Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the plot.
A/N: It is said that lovers in Korea would like to celebrate the 14th day of each month as Valentine's Day during the year and they'll enjoy this day in different ways corresponding to different month. I've no idea whether it's true or not because I get to know this only through Internet and Korean TV series. Well, S. Korea x Hong Kong is not a popular pairing. I won't write too much about history nor will I use country/area name. I'll add some other pairings in later chapters but that depends.
BTW, many fans told me that Hong Kong was given a name called Horace Wang, so I'll use it in this story. Please feel free to review! Well, 12 Valentine's Days, let's begin with the traditional one on February 14th.
- February 14th So, Be My Boyfriend? -
"Sorry, I beg your pardon?
Horace put down piles of income statements and balance sheets in which he was absorbed just now and asked in astonishment, with his voice full of disbelief.
"Oh Horace, I bet you didn't pay any attention to me at all! Where was your mind wandering at the point when I told you such a significant stuff? Courtship originates in Korea da ze~" Obviously Yong Soo got a bit disappointed yet he did not seem to be upset by the boy's disregard for him after giving a slight sigh. Yong Soo cleared his throat, handed Horace a large bouquet of scarlet roses and began to speak in a solemn tone as if he was acting Korean TV series. "Anyway, I don't' care to repeat it for you. Listen, Horace, I, I have been bearing a secret, l, love since we were both young. Now, on this year's Valentine's Day, I think I am mature and brave enough to express my affection and request you to be my boyfriend. Don't take me for a fool, I'm fairly serious!"
It seemed that Horace was totally shocked by the surprising gift and the boy was immediately thrown into an awkward situation. What Horace had cared about most so far were stocks, insurances, futures, banking, exports and imports, exchange rate and other components of business and economy since Arthur used to teach him a lot and his elder brother also praise him for his business sense. Horace never thought of falling in love with someone nor did he notice the secret love from that boy who grew up with him. Horace rubbed the back of his head and blinked at Yong Soo, some kind of embarrassment soon playing on his bashful face.
"Em…well, thanks for your appreciation." He slowly replied for politeness' sake as he fished for the right words, "It's really difficult to tell, but…em, I never thought of, well, boyfriend or something like that. Kind of sudden, isn't it?"
"Never think about it? Come on Horace, if I could open your mind and look through it, I firmly believe there will be nothing but money." Yong Soo rolled down his face and pretended to check the floor, a slightly bitter smile upon his lips. He let out a gasp, raised his head and continued, his honey-color eyes looking into the inky ones of Horace as if he wanted to inject all his feelings into them.
"Definitely, you were the topmost among Asia Four Dragons in the past and now you're still an important financial centre in East Asia. Large sum of money and wealth rushed into your home and you even rank the first in elder brother's heart. You've earned enough. Would you please, just chill your frenzy a little bit and spare some time for other things?" Yong Soo was almost choked by his disappointment and he pushed out his lips in a fit of pique.
"Hey, I'm not that sort of moneygrubber as you said." Horace was sick of the criticism and immediately retorted. "Of course in my eyes there is something more precious than money."
"So what, for example?" The Korean raised an eyebrow deliberately to provoke Horace. He really wanted to see the how the voiceless boy got angry.
"Wait, why is ME? I thought the one you had a crush on was elder brother. You're always clinging to him like a piece of gum, aren't you?"
"That, that is different! Horace, don't get off the track. Hey…did that mean you were jealousy of brother because you felt I like him more than you?" A strain of delight curved the boy's lips and a childish grin spread upon his round face.
What Horace felt was a cross between amusement and anger- What on earth is in the idiot's mind? Has he caught a fever and got his head burnt?
"You really flattered yourself!" Horace twisted his head around impatiently and intended to cut the annoying conversation.
"Come on, I bet we'll be a perfect match for opposites attract!" Yong Soo moved closer towards Horace and slightly shook the boy's arm like a spoiled brat. He even threw a puppy look to the boy. Unfortunately Horace had got immune to that and only put on a poker face. Yong Soo was almost begging. "Don't be so cruel, Horace~"
"You deserve it, idiot. Stay away from me."
"I see. You take me as a fool through and through as others do, right?" Yong Soo's voice gradually died down and a strain of embarrassing silence found its way into the atmosphere.
"Well, I was too rude right now, I apologize." Horace quickly peeked at Yong Soo's face, finding his words were so harsh that they almost dampen the enthusiasm of his friend. A tiny strain of guilt crawled upon Horace's heart and he looked away to avoid Yong Soo's eyes.
"I guess you don't know how despaired I was when I witness you leaving with that Briton guy. I just stood there with faint elder brother, without any power to change your fate or stop that robber. It felt…badly terrible." Even though there was a mild smile upon Yong Soo's face, something shiny was floating in his eyes, sparkling like stardust.
With eyes widening, Horace opened his mouth, but no sounds came up from his throat. It was so strange to see a person smile when delivering such sad speeches.
"I also guess you don't know how tough I tried to catch up with you after you became the Eastern Pearl. You wore neat suit you spoke British English you behave like a perfect gentleman. I was in rag and my home was nothing but a mess thanks to Alfred and Ivan, that two bastards. You know, to be looked down upon doesn't sound so wonderful, hmm?"
"I, I never had contempt for you and I had no idea about your…" Was that a new way of courtship? But it seemed he did not tell lies. Horace wanted to pick up appropriate words to comfort Yong Soo but his mind was nearly empty.
"It doesn't matter. Now you've came back to Asia and we can reunion together again." Yong Soo looked up to the sky, his eyes fixed upon a soft candy-shaped cloud. The boy broadened into a mischievous grin and that playful atmosphere seemed to fly back again. "Do you know, in my country, if you pay court to a person on February 14th, you can receive his or her response one month later. That is, on March 14th, we can know whether these two people can be together or not. We call this day, White Valentine's Day. Horace, I give you a month time to think over it and you can reply me on that day, okay?"
Horace gazed at Yong Soo for a moment in confusion but finally said nothing. He almost heard how the voice in his head exclaimed what should I do, turn down or just accept? "Well…what if I refused?"
"Then I'll eat a big bowl of salted noodles with minced meat, it's our tradition." Yong Soo sported a playful smile with a slight shrug. "Hmm…see ya~ I'm looking forward to your reply honey~"
He turned around and left with a naughty look back towards Horace, which made the Chinese a little helpless. What should he do to make the right decision? Neither Arthur nor Yao did teach him lessons about love so the boy got no idea. Leave it as it is? Perhaps not a good idea as it sounded like.
Horace's mind was sneaking out the slamming door and he failed to focus on the income statements in his hands. The boy put down all the documents down and let out a gasp. He stood up, walked to the bookshelf and began searching for a book on how to compose a proper reply to admirers.
It's really hard to imagine what would take place on March 14th. But I bet there will be something funny lying in the future. After all, they were Yong Soo and Horace- one was a playful guy who always made troubles whereas one was a voiceless boy whose thoughts were never exposed to the public. Even the god couldn't hold back his smile and curiosity to peek at what will happen to these two idiots.
P.S: Maybe you'll think Yong Soo here is some kind of OOC. What I want to explain is, I do not want characters to be limited by stereotypes. Indeed he has quite an attachment for his brother and likes to poke fun at Kiku, but that doesn't mean he could not harbor some special feelings towards Horace since they grew up together. Sometimes there's no clear line between friend and boyfriend and I just express my opinions in this story.
Hope you'll like it. Please feel free to review!