Fic: MIINAH (Pretty Woman Revisited) P. 2
Title: MIINAH (Pretty Woman Revisited) P. 2
Authors: wonsu_garkyub and bl4ckm4lice
Characters: Kyuhyun, Donghae, Siwon, Kangin
Pairings: KyuHae friendship; WonKyu romantic
Rating: PG-13; rating could progress as the story goes along
Summary: Orphan Kyuhyun thought that he only needed to come up with money for his last term in school plus the graduation expenses and he’ll be on his merry way to looking for a job until he received a notice that a very long overdue house mortgage is threatening him with the loss of the only thing left for him by his parents…
Part 1
Donghae still left for “work” after they finished their dinner and Kyuhyun was left alone in the house, not that he wasn’t used to it. It’s just like he’s suddenly feeling claustrophobic in there while he was alone. The night was a bit warm so he went out to his small courtyard where there was a small platform variously used as a folding table for clothes, workbench, kitchen table (when he was young his parents sometimes cook their meals outside and prepare the meal and eat on the platform) or as a sort of bed to watch the stars above. It’s still early and he can’t sleep while he kept thinking about the inevitable loss of the house if he can’t come up with a solution. But how?
He thought about Donghae and his job. He thought about asking Donghae for a loan. But where will he get the money to pay him back? He now knows that Donghae is doing what he does because he is saving money to go back to school and pursue his dream of a college degree and a “decent” job. Donghae already has plans of going back to school by next year and if he ever willingly lends Kyuhyun money then his plan will go bust because Kyuhyun will not be able to repay him immediately in time for the enrollment and Kyuhyun doesn’t have the heart to do that to him.
This is his problem. He’s the one who needs to find the solution. Kyuhyun closed his eyes, thinking he was just getting tired of staring into space. He never thought he’d fall asleep on the platform.
He awoke to a slightly cool dampness on his skin and he shivered a little. It’s already dawn. He was surprised to find that he had fallen asleep outside the house on the hard platform without pillows and blanket but he felt refreshed. And this early, having just woken up, he thinks and he feels like he knows what to do with his problem.
He was just about to go inside when he heard the gate opening. It was Donghae.
“Kyuhyun-ah! Good morning! You’re up early.” He greeted. He was struggling with some packages as he closed the gate.
Kyuhyun hurried over and helped him. “I went out to watch the stars last night and I fell asleep here. I never thought I’d fall asleep in an uncomfortable spot but I woke up feeling good. What’s all these, hyung?”
“Breakfast and other goodies. A client of mine had them in his truck. He delivers those to stores all around the city and I asked him for some. He said okay and since he felt satisfied and happy with my service he gave me more.” Donghae said, smiling.
Kyuhyun sheepishly smiled back but he thought this is the perfect opportunity to ask his hyung about certain things. He cleared his throat cause he’s starting to get nervous.
“Ahermm! Ahmm…Ahh, Hyung! Could I ask you some things?” He finally blurted.
“Ahuh?! What’s it all about?”
“About ah…, about your job.” Kyuhyun said with that uncomfortable look on his face.
“What about it? Are you starting to feel uncomfortable with me, doing what I do and still living in your house?” Donghae said a bit wary himself on where Kyuhyun’s question is going to lead.
“Oh no! Not about that Hyung!” Kyuhyun protested. “It’s just that I want to really understand how it works. How you deal with the people you take on as clients and some other stuff.”
“Why do you seem suddenly interested in this, Kyuhyun?” Donghae asked. Trying to raise an eyebrow and failing.
“I’d like to work with you, Hyung.”
***
Donghae nearly fell off the chair he was sitting on when he heard what Kyuhyun just said.
“What the hell did you just say, Kyuhyun?!” he accidentally raised his voice.
“I said I want to work with you. I mean, I want to join you in your work if you don’t mind.” Kyuhyun said trying to convince himself internally that he really wanted to do this.
“Why?”
“I have a huge financial problem right now, Hyung. If I don’t raise enough funds, I might lose this house in a few weeks.”
“Why? How did it happen?”
“I received a notice a few days ago. Before you arrived. It says that my parents owe them real estate/property tax for several years now and it is such a huge amount for me to raise in such a short period of time. Most of the people I know can’t even send their own children to college so I don’t have anybody left to turn to to ask for a loan.”
“You got me.” Donghae said in a low voice.
“Oh no, Hyung!” Kyuhyun blurted out. “I won’t do that to you! I can’t ask you for a loan because I know what you intend to do with your money. I won’t hold you back from your dream just because I asked for a loan which I know I won’t be able to repay immediately.
“B-But why do you want to be like me? You don’t have to. You’re smarter than me; you can get a better job than trying to prostitute yourself.” Donghae was trying to get Kyuhyun to change his mind. “You should know that this is not a simple thing to do. There are much greater risks than you can think of. You shouldn’t decide on doing this just because you think that there is no other solution and when you finally get the answer to your problem, Bam! Your going crazy as to why you ever did such a silly thing! No Kyuhyun. I don’t think I can let you do it.”
He got up and started to go to his room when Kyuhyun spoke.
“I’ve thought about it since you arrived. I know I’m smart but smart won’t get me the amount of money I need to earn in a few days. Maybe you were sent to me to be the solution to my problem.”
Donghae turned around again to try and say something but Kyuhyun stopped him.
“Don’t worry. I’ve already made up my mind; I’m coming with you tonight.”
Kyuhyun left Donghae open mouthed and blinking at what he just heard his young friend say.
“Ahhh! Why does he have to be so hard headed now?”
***
Later that afternoon, Kyuhyun comes rushing home from school. He still has to prepare for tonight. His debut as a…whore.
“Hyung?! I’m back. Are you in your room?” Kyuhyun knocked on the door but got no answer. He opened it and found the room empty.
“Where is he?” he asked himself. He was about to close the door when he noticed a piece of paper taped to the bedpost with his name written on it. He took it and read.
Kyuhyun,
I have left early but I won’t be leaving you. I know you need a friend right now but I want you to think this over once more because I don’t want you to regret anything. If you have to, RECONSIDER. And you will make me happy if you do change your mind. I’ll do anything to help you out. One or two more years out of college won’t hurt. I’m your friend, and friends help out each other. No, we’re more than friends, we’re brothers, right? Take care and sleep well tonight. We’ll talk in the morning.
Donghae
***
Kyuhyun was touched with the short note but he knew deep in his heart that he have to do this.
Without nothing else to do because he thought he would be coming with Donghae tonight, Kyuhyun tried to study after eating but he couldn’t concentrate. He decided to clean his room. It didn’t even take him half an hour and he’s nearly done. He was rearranging some books when he dropped one and something flew out of it. It was a picture of his parents that he always brings with him since they died.
Kyuhyun blinked several times while he looked at the picture. He wasn’t aware that he was trying to hold back his tears. But they still fell.
“I know you are giving me a sign Umma, Appa. I know you don’t like what I am going to do to raise money but I don’t have much choice, I need it as soon as possible. Please forgive me for what I’m about to do. Please help me pray for the forgiveness of the sin that I’m about to do.” He muttered to himself while holding on to his parents picture and crying.
***
Donghae arrived back at Kyuhyun’s house a little later than when he did a few days ago maybe because he’s really trying to avoid Kyuhyun and his persistence in coming with him. He’s hoping that maybe Kyuhyun had already gone to school by the time he’s come back but no, there he is at the dining table slowly sipping on his coffee and waiting for his hyung to come over and join him.
Donghae heaved a sigh and slowly approached his dongsaeng. There really is no way around this, they have to talk now. But how to get about it?
“Aren’t you going to school?” he asked as he picked a piece of toast on the serving plate.
“I’m skipping classes so we can talk, hyung.”
“Oh.”
Now or never. Go. “So about your decision, have you thought about it thoroughly?”
“Honestly? I did. I Lost sleep thinking about it over and over and asking forgiveness from my parents, and yes I think I’m ready to go with you tonight so don’t you dare leave without me again, ok?!”
Donghae was left with nothing to say. He just sat there with his mouth hanging wide open as Kyuhyun stood up and picked his school things off the table.
“I’ll just have to turn in some term papers and projects to my professors, so I’ll probably come back earlier too.”
****
Kyuhyun indeed came back earlier. He was busily tidying up the living room when Donghae came out of the bedroom, stretching.
“You’re fast.” He quipped as he looked at what Kyuhyun was doing.
“I told you I’ll be back early.” Kyuhyun answered as he continues with what he was doing.
“Have you eaten anything then?! I’m starving.”
“Ummm, not yet. I’m sorry I didn’t prepare anything. I just thought of cleaning up the house a bit.”
“It’s okay. Just finish what you’re doing and take a rest so you can shower before we go. I’ll prepare the food.”
“Thanks hyung.”
****
They were on a bus on their way to the city by 6pm. Just enough time to get settled in Donghae’s spot.
But before that, they had a “little” argument again, this time about Kyuhyun’s outfit.
“What’s wrong with my jeans and shirt?” Kyuhyun indignantly asked when Donghae suggested that he should change his clothing.
“How in hell’s name do you expect to attract any customer with that?”
“I don’t need any revealing outfit for that, my charm will do the attracting for me.” Kyuhyun answered showing a bit more confidence than what he felt.
“But you really need to change, for them to know what you are.” Insisted Donghae. “Bare a little skin, why don’t you?!”
“YOU do the baring, I’ll do the charming.” Kyuhyun said still trying to be stubborn.
Donghae was dumbfounded with Kyuhyun’s answer. He was now trying not to loose his patience to his dongsaeng. He has to think fast. How can he make Kyuhyun change what he is wearing without prolonging their discussion?
Kyuhyun is now somewhat convinced that he had won the debate. So he now strode in front of his full length mirror to see how he looks like.
He didn’t realize that Donghae has now thought of a way to make him do what he wants.
“So, you still insist on wearing that?” Donghae asks.
“Haven’t you noticed yet?” Kyuhyun smugly answers back.
“You go on ahead then. I think I just developed a headache.”
“HYUNG! What are you saying?! I wouldn’t know what to do! Stop acting this way!” Kyuhyun said, smugness turned into confusion.
“Then you better stop acting that way too! So stubborn!” Donghae yelled back walking off to his bedroom.
“Wait hyung! Where are you going?! You can’t be serious about that headache are you?!” Kyuhyun asked agitated.
“And what if I am? I do feel a headache coming in just about now.” Donghae answered back smugly this time.
“Aww, hyung. Don’t be like this. I’m sorry for being such a brat. It’s just that I can’t tell you how nervous I am.”
“You don’t have to tell me. I can see it.”
“Ohhh..”
“So what is this? Are you backing out? Good. I could stop worrying then.” Donghae said breathing a deep sigh.
“Ahhh, no hyung! I’m not. A-a-I’m not backing out. Just give me a few minutes more before we leave.”
“Yaaah! I’ll give you a few more minutes alright! Go and change now you punk!”
Donghae showed a bit of irritation then muttered to himself, “The only person I know who wanted to be a prostitute but doesn’t want to show some skin to attract customers. This kid must really be a virgin or he really doesn’t know how prostitution really works. Tsk, tsk!”
“What did you say, hyung?!”
“Nothing!”
“But you were saying something…”
“Didn’t I tell you to change ?!”
“A-umm, I have a bit of problem with that…”
“What is it?”
“Clothes. Revealing. I don’t think I have any that would fit that category.” Kyuhyun said scratching his head.
“Why didn’t you say so earlier? We could have avoided this discussion. Let me see your clothes first.”
Kyuhyun opened his closet and Donghae pulled out some of the hangered ones and assessed them one by one, segregating some from the others, pairing pants to shirt and muttering, “Looks good, not bad, okay, needs some alteration but will do….blah, blah…”
Kyuhyun just looks on at him with some amusement, unconsciously fidgeting his fingers.
“Oh here! I found the perfect outfit for your debut to Whoredom!” Donghae said triumphantly wagging a pair of clothes to Kyuhyun’s face. “And you said you don’t have any revealing clothes.”
“B-b-but hyung! That was just a costume I used on a stage play I was in a few months back!” Kyuhyun said stuttering.
“So?”
“Would it really be alright to wear them on the street? Wouldn’t I look like a…like a….”
“Like a what? Like a damn hooker?! Damn Kyuhyun!! I’m getting tired of this.” Donghae said as he stepped towards the door.
“No, please hyung! Alright. I’m going to wear it now. Just don’t get mad. I know I asked for your help and I’ve been trying your patience so far. I’m sorry.”
Donghae gave him a small smile and gestured towards the clothes and went out of the room. Kyuhyun let out a huge sigh and proceeded in changing his clothes and then rearranging the others back into the closet.
When Kyuhyun came out of his room, Donghae’s mouth hung open in amazement.
“Hyung. Your mouth is open.”
“W-what? Ahh, wow. Kyuhyun-ah, you look amazing.”
“No I don’t. Stop teasing me.”
“Then why don’t you go see yourself in the mirror then?!” Donghae dared.
Kyuhyun walked over to the mirror and looked at himself. Yeah, he’d seen himself in this outfit a few months back and his role there when he wore it wasn’t even remotely suggestive of what he’s going to be now.
“See? Oh wait! I think you should wear a pair of boots with that to complete the outfit.”
“Okay.”
“And some eyeliner too if I may add.”
“WHAT??!” Kyuhyun asked incredulously.
“What about it? What if you wear eyeliner? You’d only look like a rockstar nowadays with that outfit and some eyeliner. Now go on and be a good dongsaeng. It’s getting late and we don’t even have our own car.” Donghae said trying to distract Kyuhyun from retorting.
****
At last, after arguing for over an hour they were really on their way to the city. They got off at the edge of downtown. Kyuhyun was puzzled but he didn't dare question Donghae anymore. He just concentrated his energy on breathing as normally as possible despite the nervousness that's he's feeling right now.
Donghae was waiting for Kyuhyun to ask him why they have to get off still a few blocks away from their destination but his companion just remained quiet.
"I'm just going to pick up a package that's why we didn't get off in the middle of the city. Besides, I don't want any potential customers seeing us getting off a bus indicating where we come from. We should be a little mysterious." He said smiling.
They rounded another corner where they entered a small "convenience store". Donghae greeted the shopkeeper and asked.
"Is the kit I ordered already here?"
"Since yesterday." The shopkeeper answered, eyeing Kyuhyun with a sleazy grin.
Kyuhyun was creeped out with the gesture and just turned around to look at the merchandise on the shelves. He stole a glance when the shopkeeper came back from the backroom with a package, which Donghae hurriedly opened and checked. He seemed satisfied with the content so he took out some money and handed it to the other man. He then motioned Kyuhyun to move on towards the door.
Outside the shop, Donghae handed Kyuhyun the kit while they were walking towards the center of town.
"What is this, Hyung?"
"It's my gift to you. It's what I call 'Business Essentials', it contains some items necessary to keep you as protected as possible plus ahherm... some items to keep the hurt to a minimum."
"The what?!!" Kyuhyun stopped walking, opening the package Donghae handed to him. There he found a box of condoms, a tube of personal lubricating jelly and a packet of medicine for pain relief. Underneath those were some strange objects that Kyuhyun had never seen before, but the one thing that really caught his eye was the penis looking object.
"What the...?" he blurted out.
Donghae burst out laughing. "Don't tell me you haven't seen anything like that before."
"Yaaaaahh!! HYUNG! Why did you have to include something like this here! I don't need that, I don't need any of the other things in there! Just give me those pain reliever, condom and jelly. You can keep the others, pervert!" Kyuhyun took out the things he enumerated and thrust the kit back at Donghae.
Donghae was still laughing but managed to say, "No, don't give this back to me! Just keep it. You’ll never know when the need to use it will arise."
"Do I really have to?!" Kyuhyun groaned.
"Of course. Come on, hurry up! We should be at my spot right now."
*****
Donghae’s spot turns out to be the casino of the newest and biggest hotel in the city. Kyuhyun felt somewhat relieved that their look didn’t go out of place in there as there were also commonly dressed people you wouldn’t guess as having the money to stay in the hotel or gamble in the casino. There were even some who also wear all black outfits like him plus the other odd looking people he’s surprised to find there.
They headed for the bar area where they sat by the end of the counter.
“What would you like to order?” Donghae asked him.
“Wh-, ahh can I just order soda?” Kyuhyun whispered to Donghae.
Donghae chuckled at Kyuhyun’s answer. “You might as well have ordered milk, Kyu.”
“What should I order then? You know my tolerance with alcoholic beverage is low.”
“Oke, oke! I’ll order you soda for now, but you have to learn how to drink alcoholic beverage again if you want to get along with your clients.”
“Alright, Hyung.” Kyuhyun said meekly.
Somebody approached them after Donghae ordered his soda. Donghae whispered to him that this is a client and that if ever he gets himself one, they should just meet here again or if the waiting gets too long they would just see each other at home. Kyuhyun just nodded his head, a bit embarrassed to look at the older person who was waiting for his hyung.
He absent-mindedly sipped on the soda, actually afraid to look around lest he see somebody looking at him with interest, but what he is really afraid of is if that person is a lot like the one who took Donghae with him. Gosh! She must have been at least 50 years old!
But Kyuhyun realized he can’t stare at his soda glass the whole time and besides what was he here for anyway? To get a client, of course. So how can he do that if he keeps on spacing out? He slowly dared to look up and around the bar and somehow felt relieved that nobody was approaching him. He was surprised though when he found someone staring. At first, he thought that the person was looking at something else behind him and he was just shrugging it off when he vaguely remembered the huge rounded post behind him so, is that guy staring at him?
Kyuhyun looked away, trying not to think that the guy in the business suit seemed to be interested in him but when he stole a glance towards him again he found him still staring. He just tried thinking about other stuff like what if a customer indeed approach him and it also turns out a 50-ish year old woman? He can’t help himself shuddering at the thought. Aish, is it really like this if you are a male prostitute?! You don’t really have a choice regarding the age of your client? Why does Donghae have to pleasure a woman as old as his mother? Boy, is Kyuhyun somewhat glad that his mom is not around anymore.
“Umma, I’m really sorry if I have to do this.” He thought, so absorbed with his thinking that he doesn’t realize that the man from across the bar counter is now seated beside him.
“Hi!” the guy said startling Kyuhyun.
Kyuhyun put a hand on his chest on reflex as he looked to his side. He gulped. “Hi!” he said too, at a loss.
The guy smiled, amazingly deep dimples appearing on both cheeks and wetting his lips a bit before extending a hand towards Kyuhyun before introducing himself. “Choi Siwon. Nice meeting you.”
Kyuhyun took the hand and shook it not quite aware that he got hooked on the mesmerizing smile.
“Ummm, and you are…?” the guy who introduced himself as Siwon asked.
“Ah, yeah, right, Kyuhyun, just call me Kyuhyun.” He wondered if it was right to tell this other person his real name. Donghae never taught him anything about telling or not telling your right name in these instances. Anyway, he doesn’t intend to say his last name. Until…
“Kyuhyun. Cute name. Quite unique. But it’s not just Kyuhyun right? You must have a last name.” The incredibly dimpled guy said.
“Of course sir, but I don’t think I really need to tell you that.” He said trying to be snarky but regretting it afterwards, almost facepalming himself in front of Siwon. He turned sideways and bit his lips instead. He heard chuckling beside him and turned to look again.
He looked flustered at seeing Siwon chuckling beside him. Siwon stopped as soon as he saw that Kyuhyun was looking at him again and cleared his throat. “Sorry about that.” He said.
“Ahh, no, that’s okay. I shouldn’t have answered you like that. I’m just not used to this kind of conversation, that’s all.”
“Okay. I won’t insist on knowing your last name then. Ummmm, I just thought that you need company since your friend left, so I came over.”
“Oh, you saw my friend?! Since when have you been here?” Kyuhyun asked, wondering why he felt panicky all of a sudden.
Siwon was tempted to tell the boy that he’s been here way ahead of them of course, just to tease him and see if he’d blush again but he stopped himself. He didn’t want Kyuhyun to be embarrassed again and risk the obviously younger man walking out on him. So smiling, he just answered, “Ah, I was just ordering my first drink when I saw your friend was just leaving.” When in fact, he was already heading out when the two friends walked in. He just didn’t know what made him come back inside the casino when he saw this person, he suddenly felt the urge to meet him. But how to? He placed himself at the opposite end of the bar, watching the two person whispering to each other, seemingly discussing something (he wasn’t aware that his brows are knitted as he looked intently at the two, unconsciously wishing he’d get that close to whisper to the boy too.] He found the opportunity when the other guy walked away with a much older woman. Ahh, he knows the type. But could this boy be one of them too?! Aish! He really has to know him. Siwon was still planning on how to approach when the young man he was looking at caught him staring not once but twice! Darn it! He just have to go near him now or else the boy might go off elsewhere and he won’t be able to find him again. So here he is, sitting beside this person, looking at him up close, still trying to figure out what had got him magnetized like this.
Siwon was shaken from his reverie when someone at the slot machine shouted for joy for winning a fair amount. The boy beside him just curiously straining his neck towards the noise but looked down again when he turned his gaze back at him.
He cleared his throat and with a small smile said, “Ah-um, the person that I was supposed to meet here seemed to have changed his mind…” he even looked at his phone for effect “…but I don’t want my reservation at the restaurant go to waste so could I at least invite you to join me for dinner?”
Kyuhyun seemed surprised at the invitation but he suddenly realized that he hadn’t had any dinner yet and he doesn’t know where the restaurant is in this hotel, not that he had any money to spend for food anyway. He and Donghae didn’t talk about this circumstance either. Now at the mention of dinner, his stomach began to grumble. He embarrassedly looked down, too confused to agree but beginning to get too hungry to refuse. He just decided that it was too noisy for Siwon to hear the grumbling of his stomach.
“Come on. It’s just dinner. My reservation is for two and since we’ve already met, I don’t want to leave you here by yourself waiting for your friend to come back. Promise I’ll accompany you back here again.” He smiled his dimply smile at Kyuhyun who also shyly smiled and slowly nods his head in agreement.
Kyuhyun is still showing some hesitation but he finally agreed when he looked at the other man. Siwon almost took Kyuhyun’s hand to lead him out of the casino but instead put a light hand to guide him towards the door all the while making a shushing motion of his finger on his lips with every casino employee they meet. Kyuhyun had his eyes down as they walked away from the bar so he doesn’t notice what Siwon was doing.
When they arrived at the restaurant, he asked Kyuhyun to stay outside for a bit saying he needs to talk to the manager about his reservation. Kyuhyun agreed to it, not knowing much about these things. Inside, Siwon was talking with the manager alright but he wasn’t talking about any reservation. He was asking for a special table for himself and his guest. He also asked the manager to tell all the staff to refrain from greeting him familiarly while he is with his guest. When he was satisfied that his request will be complied to, he went out and fetched Kyuhyun.
They were led to an empty private dining hall. Kyuhyun was surprised at this and looks at Siwon who only smiled and gestured for him to sit on a chair he pulled out. He is still bewildered but sat anyway, looking around the room inwardly asking himself why he allowed himself to be coaxed away from where his friend left him.
“So what do you want to order?” he was startled to hear Siwon’s voice.
Kyuhyun blinked a couple of times before he remembered the menu that was handed to him after he sat. He looked at it, but couldn’t concentrate long enough to pick any food when he saw how much each order costs. He found Siwon looking at him intently. Kyuhyun thought he was just waiting for him to say what he wants but he just shrugged his shoulders in embarrassment.
“You want me to order for you?” Siwon asked and immediately motioned for the waiter. He ordered several foreign sounding dishes from the menu plus a wine.