Mask - Chapter 1
Mask
Rating: PG-13
Subject: Henry | Pairing: HenHae
Genre: AU!Family, Drama/Minor!Angst, Romance
Length: Chaptered
Summary: Whisked in the arms of a wealthy and charming bachelor, its all smiles and sweeping happiness in front of the camera lenses. A fairy-tale ending that was short lived.
§ The First Thread §
***
Donghae shuffled the papers about, his eyes skimming each sheet as quickly as he marked what needed to be corrected with a marker. Until the papers almost seemed to drenched in red.
He heard a knock on the door and looked up, his secretary stepped in. "A Zhang Xian Hua is here to meet with Zhou Mi, but since he's out of the office. Would it be all right if he met with you?"
Donghae furrowed his eyebrows, he had never heard the name from his co-worker, but nodded his head to signal to let him in nonetheless. His memory may have been faulty considering the current workload.
He stood up from his desk and rounded it towards the nearby bookshelf, checking some characters in his dictionary when the door opened. He looked back, and widened his eyes slightly as he adjusted his glasses.
The young man who walked in wore dark sunglasses with an array of black and dark red hair trailing over his eyes, dressed in a dark green khaki jacket with a faux fur hood and a pair of shined black boots. Overall, a modernly stylish youth, someone he wasn't used to seeing in his office. Yet something about him seemed familiar...
The young man turned his head and bowed. "I'm-"
"Ah!" He snapped his fingers, almost dropping the book in his hand. "Henry Ahn."
The young man made no reaction, until a small, strained smile traced his lips as Donghae shifted his glasses as he balanced the books in his hold.
"Now I remember. Zhou Mi mentioned that he's editing your brother's autobiography. I regret to inform you its still in his backlog at the moment, but he said he'd be done with the first draft by next friday." He dumped the books messily onto the desk, fixing his rustled dress shirt.
"I see..." Henry mused slightly. "That's what he's been up to lately."
Donghae froze at the phrase and turned around. Henry smiled at his shocked face. "I didn't mean to pry into my brother's privacy, but I couldn't help but want to know... Don't worry, I won't out you for accidentally letting me know." He shoved his hands into his pockets. "I want him to keep doing as he wanted without me knowing either, understand?"
Donghae nodded as Henry said his goodbye, and left the office.
It was a strange encounter, Donghae thought. He vaguely knew Henry was a celebrity of some sort, but what kind he wasn't sure.
-
The maid poured the drink into Henry's glass and stepped back as the five ate their meals in the exquisite, marble dining room, that contrasted against the traditional Japanese-like home.
"This was all planned by her." The guest exclaimed excitedly, gesturing the modest woman who sat beside Kangta.
Henry lifted the glass. Simply planning the meal held no merit to the actual staff who made it, he would not misplace credit where it was truly deserved.
"Ah, Yesung, I understand your favorite dessert is yogurt." She grinned as the next course of meals appeared on the table.
Jongwoon simply stared at the dish and replied, "It is."
"She knows you all so well." The guest, the woman's good friend praised loud enough for the entire table to hear.
"If she knew us better, she'd realize you hates fruits, especially raspberries." Henry said lowly in Mandarin, not bothering to touch his fork. The two ladies looked at each other, unsure of what he had just said as Henry drank his water. His own plate held a custard bread.
"Henry," The woman said. "Isn't this your favorite dish?"
"It was." Henry continued in Mandarin, the woman tilted her head in confusion.
"Henry, speak Korean when around her. It's disrespectful." His father reprimanded, however, his tone remained considerably gentle.
Henry closed his mouth but said nothing else. Jongwoon who sat beside him added nothing, remaining just as quiet, his yogurt untouched. The two ladies seemed edged by the conversation they couldn't understand.
He huffed and dropped the white napkin over the dessert, the chair skidding as he announced in a cold tone, "Thank you for the meal."
The young man entered the den, sighing to himself as he reached for his large headphones and listened to the song. He reached for one of his books and read, allowing himself to drift away. He heard the paneled doors opened and side-eyed his brother.
Henry tentatively asked. "What did dad say?"
"He said he'd bring some food for you in case the dishes were not to your taste. Also, Grandmother wants me to tell you that it was rude of you to leave abruptly."
Henry lowered his headphones around his neck. He scowled. "Tell her that if she wants me to join dinner, then at least give me the courtesy of knowing the witch is gone first."
His brother would not do such a thing. Yet he swore he saw a smile trace his Jongwoon's lips, the very same that escaped his now expressionless face.
"You still haven't learned how to lie."
-
Henry listened to the soft piano music playing above him in the small cafe, lounging in his darkened back that he kept mainly to himself, his chin resting on his hand. He scanned the crowd around him when he noted a man sneaking a look in his direction.
He waited as he stared at the reflection of his glass, until he saw the man finally stand up and take the nerve to walk towards his table.
"H-hello."
Henry looked up to see the man from the publishing company smiling politely. "Hi." He returned, Donghae continued to stand awkwardly in front of him. "Please, sit."
Donghae did so, his messenger bag bumped into the table and Henry arched an eyebrow. The man was also clumsy it seemed.
They remained in silence until Henry prompt the question. "You're a writer then?" Donghae nodded. "What do you write about?"
"Mostly children's books, but I also edit other works as well."
"Mmm, that sounds lively." Henry mused impassively. He ran his fingers through his hair, revealing the dark red locks beneath as he leaned back further in his seat.
"Nothing compared to your work I'm sure. I still remember the albums when they came out, how everyone fussed over the music of Henry Ahn."
Henry gave the same, strained smile he had given in his office that day. "Please don't define me a member of the Ahn family. I go by the name Zhang XianHua."
Donghae instantly bowed his head. "I'm sorry."
Henry watched him from the corner of his eye, his guilt radiating and breathed out. "But I guess Henry is fine too. I just prefer not being associated with my family's name."
"But you stood on your own," Donghae stated confidently.
Henry was once a promising singer who left the industry, leaving only a brief impression. But still known by the media as his father and mother's son, and the brother of the ever popular Yesung. A media encouraged icon.
"You don't seem the type to be caught up in the entertainment news..." Donghae looked down as Henry gave a knowing smile. "Ahh... You checked up on me."
Donghae looked further down, the hue of his cheeks reddening. Henry's legs crossed over, his cheek against his hand as he smiled deviously. "How nosy of you."
Donghae felt his heart skip a beat. Despite being a grown man, something about the younger man enticed him.
The children storybook writer was finding an odd fascination with the celebrity.
-
The maids bowed as the pair walked down the corridor in their pressed suits and outfits, Henry heard his brother pacing himself towards them, and announced. "Mother wants you."
Kangta stopped in his tracks, without another word, he pulled out of his partner's grasp.
"But we have to hurry or we'll be late for the ceremony." She said worriedly.
"You can go." Kangta said idly as he followed alongside Jongwoon in the direction he came from.
"B-but..."
Henry leaned against the mirror, watching with a satisfied expression as he crossed his arms, looking at the woman's disheartened expression.
"But then you the paparazzi will wonder why the leading woman isn't in arms with her leading man, who she supposedly has a relationship with."
She turned around at the Mandarin spoken phrase, greeting with a thinned smile.
"You've waited years," Henry continued. "And still there's no news of an official relationship. Even the paparazzi feel the chance of you and my father being together is just as slim. But that isn't what you tell your friends, is it?"
He stepped forward towards her, maintaining a firm distance between them. He then spoke in fluent Korean,
"How does it feel to know you'll never take my mother's place?"
The woman's usual cheerful face became indifferent, but still a scowl formed on her cherry lips. Henry laughed.
Its time the witch showed her true colors, he thought. Yet as the woman stalked off in a huff, her black dress trailing behind her, Henry felt his brief satisfaction leave him. The minor confrontation had led nowhere.
In the end, his family had already lost.
| Prologue | - | Chapter 2 |
A/N: This series is completed, will update twice a week I believe on Mondays and Fridays. Deciding on that ^^, hope you all enjoy.
Disclaimer: Despite my research, there may be issues with fact because of clashing sources. Shall claim creative freedom.
Comms: my-prection
Rating: PG-13
Subject: Henry | Pairing: HenHae
Genre: AU!Family, Drama/Minor!Angst, Romance
Length: Chaptered
Summary: Whisked in the arms of a wealthy and charming bachelor, its all smiles and sweeping happiness in front of the camera lenses. A fairy-tale ending that was short lived.
§ The First Thread §
***
Donghae shuffled the papers about, his eyes skimming each sheet as quickly as he marked what needed to be corrected with a marker. Until the papers almost seemed to drenched in red.
He heard a knock on the door and looked up, his secretary stepped in. "A Zhang Xian Hua is here to meet with Zhou Mi, but since he's out of the office. Would it be all right if he met with you?"
Donghae furrowed his eyebrows, he had never heard the name from his co-worker, but nodded his head to signal to let him in nonetheless. His memory may have been faulty considering the current workload.
He stood up from his desk and rounded it towards the nearby bookshelf, checking some characters in his dictionary when the door opened. He looked back, and widened his eyes slightly as he adjusted his glasses.
The young man who walked in wore dark sunglasses with an array of black and dark red hair trailing over his eyes, dressed in a dark green khaki jacket with a faux fur hood and a pair of shined black boots. Overall, a modernly stylish youth, someone he wasn't used to seeing in his office. Yet something about him seemed familiar...
The young man turned his head and bowed. "I'm-"
"Ah!" He snapped his fingers, almost dropping the book in his hand. "Henry Ahn."
The young man made no reaction, until a small, strained smile traced his lips as Donghae shifted his glasses as he balanced the books in his hold.
"Now I remember. Zhou Mi mentioned that he's editing your brother's autobiography. I regret to inform you its still in his backlog at the moment, but he said he'd be done with the first draft by next friday." He dumped the books messily onto the desk, fixing his rustled dress shirt.
"I see..." Henry mused slightly. "That's what he's been up to lately."
Donghae froze at the phrase and turned around. Henry smiled at his shocked face. "I didn't mean to pry into my brother's privacy, but I couldn't help but want to know... Don't worry, I won't out you for accidentally letting me know." He shoved his hands into his pockets. "I want him to keep doing as he wanted without me knowing either, understand?"
Donghae nodded as Henry said his goodbye, and left the office.
It was a strange encounter, Donghae thought. He vaguely knew Henry was a celebrity of some sort, but what kind he wasn't sure.
-
The maid poured the drink into Henry's glass and stepped back as the five ate their meals in the exquisite, marble dining room, that contrasted against the traditional Japanese-like home.
"This was all planned by her." The guest exclaimed excitedly, gesturing the modest woman who sat beside Kangta.
Henry lifted the glass. Simply planning the meal held no merit to the actual staff who made it, he would not misplace credit where it was truly deserved.
"Ah, Yesung, I understand your favorite dessert is yogurt." She grinned as the next course of meals appeared on the table.
Jongwoon simply stared at the dish and replied, "It is."
"She knows you all so well." The guest, the woman's good friend praised loud enough for the entire table to hear.
"If she knew us better, she'd realize you hates fruits, especially raspberries." Henry said lowly in Mandarin, not bothering to touch his fork. The two ladies looked at each other, unsure of what he had just said as Henry drank his water. His own plate held a custard bread.
"Henry," The woman said. "Isn't this your favorite dish?"
"It was." Henry continued in Mandarin, the woman tilted her head in confusion.
"Henry, speak Korean when around her. It's disrespectful." His father reprimanded, however, his tone remained considerably gentle.
Henry closed his mouth but said nothing else. Jongwoon who sat beside him added nothing, remaining just as quiet, his yogurt untouched. The two ladies seemed edged by the conversation they couldn't understand.
He huffed and dropped the white napkin over the dessert, the chair skidding as he announced in a cold tone, "Thank you for the meal."
The young man entered the den, sighing to himself as he reached for his large headphones and listened to the song. He reached for one of his books and read, allowing himself to drift away. He heard the paneled doors opened and side-eyed his brother.
Henry tentatively asked. "What did dad say?"
"He said he'd bring some food for you in case the dishes were not to your taste. Also, Grandmother wants me to tell you that it was rude of you to leave abruptly."
Henry lowered his headphones around his neck. He scowled. "Tell her that if she wants me to join dinner, then at least give me the courtesy of knowing the witch is gone first."
His brother would not do such a thing. Yet he swore he saw a smile trace his Jongwoon's lips, the very same that escaped his now expressionless face.
"You still haven't learned how to lie."
-
Henry listened to the soft piano music playing above him in the small cafe, lounging in his darkened back that he kept mainly to himself, his chin resting on his hand. He scanned the crowd around him when he noted a man sneaking a look in his direction.
He waited as he stared at the reflection of his glass, until he saw the man finally stand up and take the nerve to walk towards his table.
"H-hello."
Henry looked up to see the man from the publishing company smiling politely. "Hi." He returned, Donghae continued to stand awkwardly in front of him. "Please, sit."
Donghae did so, his messenger bag bumped into the table and Henry arched an eyebrow. The man was also clumsy it seemed.
They remained in silence until Henry prompt the question. "You're a writer then?" Donghae nodded. "What do you write about?"
"Mostly children's books, but I also edit other works as well."
"Mmm, that sounds lively." Henry mused impassively. He ran his fingers through his hair, revealing the dark red locks beneath as he leaned back further in his seat.
"Nothing compared to your work I'm sure. I still remember the albums when they came out, how everyone fussed over the music of Henry Ahn."
Henry gave the same, strained smile he had given in his office that day. "Please don't define me a member of the Ahn family. I go by the name Zhang XianHua."
Donghae instantly bowed his head. "I'm sorry."
Henry watched him from the corner of his eye, his guilt radiating and breathed out. "But I guess Henry is fine too. I just prefer not being associated with my family's name."
"But you stood on your own," Donghae stated confidently.
Henry was once a promising singer who left the industry, leaving only a brief impression. But still known by the media as his father and mother's son, and the brother of the ever popular Yesung. A media encouraged icon.
"You don't seem the type to be caught up in the entertainment news..." Donghae looked down as Henry gave a knowing smile. "Ahh... You checked up on me."
Donghae looked further down, the hue of his cheeks reddening. Henry's legs crossed over, his cheek against his hand as he smiled deviously. "How nosy of you."
Donghae felt his heart skip a beat. Despite being a grown man, something about the younger man enticed him.
The children storybook writer was finding an odd fascination with the celebrity.
-
The maids bowed as the pair walked down the corridor in their pressed suits and outfits, Henry heard his brother pacing himself towards them, and announced. "Mother wants you."
Kangta stopped in his tracks, without another word, he pulled out of his partner's grasp.
"But we have to hurry or we'll be late for the ceremony." She said worriedly.
"You can go." Kangta said idly as he followed alongside Jongwoon in the direction he came from.
"B-but..."
Henry leaned against the mirror, watching with a satisfied expression as he crossed his arms, looking at the woman's disheartened expression.
"But then you the paparazzi will wonder why the leading woman isn't in arms with her leading man, who she supposedly has a relationship with."
She turned around at the Mandarin spoken phrase, greeting with a thinned smile.
"You've waited years," Henry continued. "And still there's no news of an official relationship. Even the paparazzi feel the chance of you and my father being together is just as slim. But that isn't what you tell your friends, is it?"
He stepped forward towards her, maintaining a firm distance between them. He then spoke in fluent Korean,
"How does it feel to know you'll never take my mother's place?"
The woman's usual cheerful face became indifferent, but still a scowl formed on her cherry lips. Henry laughed.
Its time the witch showed her true colors, he thought. Yet as the woman stalked off in a huff, her black dress trailing behind her, Henry felt his brief satisfaction leave him. The minor confrontation had led nowhere.
In the end, his family had already lost.
| Prologue | - | Chapter 2 |
A/N: This series is completed, will update twice a week I believe on Mondays and Fridays. Deciding on that ^^, hope you all enjoy.
Disclaimer: Despite my research, there may be issues with fact because of clashing sources. Shall claim creative freedom.
Comms: my-prection