"I told your mother it's our fault why you can't seem to take anything seriously and why you don't want to settle down," his father holds up his hand when Chanyeol opens his mouth. "You are our only child and you were born when we didn't think we'd ever have one. So we became too lenient, too giving. We let you do whatever you want. Don't get me wrong, I know you've done great with your responsibilities in the company but I also know you can do more."
Chanyeol keeps his mouth closed. Everything his father is saying is true.
"We're not young, son and we'll probably keel over soon," CEO Park says with a chuckle. "But before we do, we want to know that we'll be leaving you in good hands, and no, don't tell me you have Baekhyun. He has a life and he's not going to stay with you forever."
The younger Park frowns at that. Of course, Baekhyun will stay with him. They're best friends. Where else will Baekhyun go?
"And so this may seem to you as very tyrannical but believe that we are doing this only with your best interest in mind." Mr. Park drinks the rest of his champagne. "Find your partner, Chanyeol."
Chanyeol really doesn't know what else to say. They have argued over this way too many times since his mother concocted the idea almost a year ago. He knows at some point, he has to, he just didn't think he would have to get married so soon. But he does understand where his parents are coming from, he has not been, after all, the most perfect of sons.
"I'll try to, sir."
"Good. Now, I'll distract your mother and give you five minutes to take a breather. Go," the older man says.
Chanyeol bows down and grins at his father gratefully. He wastes no time walking out of the stuffy ballroom, into the terrace outside the French doors. He goes down the steps at the side and proceeds to stroll along the path leading to the gardens, relieved.
Korean pine line up the wide stone walkway, sprinkled with pear trees here and there, their leaves painted in the colors of autumn-brown, burnt orange and a lovely shade of copper. The skies are clear and the air is crisp-cool against his cheeks. Chanyeol hasn't been in their country estate much. He finds the calm and quiet here relaxing but he has always been a restless spirit so he prefers the hustle and bustle of the city.
There are a few stray people scattered outside so Chanyeol tries as much as possible to go unnoticed. He walks further on to a secluded corner where he reaches the entrance to the garden maze. He smiles. The young man recalls those trips long ago made during chuseok where he and Baekhyun fought boredom with games of hide-and-seek here while the adults stayed in the house preparing for a feast. No matter how many times they've played it, his best friend will always get lost inside and he will always find the smaller boy, hugging his knees to his chest and waiting for Chanyeol to find him.
Chanyeol enters the maze, absently running his hands against the tall hedges, thinking laughingly that if ever Baekhyun was here he'd probably just use GPS instead of waiting for Chanyeol. He has changed-they both have. Now the little boy who had poor sense of direction is the one in the lead, guiding and assisting the younger as he navigates clumsily through his charmed life.
He makes his way through the passages, finding dead ends once in a while. Belatedly remembering that there's a fountain in the center of the maze, he follows the sound of running water, figuring he can hide there for the next few minutes. He goes through several more twists and turns before he finally gets to one of several paths leading straight to the fountain. He can already see it from a distance-the statue of three child cupids lounging in the clouds, the water gushing out from the tip of their arrows. He walks forward and then he stops a few feet away.
Because he sees him.
Chanyeol doesn't remember a fourth angel but there he is, sitting by the fountain wearing a white half-mask and holding onto a broken wing. The air leaves Chanyeol's lungs in one swoop and he stands there frozen as his eyes get caught in the graceful curve of the angel's neck while he looks up at the sky. The moonlight lovingly shines on the other man's raven black hair, artlessly tousled by the light night breeze. The same light touches the tops of his pale shoulders visible in his sleeveless white robe, making him glow, shimmer-ethereal and untouchable and unreal. He doesn't even need to see his face nor his profile clearly for Chanyeol's hopelessly mesmerized.
It happens slowly and then all at once and his mind tells him, he's the one.
It's silly, crazy, mad, insane-ridiculous how his feet can't move even if his brain is telling him to run and get to him. It's as if he's waiting for this moment all his life without knowing it but his body isn't cooperating. He's shaking, his throat is dry, he has never felt like this before and, and, and-Chanyeol knows. He just knows. He's irrevocably in love.
His one-winged angel stands, unceremoniously dusting off his knee-length robe and to Chanyeol's horror, he begins to walks away. "Stop!" he tries to call out except his voice comes out wispy and weak. "Don't go!" But the other man has already disappeared from his line of vision.
Chanyeol wills his legs to move and with a (decidedly late) rush of adrenaline, he runs towards the center of the maze. But the unknown man is not there anymore, and there's no sign of which way he took. Chanyeol spins around in a panic, looking at the other three passages that the angel could have taken. Which one, which one?
He runs his hand through his hair and rips off his mask, throwing it aside in frustration. He found him. He finally found the one. Fuck, he can't lose him so easily! Chanyeol curses and decides to choose whatever exit is closest, hoping against hope that he'll be able to catch the other man. He'll return to the ball, won't he? Chanyeol can find him there.
He wishes again that Baekhyun was here. His best friend can help him and will not let him lose his soul mate.
Chanyeol stalks off with determined strides but is forced to halt when he sees something sparkle brightly on the ground before him. He bends down quickly and picks it up. It's a silver necklace with a diamond encrusted pendant in the shape of an angel's wings. He stares at it for a second and he feels a punch in his gut. Chanyeol's sure the guy he fell in love with owns it.
Holding onto the piece of jewelry tight, he takes out his mobile and calls for help, because damnit, he can't afford even a second's delay. Before long, one of the garden's caretakers fetches him and then he's out of the garden, running up the terrace stairs, back to the ballroom he was so anxiously trying to get away from earlier.
Chanyeol weaves through the crowd and uses his height to look past hundreds of heads, searching for a distinct black one while his heart thunders in his ears. Where is he? He can't just disappear, can he?
But without his mask, people instantly recognize Park Chanyeol and start to flock to where he is. This won't work, he tells himself in agitation. Disregarding all the rules of high society, Chanyeol rudely turns his back on the guests vying for his attention and goes straight towards the elevated stage at one side of the ballroom. He holds up his hand and the band stops playing. The heir to Park Industries stands tall in the middle of the stage and peruses the crowd. Fuck, he still can't find him.
A sudden hush falls over the ballroom when Chanyeol holds his fist out and lets them see the dazzling necklace dangling from his hand. "Who owns this necklace?" The guests look at each other and then back at him. He receives no answer, though, so he asks again. "Tell me. Who owns this necklace?"
Still no response. Chanyeol wants to stomp his foot in frustration.
"Is no one really going to answer?" Chanyeol's eyes make another sweep of the place. He sees his parents near the dance floor, looking curiously up at him. "To whoever owns this," he says, voice loud and clear in the silence of the room, "I will marry you."
Before he can even blink, hundreds of hands immediately shoot up and the ballroom is filled with screams and shouts of Me! Me! Me! Chanyeol steps back from the sudden assault.
Fuck.
i // ii // iii // iv // v
pairing: baekhyun/chanyeol
rating: pg
genre: romance, au
length: 26,811wc , 5 parts
warning: the usual cliche and dumb, and then more dumb
summary: Where Park Chanyeol is a modern day prince looking for his true love and Byun Baekhyun isn't exactly Cinderella. Also, there are no magical pumpkins or a fairy godmother here but there may be a talking mouse.
an: written ages ago for cj. ily bb even if u won't read this lol
an2: ty to nikka, steph and rebecca senpai and everyone who patted my potato head thru this ♥♥♥
Our story starts when Park Chanyeol is roughly awakened by the shrill ring of an alarm clock. He tries to turn his head away but the annoying sound follows him even under the sheets. The ringing grows infinitely louder and so he grudgingly opens an eye only to see the face of a clock-a black mouse in red underpants smiling happily at him, its short gloved hand pointing to eleven.
"Baek, what the hell?" he whines as he pushes the annoying thing away. Park Chanyeol doesn't get up until 1PM and that's a rule. The dastardly ringing thankfully stops, the sound replaced by a throaty chuckle.
"Rise and shine, your majesty," Baekhyun says, a little too cheerfully in Chanyeol's opinion. His assistant's totally enjoying this, he thinks in resentment. "Half the day's already gone and you still have a lot of preparing to do before the ball."
The ball. Fuck, Chanyeol groans.
"Go away," he replies as he buries his head under a pillow.
"Oh, the pwincess is being gwumpy. Poor pwincess has a hangover. Maybe the pwincess should have listened to me and shouldn't have stayed up all night bar hopping and drinking like an idiot," the smaller man coos.
Chanyeol sits up, reddish brown hair sticking out in all directions, and glares at the man standing by the foot of the bed. Sure, Byun Baekhyun has been in his family's employee since forever. Sure, they've practically grown up together-Byun Baekhyun has been his childhood playmate, his babysitter, his overall assistant and well, his closest friend. But that doesn't give Byun Baekhyun the right to smile that smug smile and gloat because he was right. Park Chanyeol's still his boss.
"I'm having you replaced," he threatens.
"Thank god," Baekhyun answers, grin widening. "I've had my resignation letter ready since we were eight. Please." Then the man had the audacity to give him a salute before he walks away.
"Hey, where are you going?" Chanyeol calls out. He can already hear it, the resounding sound of defeat. He never wins against Baekhyun.
Baekhyun looks over his shoulder at him. "But I thought you already fired me?"
"Very funny," Chanyeol mutters, choosing to ignore the knowing look in his friend's eyes. Everyone knows the only heir to Park Industries can't survive without Baekhyun.
There's that quirk in Baekhyun's thin lips again which makes Chanyeol want to do something, he's just not sure what. The older man pads back towards him and stops by his bedside. Baekhyun does look so very prim and proper in his sharply pressed shirt and slacks. Chanyeol's brain clicks. Time for revenge.
"Come on, Park. You know tonight's important." Baekhyun starts straightening things on the bedside table, the habit of cleaning up after Chanyeol instinctively taking over. "Tonight, you have to find the person you're going to marry or else your parents will do it for you. And the pwetty pwincess wouldn't want that, would he?"
Chanyeol tunes out his friend's chatter--the subject irritates the hell out of him anyway--and instead busies himself looking for an opening. He gets a little bit distracted by Baekhyun's slender hands while they plump up his pillows but he quickly snaps out of it when he realizes the elder just has to bend a few inches closer so Chanyeol can reach him.
"But seriously, this is the only chance you have left so you can't screw up. You should be grateful your parents invited at least 300 of the most eligible people in the country. You have a lot to choose from. And it isn't so bad, is it? You just have to get hitched to--Hey!"
The taller male grabs for Baekhyun's waist with both hands as he was straightening the bed covers. In one quick motion, using the sheets, Chanyeol has Baekhyun rolled into a squirming sushi. He then settles on top of his assistant, not minding that he's pretty much naked without the bed covers. "Ha!"
Chanyeol proceeds to rest his head against Baekhyun's chest.
"Get off me, Park!" Baekhyun tries to buck up but Chanyeol remains unmoving. "Get off."
"Not until you shut up about the party."
"But it's important!"
"Then, no. Not getting up." Chanyeol finds a more comfortable position and closes his eyes.
"I'm not being paid for this," Baekhyun grumbles.
Chanyeol nods. "Yeah, you're paid to powder my butt."
"I'll sooner kick it than do that," his assistant mutters and then says in a louder voice, "You're ruining my clothes!" He attempts to knee the taller man off but the blanket's too tightly wound around him. "This is really childish of you. Why do you even get angry when your parents say you need to grow up?"
"Not listening."
"Chanyeol," Baekhyun says in exasperation.
The younger male's eyes remain closed. "I know it, Baekhyun. I know what I have to do, okay?" He sighs.
Perhaps it's not surprising that Baekhyun stops squirming and lets Chanyeol lie there. His best friend has always known what he needs. "Five minutes and then we go prepare, okay?"
Chanyeol nods and rolls off of the smaller man, ending up on his back. Baekhyun straightens and Chanyeol can feel the other's eyes on his face. His vision is blocked when his best friend covers him with the sheets. "Nothing you've never seen." He huffs and pulls it down. "And I'm still angry that you're going to abandon me tonight," he says petulantly.
"As much as I want to attend your party," Chanyeol snorts at that piece of bullshit and Baekhyun laughs before he continues,"I was really not invited. Which is wise of Mr. Park because you'll just end up clinging to me all night and using me as your shield."
Chanyeol braces himself with his elbows and scowls at his assistant. "But isn't that your job? To take care of me? Do anything I ask?"
"I should really read my contract again."
"You can't and you're changing the topic!" The taller male falls on his back again and stares in frustration at the high ceiling of his room. "I don't get why they have to do this. I'm an adult for god's sake."
"Maybe they won't if you start acting like one," Baekhyun answers matter of factly.
"I'm your best friend, aren't you supposed to take my side?"
"I'm on your side, Chanyeol," Baekhyun answers seriously. "Always. That's why I want for this to work so you'll be able to settle down and be happy. What if you were meant to find the one tonight and you missed the chance because you're being such a big baby?"
The shorter man cocks his head to the side and sighs when Chanyeol doesn't answer. He moves to stand and Chanyeol grabs for Baekhyun's hand, effectively stopping him. "How would I even know if they're the one?"
"When you see them, you'll know," his friend says, thoughtful. "There's this feeling--it happens slowly and then all at once and before you know it you've fallen hard."
Chanyeol stares at Baekhyun. "You sound as if you've already found someone," he tells him, more than a bit suspicious of the wary expression that flickered past Baekhyun's eyes.
His best friend shrugs which puzzled the taller man further. Baekhyun liking someone and Chanyeol not knowing about it? That's impossible.
"Forget about it, your highness," the older male says with a playful smirk, enough to convince Chanyeol that he was just fooling around, making him easily dismiss the thought altogether.
"Baek, you really think if I find that soul mate--whatever you're talking about--I'd be happy?" It isn't that he doesn't believe in love. He knows it existed but for it to happen to him just as simply as Baekhyun described it? He's a bit skeptical.
"Yes," Baekhyun replies with a confident nod, standing up. "So you better get up and let's have your butt powdered and all that shit."
Baekhyun disappears into the walk-in closet, leaving Chanyeol chuckling, the tension in his limbs easing. Somehow, no matter how hopeless a situation Chanyeol finds himself in, his best friend can always make everything seem bearable.
He still thinks tonight will be an utter waste of time but if Baekhyun says otherwise then he'll believe it. After all, although he won't ever admit it out loud, Baekhyun's always right.
Baekhyun's wrong.
After standing for three hours straight with all the matchmaking mamas eyeing him like a tasty morsel, Chanyeol's so done. He's been introduced to every eligible person in their circle-in every shape and size, he might add-but he hasn't felt even a tiny spark with any one of them. The worst part is Baekhyun's not even there to receive the scolding Chanyeol believes his friend deserves for making him believe all that nonsense about happiness and finding your soul mate blah, blah, blah.
The ballroom of their large country house is filled with people he barely knew. He's tired and bored out of his wits. And the skin around his eyes is itchy beneath the black silk eye mask he's wearing. Baekhyun insisted on him dressing up as an 18th century prince but he stepped his foot down against those horrid pantaloons, thankfully getting away with just wearing a somber black suit that he thinks makes him look like a gorgeous god of the Underworld. ("You look like a chauffeur," Baekhyun had said.)
But whatever, who even thought to make this a masquerade ball? Chanyeol sighs, dare he even ask? It was most probably his mom's idea, executed with the help of his traitor of an assistant. Those two have always been close, always finding time to chat, probably plotting more ways to torture him.
There's a young woman-wearing a duck-swan-whatever headdress-currently draped against his side while her mother tries to catch Chanyeol's attention by waxing over her daughter's achievements. From what he can see of her face below the bedazzled half-mask, he vaguely thinks she's pretty but nothing special. She's quite an accomplished girl with a degree in Physics and a published paper on Thermodynamics but all of it's lost on Chanyeol who is too busy thinking of ways to extricate himself from her rather tight hold (and her headdress which kept on poking his cheek). He also can't breathe because of her cloying perfume and he fears he'll faint soon and hit his head on the marble floors of the ballroom.
On second thought, that isn't so bad. If he cracks his skull, they'll let him leave and rest in peace, right?
Luckily, before he can take himself seriously, he sees his parents walking his way. Chanyeol cut off the older woman's monologue with a quick smile and an excuse that his mother's asking for him. He exhales in relief when he reaches them. Chanyeol waits for his father to finish talking with his business partner before speaking.
"CEO Park," he says, bowing to the older man, and then he turns to his mom, smiling teasingly, "Hello, Queen Mother."
Mrs. Park rolls her eyes but lets her son kiss the back of her gloved hand nonetheless. "Silly child."
"Well, you're dressed as a queen," he replies. He leans closer to his mom and stage whispers, "But who is this aging peasant you're with?"
His father shakes his head-mask off and tucked in his pocket-and plucks two champagne flutes from the tray of a walking server. He hands one to his wife and says,"We saw you with Mayor Kim's daughter. You were talking for longer than usual."
"Do we finally have a winner?" his mother asks expectantly.
Chanyeol visibly shudders at the thought. He chooses not to tell them that the only reason he stayed with the mother and daughter duo was the girl's tight grip on his arm. He's convinced there's going to be bruises there by tomorrow.
"Sorry, but no," he answers.
"But why not?" his mother says in disappointment.
The wife of the CEO of Park Industries is a petite woman with delicate features and a generally happy disposition. It's quite hard to believe that she was the same woman who told him in no uncertain terms that she would see him wed by his 27th birthday next month or he would losehalf of his inheritance (she wasn't that heartless) to his cousin, Kim Jongin. And Chanyeol hates that because he absolutely disliked Jongin-his perfect looks and his perfect manners and his perfect smile and his perfect everything.
Sadly, he can't take her words lightly for although his mother is gentle, she also has an iron resolve and will make good on her threat.
Chanyeol's father on the other hand-tall, stern and known to be strict with handling his company-is a total putty in her hands and is no help to his only son. "How about Secretary Lee's daughter?" Mr. Park suggests. "Or Chief Oh's son, even. Sehun is just a few years younger than you are and his father's a good friend of mine."
"He's boring as hell," Chanyeol mutters.
"No matter, the night is young and you still have at least half of the guest list to meet," Mrs. Park hands back her glass to her husband and pats her son's cheek. "I'm off to freshen up. You better have someone with you when I come back."
The two men watch as the short lady makes her way to the restrooms. Chanyeol kind of dreads being left with his father but it's still better than having someone hanging onto his arm and squeezing the life out of it.
"Your mother," the older man starts, "only wants what's best for you. We both want what's best for you."
"I know, sir," Chanyeol says quietly.
"I told your mother it's our fault why you can't seem to take anything seriously and why you don't want to settle down," his father holds up his hand when Chanyeol opens his mouth. "You are our only child and you were born when we didn't think we'd ever have one. So we became too lenient, too giving. We let you do whatever you want. Don't get me wrong, I know you've done great with your responsibilities in the company but I also know you can do more."
Chanyeol keeps his mouth closed. Everything his father is saying is true.
"We're not young, son and we'll probably keel over soon," CEO Park says with a chuckle. "But before we do, we want to know that we'll be leaving you in good hands, and no, don't tell me you have Baekhyun. He has a life and he's not going to stay with you forever."
The younger Park frowns at that. Of course, Baekhyun will stay with him. They're best friends. Where else will Baekhyun go?
"And so this may seem to you as very tyrannical but believe that we are doing this only with your best interest in mind." Mr. Park drinks the rest of his champagne. "Find your partner, Chanyeol."
Chanyeol really doesn't know what else to say. They have argued over this way too many times since his mother concocted the idea almost a year ago. He knows at some point, he has to, he just didn't think he would have to get married so soon. But he does understand where his parents are coming from, he has not been, after all, the most perfect of sons.
"I'll try to, sir."
"Good. Now, I'll distract your mother and give you five minutes to take a breather. Go," the older man says.
Chanyeol bows down and grins at his father gratefully. He wastes no time walking out of the stuffy ballroom, into the terrace outside the French doors. He goes down the steps at the side and proceeds to stroll along the path leading to the gardens, relieved.
Korean pine line up the wide stone walkway, sprinkled with pear trees here and there, their leaves painted in the colors of autumn-brown, burnt orange and a lovely shade of copper. The skies are clear and the air is crisp-cool against his cheeks. Chanyeol hasn't been in their country estate much. He finds the calm and quiet here relaxing but he has always been a restless spirit so he prefers the hustle and bustle of the city.
There are a few stray people scattered outside so Chanyeol tries as much as possible to go unnoticed. He walks further on to a secluded corner where he reaches the entrance to the garden maze. He smiles. The young man recalls those trips long ago made during chuseok where he and Baekhyun fought boredom with games of hide-and-seek here while the adults stayed in the house preparing for a feast. No matter how many times they've played it, his best friend will always get lost inside and he will always find the smaller boy, hugging his knees to his chest and waiting for Chanyeol to find him.
Chanyeol enters the maze, absently running his hands against the tall hedges, thinking laughingly that if ever Baekhyun was here he'd probably just use GPS instead of waiting for Chanyeol. He has changed-they both have. Now the little boy who had poor sense of direction is the one in the lead, guiding and assisting the younger as he navigates clumsily through his charmed life.
He makes his way through the passages, finding dead ends once in a while. Belatedly remembering that there's a fountain in the center of the maze, he follows the sound of running water, figuring he can hide there for the next few minutes. He goes through several more twists and turns before he finally gets to one of several paths leading straight to the fountain. He can already see it from a distance-the statue of three child cupids lounging in the clouds, the water gushing out from the tip of their arrows. He walks forward and then he stops a few feet away.
Because he sees him.
Chanyeol doesn't remember a fourth angel but there he is, sitting by the fountain wearing a white half-mask and holding onto a broken wing. The air leaves Chanyeol's lungs in one swoop and he stands there frozen as his eyes get caught in the graceful curve of the angel's neck while he looks up at the sky. The moonlight lovingly shines on the other man's raven black hair, artlessly tousled by the light night breeze. The same light touches the tops of his pale shoulders visible in his sleeveless white robe, making him glow, shimmer-ethereal and untouchable and unreal. He doesn't even need to see his face nor his profile clearly for Chanyeol's hopelessly mesmerized.
It happens slowly and then all at once and his mind tells him, he's the one.
It's silly, crazy, mad, insane-ridiculous how his feet can't move even if his brain is telling him to run and get to him. It's as if he's waiting for this moment all his life without knowing it but his body isn't cooperating. He's shaking, his throat is dry, he has never felt like this before and, and, and-Chanyeol knows. He just knows. He's irrevocably in love.
His one-winged angel stands, unceremoniously dusting off his knee-length robe and to Chanyeol's horror, he begins to walks away. "Stop!" he tries to call out except his voice comes out wispy and weak. "Don't go!" But the other man has already disappeared from his line of vision.
Chanyeol wills his legs to move and with a (decidedly late) rush of adrenaline, he runs towards the center of the maze. But the unknown man is not there anymore, and there's no sign of which way he took. Chanyeol spins around in a panic, looking at the other three passages that the angel could have taken. Which one, which one?
He runs his hand through his hair and rips off his mask, throwing it aside in frustration. He found him. He finally found the one. Fuck, he can't lose him so easily! Chanyeol curses and decides to choose whatever exit is closest, hoping against hope that he'll be able to catch the other man. He'll return to the ball, won't he? Chanyeol can find him there.
He wishes again that Baekhyun was here. His best friend can help him and will not let him lose his soul mate.
Chanyeol stalks off with determined strides but is forced to halt when he sees something sparkle brightly on the ground before him. He bends down quickly and picks it up. It's a silver necklace with a diamond encrusted pendant in the shape of an angel's wings. He stares at it for a second and he feels a punch in his gut. Chanyeol's sure the guy he fell in love with owns it.
Holding onto the piece of jewelry tight, he takes out his mobile and calls for help, because damnit, he can't afford even a second's delay. Before long, one of the garden's caretakers fetches him and then he's out of the garden, running up the terrace stairs, back to the ballroom he was so anxiously trying to get away from earlier.
Chanyeol weaves through the crowd and uses his height to look past hundreds of heads, searching for a distinct black one while his heart thunders in his ears. Where is he? He can't just disappear, can he?
But without his mask, people instantly recognize Park Chanyeol and start to flock to where he is. This won't work, he tells himself in agitation. Disregarding all the rules of high society, Chanyeol rudely turns his back on the guests vying for his attention and goes straight towards the elevated stage at one side of the ballroom. He holds up his hand and the band stops playing. The heir to Park Industries stands tall in the middle of the stage and peruses the crowd. Fuck, he still can't find him.
A sudden hush falls over the ballroom when Chanyeol holds his fist out and lets them see the dazzling necklace dangling from his hand. "Who owns this necklace?" The guests look at each other and then back at him. He receives no answer, though, so he asks again. "Tell me. Who owns this necklace?"
Still no response. Chanyeol wants to stomp his foot in frustration.
"Is no one really going to answer?" Chanyeol's eyes make another sweep of the place. He sees his parents near the dance floor, looking curiously up at him. "To whoever owns this," he says, voice loud and clear in the silence of the room, "I will marry you."
Before he can even blink, hundreds of hands immediately shoot up and the ballroom is filled with screams and shouts of Me! Me! Me! Chanyeol steps back from the sudden assault.
Fuck.
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