Pearls - Part 1
AU KyuWook
Disclaimer: Do not own the boys
Rating: 15+
Genre: Angst, Fluff
Prologue
Part 1
The argument was going nowhere. It has been already long one month of disagreements and he couldn't take anymore of it. His father was adamant to expand the business, but worried mother will not allow another risk. Cho Kyuhyun decided enough is enough. The boy who rarely spoke in his parents arguments finally said he endorses the expansion. His father gave him an encouraging wide grin that came along with a pat. His mother's dissatisfied look told him otherwise. Nevertheless, he is out and ready to get their first installments. He is going to work hard, make his father proud and bring more money in the family. And, he can save some to pay for his higher education.
This is how Cho Kyuhyun now finds himself standing in front of the magnificent entrance towards the Empire's administration, a hundred and twenty miles away from his home, for the first time in his life. Even a tall and healthily built boy like him is feeling tiny under its astounding structures. The Empire is ominously huge. He saw it from far when he was a child but never thought of entering it for any reason. It just never looked an appealing place to him. It still doesn't. With its high pillars, ten times bigger than his humble home, and multiple layers of palaces with typically red tiled rooftops, he wonders if any human being can even breathe living inside this place?
But, Kyuhyun also knows to be grateful to the Empire, the elites who brought peace to the world, and in his land. All the stories of struggles and pains that he heard from the elders, he should feel blessed that he can eat three times a day and can dream with his father to expand a small business. Kyuhyun tries to ignore his surroundings to calm his nervousness and focuses on finding the office where he can get the money he was supposed to get.
After a couple of queries, he finally reaches the door towards the Loans Sanction office on the second layers of the palaces. He shows the security his identification and the letter of approval, clearly sealed and signed by an Empire staff, to receive the first installment. He crosses a hall buzzing with people and comes to stand in front of the first empty booth. A grumpy face looks up without greetings.
"What can I do for you?"
"I am here to collect a loan." Kyuhyun shows the man the official letter and a letter written by his father identifying Kyuhyun as his son.
"You are in a wrong booth dear, go over there." The man points him to the last booth trailing with a long queue.
Kyuhyun thanks the man and walks to stand in the line.
The line isn't too stagnant and soon he found himself standing behind just few. By now, he has learned the process. A clerk approves the official letters again, after playing with few stamps, junior clerks waiting by the desk accompany the borrowers to the other side of the hallway. He thinks, that's where I will get the money.
Eventually his turn came and the papers are quickly approved.
"Ryeowook, here are his papers. To door 43."
Kyuhyun is greeted by, what he feels, a prettiest smile he ever saw. Awed, Kyuhyun smiles back and bows politely. "Thank you, I'm Cho Kyuhyun."
Now the smile turns to a sweet ripple of soft laughter. "Yes, I know Sir." And Kyuhyun is taken aback. He stops and looks at the clerk again.
"Y-y-you have a thick voice for a girl!"
Shocked, Ryeowook looks up at an equally shocked Kyuhyun.
"No Sir, the last time I checked, I am still a boy." the pretty smile returns. "I should start keeping mustache!" the smile turns to a giggle.
It is contagious and Kyuhyun joins the laughter. "I am so silly. I thought you are a female clerk. Are they all male clerks? My eyes must be playing."
"No Sir, you correctly saw two female working with us."
"You should keep mustache indeed. The shock that you gave me is going to scar my mind!"
"Unfortunately only the superior elites are allowed facial hair."
"Dang! You must have surprised many before me and will continue to do so!" Kyuhyun lightly laughs as they took a turn to the hallway. He looks at the petite man walking a step ahead of him. Too pretty for a boy.
"Not many, you are inexperienced Sir." Ryeowook smiles seeing a questioning look on Kyuhyun's face "Older people don't confuse me. There aren't many young people coming to get loans. And it's been only three months since I started working here."
"Call me Kyuhyun. And I get it, but do something so you don't scare many!" Kyuhyun slips and bit his tongue.
Ryeowook laughs, "Am I scary?"
"N-no, I don't mean it like that, I'm sorry." Kyuhyun stutters and blushed for speaking impolitely to someone he just met.
"It's alright. Here is your door. 43." They are now at the end of the hallway.
Kyuhyun spends next few minutes to complete the formalities under Ryeowook's guidance and finally receives the draft.
"Congratulations! Be careful on your way to home." Ryeowook looks up; Kyuhyun realizes since their meeting a very short while ago Ryeowook met his eyes for the first time. Cute!
Kyuhyun quickly shakes his head mentally for associating the word 'cute' with another boy. And a boy who is grown up, probably his age or a year younger. And, he is not a child! "Thank you, I will. It's only a paper, they can't use it unless my father signs."
"I know but you would not want to travel again to get another copy, would you?"
"You can help me again, Ryeowook, right? Am I allowed to call you Ryeowook? I don't know the norms here."
"Yes you can." Ryeowook smiles "I'll show you the way."
Once they are back in the busy hallway, Ryeowook shows the direction "Please take a left turn to that green sign and you will find yourself at the exist from this level."
Kyuhyun was about to say thanks when a guard warned at the top of his voice that an elite is coming in this building, and as if on queue, a group of uniform clad men walk in to the entrance. Kyuhyun is not sure what is happening and looks at Ryeowook.
"You need to bow! Bow right now!" Ryeowook who is already bowing tugs Kyuhyun's sleeve to do the same. Kyuhyun complies immediately.
"Who is he?" Kyuhyun whispers. Ryeowook doesn't answer. The group stands in front of them.
"Kim Ryeowook." a man speaks; Kyuhyun in awe once again to see elites of the Empire know Ryeowook by his name. But, the awe replaces with a frown in the next minute "How have you been here? Come with me."
Kyuhyun tries to look up, risking punishment or whatsoever to see the man who spoke to Ryeowook. He is wearing a navy blue velvet uniform, with golden rings and buttons that he doesn't understand. The man looks at Kyuhyun. Their eyes meet, and Kyuhyun immediately looks away. Kyuhyun never saw such chilling orbs in his life, so cold that he feels something walked down in his spine. He closes his eyes and tries to calm his nerves.
He feels some commotion and opens his eyes to see what is happening. The group left and so did Ryeowook. Kyuhyun stands there confused, looking at the back of men in uniform leaving through the way he first entered the office. On his way to the exist Ryeowook showed him, he asks a staff who were they and why did they take Ryeowook with them? Surprised by his query, the person speaks "Don't attach yourself to Kim Ryeowook. The Prince employed him. You saw him right? No one talks to Ryeowook here unless they have official business with him. If you are done, leave soon."
Dumbfounded to hear this explanation from an agitated staff, Kyuhyun only mumbles "That was the Prince?"
"Yes. You should leave now." the staff walks away hurriedly, leaving him to his thoughts.
But Ryeowook is a friendly person. Why no one talks to him? Kyuhyun takes the exist but not before throwing a glace towards the hallway.
"I didn't get a chance to thank you."
Disclaimer: Do not own the boys
Rating: 15+
Genre: Angst, Fluff
Prologue
Part 1
The argument was going nowhere. It has been already long one month of disagreements and he couldn't take anymore of it. His father was adamant to expand the business, but worried mother will not allow another risk. Cho Kyuhyun decided enough is enough. The boy who rarely spoke in his parents arguments finally said he endorses the expansion. His father gave him an encouraging wide grin that came along with a pat. His mother's dissatisfied look told him otherwise. Nevertheless, he is out and ready to get their first installments. He is going to work hard, make his father proud and bring more money in the family. And, he can save some to pay for his higher education.
This is how Cho Kyuhyun now finds himself standing in front of the magnificent entrance towards the Empire's administration, a hundred and twenty miles away from his home, for the first time in his life. Even a tall and healthily built boy like him is feeling tiny under its astounding structures. The Empire is ominously huge. He saw it from far when he was a child but never thought of entering it for any reason. It just never looked an appealing place to him. It still doesn't. With its high pillars, ten times bigger than his humble home, and multiple layers of palaces with typically red tiled rooftops, he wonders if any human being can even breathe living inside this place?
But, Kyuhyun also knows to be grateful to the Empire, the elites who brought peace to the world, and in his land. All the stories of struggles and pains that he heard from the elders, he should feel blessed that he can eat three times a day and can dream with his father to expand a small business. Kyuhyun tries to ignore his surroundings to calm his nervousness and focuses on finding the office where he can get the money he was supposed to get.
After a couple of queries, he finally reaches the door towards the Loans Sanction office on the second layers of the palaces. He shows the security his identification and the letter of approval, clearly sealed and signed by an Empire staff, to receive the first installment. He crosses a hall buzzing with people and comes to stand in front of the first empty booth. A grumpy face looks up without greetings.
"What can I do for you?"
"I am here to collect a loan." Kyuhyun shows the man the official letter and a letter written by his father identifying Kyuhyun as his son.
"You are in a wrong booth dear, go over there." The man points him to the last booth trailing with a long queue.
Kyuhyun thanks the man and walks to stand in the line.
The line isn't too stagnant and soon he found himself standing behind just few. By now, he has learned the process. A clerk approves the official letters again, after playing with few stamps, junior clerks waiting by the desk accompany the borrowers to the other side of the hallway. He thinks, that's where I will get the money.
Eventually his turn came and the papers are quickly approved.
"Ryeowook, here are his papers. To door 43."
Kyuhyun is greeted by, what he feels, a prettiest smile he ever saw. Awed, Kyuhyun smiles back and bows politely. "Thank you, I'm Cho Kyuhyun."
Now the smile turns to a sweet ripple of soft laughter. "Yes, I know Sir." And Kyuhyun is taken aback. He stops and looks at the clerk again.
"Y-y-you have a thick voice for a girl!"
Shocked, Ryeowook looks up at an equally shocked Kyuhyun.
"No Sir, the last time I checked, I am still a boy." the pretty smile returns. "I should start keeping mustache!" the smile turns to a giggle.
It is contagious and Kyuhyun joins the laughter. "I am so silly. I thought you are a female clerk. Are they all male clerks? My eyes must be playing."
"No Sir, you correctly saw two female working with us."
"You should keep mustache indeed. The shock that you gave me is going to scar my mind!"
"Unfortunately only the superior elites are allowed facial hair."
"Dang! You must have surprised many before me and will continue to do so!" Kyuhyun lightly laughs as they took a turn to the hallway. He looks at the petite man walking a step ahead of him. Too pretty for a boy.
"Not many, you are inexperienced Sir." Ryeowook smiles seeing a questioning look on Kyuhyun's face "Older people don't confuse me. There aren't many young people coming to get loans. And it's been only three months since I started working here."
"Call me Kyuhyun. And I get it, but do something so you don't scare many!" Kyuhyun slips and bit his tongue.
Ryeowook laughs, "Am I scary?"
"N-no, I don't mean it like that, I'm sorry." Kyuhyun stutters and blushed for speaking impolitely to someone he just met.
"It's alright. Here is your door. 43." They are now at the end of the hallway.
Kyuhyun spends next few minutes to complete the formalities under Ryeowook's guidance and finally receives the draft.
"Congratulations! Be careful on your way to home." Ryeowook looks up; Kyuhyun realizes since their meeting a very short while ago Ryeowook met his eyes for the first time. Cute!
Kyuhyun quickly shakes his head mentally for associating the word 'cute' with another boy. And a boy who is grown up, probably his age or a year younger. And, he is not a child! "Thank you, I will. It's only a paper, they can't use it unless my father signs."
"I know but you would not want to travel again to get another copy, would you?"
"You can help me again, Ryeowook, right? Am I allowed to call you Ryeowook? I don't know the norms here."
"Yes you can." Ryeowook smiles "I'll show you the way."
Once they are back in the busy hallway, Ryeowook shows the direction "Please take a left turn to that green sign and you will find yourself at the exist from this level."
Kyuhyun was about to say thanks when a guard warned at the top of his voice that an elite is coming in this building, and as if on queue, a group of uniform clad men walk in to the entrance. Kyuhyun is not sure what is happening and looks at Ryeowook.
"You need to bow! Bow right now!" Ryeowook who is already bowing tugs Kyuhyun's sleeve to do the same. Kyuhyun complies immediately.
"Who is he?" Kyuhyun whispers. Ryeowook doesn't answer. The group stands in front of them.
"Kim Ryeowook." a man speaks; Kyuhyun in awe once again to see elites of the Empire know Ryeowook by his name. But, the awe replaces with a frown in the next minute "How have you been here? Come with me."
Kyuhyun tries to look up, risking punishment or whatsoever to see the man who spoke to Ryeowook. He is wearing a navy blue velvet uniform, with golden rings and buttons that he doesn't understand. The man looks at Kyuhyun. Their eyes meet, and Kyuhyun immediately looks away. Kyuhyun never saw such chilling orbs in his life, so cold that he feels something walked down in his spine. He closes his eyes and tries to calm his nerves.
He feels some commotion and opens his eyes to see what is happening. The group left and so did Ryeowook. Kyuhyun stands there confused, looking at the back of men in uniform leaving through the way he first entered the office. On his way to the exist Ryeowook showed him, he asks a staff who were they and why did they take Ryeowook with them? Surprised by his query, the person speaks "Don't attach yourself to Kim Ryeowook. The Prince employed him. You saw him right? No one talks to Ryeowook here unless they have official business with him. If you are done, leave soon."
Dumbfounded to hear this explanation from an agitated staff, Kyuhyun only mumbles "That was the Prince?"
"Yes. You should leave now." the staff walks away hurriedly, leaving him to his thoughts.
But Ryeowook is a friendly person. Why no one talks to him? Kyuhyun takes the exist but not before throwing a glace towards the hallway.
"I didn't get a chance to thank you."