Chapter 1
Ryeowook impatiently scanned the room, searching out his friend; desperate to talk to someone about the strange meeting he'd had the previous day. It was urgent he reach him as soon as possible, as he needed his advice about what to do, in this sort of situation, having never encountered it before.
He quickly found his friend seated at the bar, as their boss had said he would be; he shouldn't be working until later on, it being too early for any of his clients to be seeking him. He made a beeline straight for him, having to dart around oblivious customers in his path.
When he reached the man's side, he lightly nudged his arm, to attract his attention. Heechul's infamous smirk was perched on his lips, as he turned, in case it was a customer, but upon seeing his friend, it was quickly replaced by a grin. "Yah! What are you doing here? You're not supposed to work this place this evening?" he exclaimed inquisitively, his eyes scanning his friend knowingly, as he took another sip of his drink. "I needed to talk to you, I figured you'd be able to help me" he replied agitatedly; it wasn't the sort of thing he wanted to be discussing in such a public place, but he needed advice now, and this was the only way he was going to get it.
Noting his friend's uneasy state, Heechul's eye brows drew together curiously, scanning around him momentarily, before his eyes landed on a secluded table towards the back of the room. "Okay, go grab that seat" he ordered, as he gathered his own drink and leapt off the bar stool to follow him.
The din of the crowded restaurant was less noticeable back here, and it gave the space an air of privacy, which made Ryeowook feel a little more comfortable discussing his concern with Heechul. "So, it must be pretty important to come disturb me at work after all the warnings I've given you all." Heechul eyed him curiously. "Yes I know, I'm sorry, it's just I'm really not sure what I should do, and you're the only one I could think of who'd have any experience with this at all." Ryeowook replied, voice hushed, as a couple passed by them, making their way to the front to leave.
Heechul frowned, considering the possibilities of what his friend could be there to ask him. "Are you finally considering taking them up on their offers, Wookie? You won't regret it. The pay is great but don't offer it to every client alright, you have the right to discretion, and it can be so much fun." Heechul animatedly told him. Ryeowook's eyes drifted to the table, as his cheeks darkened at Heechul's words, as he shook his head furiously, "No, hyung, it's nothing like that!I'd never do that with a client." Heechul shrugged unmoved by the admission, jokingly adding, "No I didn't think it would be that, you're too much of a prude. Besides which you don't have any handsome customers."
Ryeowook scowled at the reminder, "You don't have to tell me that. You're so lucky, I get all the customer's that have grandchildren older than me, and just want to pinch my cheek calling me cute, or a rascal!" he moaned, displeased.
Heechul knew Ryeowook preferred his clients, to those of the others, despite how much he complained about their treatment of him. Ryeowook knew that his customers could behave a lot worse, and was grateful that his friends seemed to delight in handling those customers so he never encountered them. As adamant as Ryeowook was in his refusals, he was still aware of how easily some of them would be able to overpower him, if they chose to. Compared with that, playing the part of cheeky grandson was wonderful.
Heechul, despite enjoying his friend's company, was not eager to keep him around for long. Not only did he have to start work soon, but he was a little worried one of his customers might notice cute little Ryeowook, and make a move on him, if he stayed too long. Ryeowook had come to him with a problem, and he clearly needed his hyung to solve it quickly, which suited Heechul just fine; their conversations could wait until his next get together, with their other friends from the company.
"Surely, you didn't need to come gripe to me about your job?" he suggested, intimating to Ryeowook that he was eager to finish their short conversation. He smiled appreciatively at his hyung, for keeping him on topic, not particularly longing to stay either. "No you're right. It's to do with my new client from the other day." He began uncertainly, suddenly unsure of whether or not Heechul would actually be able to help him or not. Even if he'd never encountered the situation before, he felt that he could always trust his hyung's advice.
"What about him?" queried Heechul, eyeing his watch distractedly, making sure he wasn't late yet, indeed he was still 10 minutes early for his first appointment. 'Well, he was one of those middle-aged successful businessman types, you know the sort?" Ryeowook asked, Heechul nodded his head decisively, "Only interested in one thing, from people like us." "Well that's what I thought as well," Ryeowook continued, "So I was all prepared to tell him 'no' and how my job doesn't actually entail that as is commonly believed, when instead he sits me down to ask me for something really strange." Ryeowook continued, Heechul eyeing him curiously, "Well go on!" he huffed, when Ryeowook showed no signs of continuing immediately.
Ryeowook looked sheepishly at his friend, clearly having gotten sidetracked by something, before continuing, "Well he didn't go into a lot of detail something about important family affair, and how I'd be generously compensated for my involvement." he paused momentarily, as though still seemingly not believing it himself, "He wants me to pretend to be his son's gay lover for the next 6 months" he concluded.
Heechul eyed his friend, surprised by the man's request as well, but not seeing any particular problems with the situation. "So what's the big deal? I mean, it sounds like one of your social events just for a longer period. The only problem I can foresee is with regards to that compensation." Ryeowook looked at his friend surprised, having expected a little more consideration of the event itself, before dazedly replying, "He said he'd pay me 75 million won for the effort, and if any future problems come up, he'll pay me more." Heechul eyed his friend in shock, that was more than his best yearly wage! "What's the problem? Do it!" he urged, but Ryeowook eyed his friend, still unsure, "But are you sure it's safe, and I mean company policy..." "Fuck company policy! There's no sex, and a lot of money as compensation, go for it! Now shoo, I've got to get to work!" He told him hastily, getting up from his seat to make his way back over to the bar, "I'll call about our next party, okay?" he tossed over his shoulder to Wookie, who nodded, though he knew his friend couldn't see him.
Well apparently, he'd been given the all clear by his advice expert, so it looked like Ryeowook had his answer for their next scheduled meeting, to discuss in more depth his answer and what would have to come out from it. He was very glad because the next meeting was supposed to be tomorrow morning around 11am at a coffee shop Ryeowook knew. He was to meet the son in question then, and knowing that he was to be bringing the good news about his acceptance to such a strange request on such short notice, he felt a little excited by the idea of the meeting.
Ryeowook shifted about in his seat, uncomfortable with waiting for the guy to arrive. It was company policy, whenever you met with someone to be sure to be there 10 to 15 minutes early. You didn't know what your partner looked like, necessarily, but they had always seen pictures of you, and so would know who they were looking for. But it had been a long while since his last new customer, and so Ryeowook was not used to the curiosity and excitement that was building up within him.
He wanted to know what this guy looked like and why he needed Ryeowook to pretend to be his gay lover for 6 months, why 6 months? Why a gay lover? Why at this time of day? Ryeowook would have class not long after this meeting's scheduled time, and although it was near his university, he still couldn't afford to spend all day there with his customer.
Surely the guy must be ugly, why else would the father need to hire someone to pretend they're going out with him. Indeed, he must be ugly and boring, but clearly loaded, if they can afford to pay me so much for doing this for them. Ryeowook thought to himself, as he waited, but he was pleasantly surprised when the boy in question arrived.
Instead the boy that met his gaze, was very handsome; tall and thin, with very pretty features, and an awkward smile, "I take it you're Ryeowook?" he queried in his low, sensual voice, that seemed to convey a sense of quiet confidence. He nodded stiffly, startled by the other boy's arrival. Kyuhyun grinned further, taking a seat in front of him. "Sorry about all this, I know we must seem really strange to you, I take it you're going to tell me you're not interested?" Kyuhyun asked, disappointedly. "No, I decided I would take you up on the offer actually. The whole mystery seems very interesting." Ryeowook replied, brightly, enjoying the way Kyuhyun seemed to brighten up as well with his response. "Really? Thank you, I'm so glad." Kyuhyun replied happily.
"Why are you glad?" Ryeowook enquired, to which Kyuhyun bashfully responded, "Oh well, you see I'm not really a social person, so I found the idea of having to go around until I found someone rather embarrassing." "How many people have you asked?" said Ryeowook, "Just you. You were my first." he responded shyly, making Ryeowook smile.
"So we're lovers, is that correct?" asked Ryeowook, checking to make sure he knew what was going on, to which Kyuhyun nodded, "I'm afraid so." Ryeowook smiled, "So then I suppose I should find out some stuff about you, and vice versa don't you think?" he inquired to which Kyuhyun shrugged, "What ever you'd like to know."
"Ok then, Kyuhyun, how long have we been together?" Kyuhyun shrugged, "I dunno." "Well, we're doing this for you, yeah? When would we have had to have gotten together for it to make sense?" Kyuhyun seemed to consider the question for a second. "Well, it would have to have been after my parents got separated... but before the divorce to make it sound realistic... so... 4 months?" Ryeowook looked at him doubtfully, "Are you sure 4 months is long enough for us to be serious?"
Kyuhyun didn't even stop to consider the question, "It'll be more than enough to satisfy my family that we're serious about one another."
"How did we meet?" "At university. You transferred into my tutorial for musicology, and started talking to me, and one thing led to another." "What university do we attend?" "Kyunghee University."
Ryeowook looked at him surprised, "You go there too?" Kyuhyun nodded, looking at him strangely. "Cool, I'm in a Theatre Arts Major, you're taking Music?" Kyuhyun smiled, nodding in response, quietly adding "But as a double major, my other major is in Financial Mathematics."
"Well it would certainly make sense that we met at university, we can just say that I took your class, I mean I've been interested in music for years anyway, and I do have a few filler units left." "So then, you must be nearly finished your degree, right?" queried Kyuhyun. Ryeowook shrugged uneasily, he disliked revealing too much about himself and his situation, even if he did feel very comfortable with Kyuhyun. "Sort of, if nothing goes astray of course, but you never know." "And if everything goes well, when will you be finished?" "In 2 years." "So then you're older than me, I'm only in my first year of university now." Kyuhyun explained.
Ryeowook glanced at him, stunned. "I didn't realise you were younger than me, you look so mature. You would have to be, what, 19?" Kyuhyun nodded, "I'll be 20 in 6 months, thus the urgency of our requesting you to help us out." "So then, there's something special about your 20th birthday?" Ryeowook carefully queried; he tried to avoid asking too much of new customers, as one never knows what could come from your questions.
"I'll be an adult, that's what's special. It'll become my choice when I do anything, instead of my parents." "But I don't understand, your father was involved in hiring me in the first place, wasn't he?" Kyuhyun sighed, "It's complicated."
Ryeowook glanced down at his watch, noting how time had passed, they needed to finalise the matter now, or else he was going to be late for class. "Um, I'm sorry to rush you but I kind of have somewhere I need to be, shortly." "Oh, that's okay, I understand." Kyuhyun told him compassionately, "I myself have somewhere I need to get to." "So, do you think I'll be suitable to be your gay lover?" Ryeowook queried uneasily; he always hated questions asking for other people's judgements of him, particularly because of how comfortable he felt around him. It would be pretty easy to fake interest in the guy, Ryeowook decided, but he prepared himself for the worst all the same.
Kyuhyun looked at him as though he'd gone insane. "Of course you are, I think we'll make a wonderful couple, we already have an apparently very joyful history together." he smiled, drawing a responding grin onto Ryeowook's face. "Aww, how sweet. No wonder I'm in love with you." Ryeowook joked back, before rushing off, as he caught sight of the time once again. "Bye, Kyuhyun. Call me!"
"I will" Kyuhyun shouted in return, pleased with how much better the meeting had gone than he'd been expecting, until he too caught sight of the time, and raced off.
It had been only a few days until Ryeowook had received his next phone call, this time from Kyuhyun's father, through the agency. He was to escort Kyuhyun to a party, which he found he was strangely excited to attend. As he saw it, this was a real opportunity to perfect his acting talent, and he was eager to get started. That was why he found himself excitedly waiting for Kyuhyun to meet him at the coffee shop they'd met in earlier in the week.
He couldn't wait for Kyuhyun to arrive, feeling anxious at the strange looks he was receiving from the guests inside. He was dressed way too fancy to be going to a measly old coffee shop; but he'd been told it was a black tie affair, he had to be dressed up. In this respect, the whole, meeting in a public place rule, from the escort service could be horribly annoying. If he could have just given him his home address, he could have hid inside until their car pulled up, but at the same time, he wasn't sure he wanted them to know where he lived.
ome customers could be bad enough without that knowledge, and the knowledge in the wrong hands, could spell disaster for someone in his line of work. It wasn't unheard of for those in his line of work to be killed by their customers.
Just as Ryeowook started thinking maybe he had gotten the meeting place wrong, a black limo showed up, stopping right in front of the coffee shop. Uncertain of whether or not it was Kyuhyun, Ryeowook waited awkwardly on the steps. The door of the limo opened, the gangly limbs of a youth spilling out from inside, but still Ryeowook did not move from his spot until the familiar smile of Kyuhyun met him from over the car door.
"What are you waiting for?" he shouted, but his smile showed he too was happy about their reunion. Ryeowook quickly joined Kyuhyun, who slid over in the seat to make room for him. The moment the door shut, the limo sped off to the party.
"I was almost worried you weren't coming." Ryeowook admitted, as he gazed around the interior of the limo, not used to travelling in them. Kyuhyun rolled his eyes at the comment, "Please. Not only is my father paying you generously for it, but on top of that, I wouldn't dare show up at this event without a date." "Why? Is this party important?" Ryeowook queried, curiously.
"Yes, this is the night we are going to present our relationship to my mother." Kyuhyun told him, sighing. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" "Bad, definitely bad. She'll make this evening a living hell, and who knows what she'll do after that.." Kyuhyun complained.
"You don't seem to have a very high opinion of your mother." Ryeowook commented wryly, to which Kyuhyun turned to him and half smiled as he commented, 'Don't worry it isn't without reason."
Before Ryeowook could ask him what he meant by that, the limo came to a stop, and Kyuhyun quickly jumped out of the door on the other side. Clearly they had reached the location of the party, and from here on out, he should expect anything, if Kyuhyun's comment in the car were to be believed.
Kyuhyun was already standing on the steps, and, when Ryeowook caught up to him thread Ryeowook's arm through his own. "Now I'm not too sure what's going to happen in there, so please, don't act too surprised. If my mother figures this out, it's effectively a death sentence for me." Ryeowook nodded his agreement, disliking the seriousness of Kyuhyun's tone, when he said those words.
The couple made their way inside, and, despite his experiences at such gatherings before, Ryeowook could not help but be overwhelmed at the luxuriousness of the setting. All the parties he'd attended in the past, paled in comparison to this one, and the large sum of money he was being offered for this job no longer seemed so outstanding; to them he was probably a cheap expense, despite the cost being over triple his annual wage.
Ryeowook understood his role well enough, he had to appear close, without going overboard. Their relationship had to imply intimacy not, try and splash it around, otherwise it wouldn't seem genuine; no one brags about a deep connection with someone else, without the claim being false.
In keeping with the spirit of that role, Ryeowook inched his face close to Kyuhyun's own, as he whispered to him, knowing the sight would give off exactly the look they were going for. "I didn't know you held such fancy parties." Kyuhyun smiled at him, whispering back, "Not I, my mother. She's always been one to put on a show, I seem to recall a party for losing each one of my baby teeth." Ryeowook smiled at him, looking around at all the people gathered there.
There were hundreds of people milling about the place all of them older by several years at least than the newest couple. "Are we expected to talk to all of these people?" Ryeowook queried, making sure to sidle slightly closer to Kyuhyun as he noticed all of the people staring at them. "No, they are my mother's friends. We merely need to come, talk to my mother and show her how happy we are together, and pray that'll be the end of it."
"So then should we go looking for her?" Ryeowook queried, his gaze finally returning to the boy he was talking with. "No point. She knows we're here, and will find us at her discretion." he told him simply.
Ryeowook nodded showing his understanding, before quickly turning to Kyuhyun again. "What do you usually do at these parties?" Kyuhyun looked at him, unsure where Ryeowook was going with the question, "I don't usually come" he told him bluntly. Ryeowook rolled his eyes at the response, "But when you do come, what do you do to pass the time?" "Walk around. Mother would never go to the same place twice, so scoping the place out, usually takes long enough."
Ryeowook excitedly detached their arms, only to grab Kyuhyun's hand, dragging him down a wide corridor, filled with people. Honestly, Ryeowook wasn't the sort of person to be overcome by curiosity, but he was curious just how far back the rooms extended. Besides which, he hoped the familiar and close touch would convey to the other guests the right idea about their supposed relationship.
Kyuhyun on the other hand, did not allow his momentary surprise to slip through the mask he wore. This evening was the first skirmish in the battle for his freedom and his life, and he refused to lose it. He looked at the back of Ryeowook's head fondly, pulling hard on the boy's hand, to yank him back into him. Ryeowook looked up at him, with big, round eyes, "Just where do you think you're taking me?" he asked, his tone as low as ever, and hushed, to make the innocent words sound secretive.
"Around. I wanted to explore, but you walk too slow!" Ryeowook explained, trying his best to look both ashamed and cute, so as to get himself out of the apparent trouble. "I can walk faster if it would please you." Kyuhyun breathed back, at the same time as being immersed in this little act of theirs being entranced by it; it felt so natural to talk and act like this, an unusual experience for Kyuhyun. He wasn't used to company of any sort, much less intimate company, though then again, that was part of the reason he was in this mess in the first place.
"Okay." Ryeowook smiled at him softly, before dropping his head shyly realising their little skit had attracted quite a bit of attention from the party goers. He could feel the heat in his cheeks, knowing even as he deplored his blush, that it would probably help them. Both playing and feeling the part of the embarrassed girl, he allowed Kyuhyun to walk him away from that spot, into another of the many rooms his mother had rented out for her guests.
The next room was far less crowded, and the couple made their way over to an empty corner of the room in the hopes of avoiding what little scrutiny they were under. "How long do you think until your mother gets here?" Ryeowook asked, hoping to stop any awkwardness from descending over them in their silence. "She's already here somewhere, talking to people. I made sure we came late, but people would've started arriving around 3 or 4 this afternoon." Ryeowook whistled appreciatively, "No wonder you decided to come late. We've only been here maybe 15 minutes and it's already clear there's nothing by way of entertainment."
Kyuhyun smiled at the comment, "These people don't need entertainment; they all know each other, and easily spend the whole evening talking to one another." Ryeowook laughed, commenting, "I think my mother would enjoy a party like this too, must be a thing for middle aged women." Kyuhyun nodding his head in agreement.
"So does your mother hold these sorts of parties often?" Ryeowook asked, hoping to keep the conversation going. Kyuhyun nodded, "Yeah, every 2 or 3 months or so. Her friends and her have a roster, someone's always throwing a party, with the same, select guest lists."
"Do you usually go?" Ryeowook queried, suddenly, the thought having just occurred to him; as much as it appeared as though Kyuhyun fit in at a gathering like this, he certainly didn't seem to be enjoying it in the least. He even timed it so they would come late and leave early; only staying for as long as the errand he was hoping to carry out. Kyuhyun shook his head 'no', "I'm always invited but this isn't my idea of a good time, so I usually don't go."
Ryeowook nodded understandingly, eyes sweeping the room momentarily, "I can see what you mean, the guests aren't exactly close in age to you are they? Why doesn't your mother invite her friends kids to come to the party too, then you could at least spend the evening with people your own age?" he queried, but Kyuhyun shifted awkwardly at the question. "I don't get along with their kids." he told him stiffly.
Ryeowook realised his question had clearly made Kyuhyun feel uncomfortable, and decided that questions about the guests children were clearly out of bounds; he wasn't going to get paid for embarrassing his client. Hoping to steer away from that area he queried, "Why don't you invite some of your friends then?" again Kyuhyun tensed slightly, but his tone didn't turn so cold this time, as he answered "Because I don't have any."
Ryeowook felt a wave of pity rush over him; he knew what it was like not to have friends, he had lost all of his own only a few years ago, because of his choices in life. Since then he'd been lucky enough to make more, but the sting of that loss, he knew would never really go away. "You mean you didn't have any." he corrected gently. Kyuhyun glanced at him curiously, at the answer, "Oh?" "Yes, because now you have me, and I'm your friend." he told him, hoping both that Kyuhyun would take it seriously and believe it was just part of the act, for any people who were listening in on their conversation from around the fairly quiet room.
In truth, Ryeowook wasn't sure why he had said it. Part of him had realised that it would work wonderfully for their little performance, but he knew it wasn't this thought that had motivated his words. Something told him that what had really motivated them, was the loneliness he heard in Kyuhyun's voice; a familiar pain that echoed in his own chest. The realisation that he had found a soul that was as wounded as his own had been by his friend's betrayal, and which was crying out for someone to help him get past it; to help him be happy.
He knew that such an emotional connection was dangerous in his line of work, but a strong momentary tug at his heart couldn't be overpowered by that knowledge. Connections to clients were well known to only end up in heartbreak for those in Ryeowook's position, and he wasn't about to become one of them. For a moment that connection was there, but he'd be a fool to allow it to consume him this quickly. He had no idea what Kyuhyun was up to, or what was going on, and as long as Kyuhyun had secrets, even momentary feelings of empathy could be deadly.
Kyuhyun looked at him, his eyes unreadable, as he searched for something in Ryeowook's face. He wasn't sure what he was looking for, but felt satisfied that he'd found it all the same. He let go of the breath he had been holding, as he smiled, his hand, curling itself around Ryeowook's own, as he replied, "Yes you're right, I have you now."
"Now now, if you keep that up, someone's teeth will rot." grumbled a strange voice, in front of the boys. They hadn't noticed Kyuhyun's mother's arrival, which had clearly irritated her, as far as Ryeowook could tell, if the way she scowled at him was to be any indication. The blazing dislike was made plainly obvious, from her sounds of disapproval as her eyes raked over him.
Ryeowook was certain that if she were a witch he would already have been cursed, and wondered if it really was just because of what she had overheard. Her eyes, though filled with distrust and dislike as they scanned his body, from head to toe, seemed too livid to be from such an insignificant cause. Surely her hatred of him ran deeper than that, or else she took things far more seriously than anyone he'd ever met.
When he noticed her giving her son the same look as she eyed him over, he knew he was correct. She was angry at the both of them, most likely because of their little relationship, he gathered, and she looked about ready to murder one of them. Even so, Kyuhyun barely noticed the look she gave him, his own eyes cold as he stared right through her, irritating her further.
Ignoring all of the blank hatred written across her features, he realised Kyuhyun's mother was a very beautiful woman. Fairly tall, in her high heels, she was about on par with Ryeowook's own height. Her clothing was mature and fashionable, and he would have guessed her one evening's attire, probably cost as much as his rent over 3 months.
Ryeowook was shaken from these thoughts as he heard Kyuhyun speak, for the first time since his mother's arrival, and the sound sent a spike of fear down his spine. "Hello mother, so lovely to see you too." His tone had sounded cold to Ryeowook when he'd questioned about his friends earlier, but that paled in comparison to what he heard now. The low, soothing rumble that he'd already come to recognise as Kyuhyun's voice sounded almost timeless, like the voice of a god. He hadn't known it was possible to speak with so little affection for someone, and the word 'mother' being said in that tone, almost made you want to cry at the thought; just what could his mother have done to receive such a harsh welcome from her only son?
But she seemed unaffected by the tone, her glare only growing in its intensity. "Don't you give me that Kyuhyun. Just what do you think you're playing at?" she growled. Kyuhyun's features relaxed into the picture of innocence, "What on earth are you talking about. As far as I know, it isn't illegal to announce to my parents that I'm in a relationship with another guy." "It may as well be. Do you really think I'm that stupid? You think I don't know what you and your father are playing at?"
"The only thing my father has done is welcome my relationship with Ryeowook with open arms." he told her simply. "Bullshit! He'd do no such thing!" "That's where you're wrong, because he did" he told her plainly, not allowing himself to be swept away by his mother's anger; the rest of his life depended on his calm head now.
"You're a liar, Cho Kyuhyun. A filthy, rotting, disgusting liar. I can't believe I ever gave birth to you. All I want is for you to face up to your responsibilities, you have a duty to uphold, and I won't be made a fool because my son is stubborn and wilful." She snarled, "I know this is all a lie..."
"No it isn't." Ryeowook stated, as surprised as the other two to hear his voice speak up; up until now it had been a family argument, and he was fairly certain they may have forgotten he was there at all.
Now her gaze returned to him, but some of the anger had dissipated now. Instead of trying to set him on fire by her glares alone, she seemed to really be seeing him now, considering him; sizing him up, and judging his words. "Oh?" she mocked, clearly not believing him.
"I mean it, Kyuhyun and I are together, and we have been for months. It isn't a lie." he told her, hoping that his own tone sounded as strong as Kyuhyun's had a moment before, despite the fact he was slightly afraid of the woman before him. Ryeowook wasn't used to confrontational situations, and even when they occurred he was never one to participate in them, he would always retreat inside himself, never speaking, never acting. He could tell the woman before him, despite her fancy clothes was the type who would get right in the middle of the action, and there was a good chance, if she got worked up enough she'd hit him. None of the other, few confrontations Ryeowook had ever been a part of had culminated in violence and he didn't want this to be the first.
She gazed at him a moment longer, before she returned her gaze to Kyuhyun, clearly having deemed Ryeowook a liar and insignificant. It was Kyuhyun she had to win over, and if she succeeded, she was certain this kid would fall into place as well. "Give it up, kid. I know it isn't true. His father probably hired you, look whatever he's paying you I'll double it. Just give this all up, right now, before things get serious."
Ryeowook swore he almost caught a flicker in Kyuhyun's eye, but he covered it up well, and it was gone in an instant. Her offer was tempting, but the fact was even those like Ryeowook had their rules and ethics; one of which is that you don't dump one customer for another, and tonight, he belonged to Kyuhyun. "No one is paying me anything. I'm telling the truth, Kyuhyun and I are together." he returned, adamantly, refusing to betray a client, even if he was new.
Kyuhyun's mother's head snapped back to him at the comment, displeasure reading clearly on her face. She had obviously expected him to roll over just because she waved some money before his nose. Over her shoulder, he thought he almost saw a glimmer of respect in Kyuhyun's eyes for him, but it disappeared quickly.
"He's right mother. Things are already serious between Ryeowook and I, whether you like it or not. Father is satisfied, and if need be, I'm certain he'll make sure the Moons are satisfied too." Kyuhyun told her easily, rescuing Ryeowook from her attention.
Ryeowook thought she looked as though she was going to explode with their denial of her accusations, and he wondered what she was going to do. He could have sworn she was considering hitting him, but instead her gaze turned thoughtful. "Just what is it that he thinks is going to satisfy them? The word of two young boys that they are together? I think they'll see that for what it is quickly enough, don't you?"
Ryeowook's mind went blank as the horror of her impending victory loomed before him, in her satisfied smirk. He wasn't entirely sure of what was going on here, but it was clear that it was very important for Kyuhyun that she be convinced of their relationship, just as it was very clear that she wasn't convinced.
"That would be true, if indeed, that's all there were." Kyuhyun replied quickly, his mind racing to come up with something solid, that would indicate love and commitment, to those who desperately didn't want to believe it was true. "There's more?" she queried, eyebrow quirked arrogantly, but, though she tried to hide it, Ryeowook caught a flicker of fear behind her mask.
"Of course mother. That's why Ryeowook and I went through all the trouble of attending your party this evening. We figured, it would be a good idea, if you met us before we gave you the good news. We're moving in together, isn't that right Wookie?" Kyuhyun stated, evilly smiling at the look of horror on his mother's face. He tugged Ryeowook closer to himself, by the hand he was still holding, wrapping his arm around Ryeowook's shoulders.
Ryeowook's cheeks turned pink at the close contact, and the fact that he did it in front of an audience, but he tried to nod as confidently as he could all the same.
His mother stared at the two of them horrified, the fight between her disbelief in their story and her belief in it clearly playing out across her face. But the momentary crack in her armour was quickly repaired, a confident, though clearly still angry grimace making its way onto her face.
"Don't think I'm fooled for a second. I know what this is, and what you're up to. I will expose this for what it is, don't you worry about that" she snarled, her glare fixating on Ryeowook, first "I'll make sure you don't see a single won for your lies, and you" she growled deeper still, her gaze flicking over to her son, "you will do as I say. I'll make sure you don't wriggle out of this, you ungrateful, deceitful little man" she yelled as she stomped out of the room.
It was only then that Ryeowook realised that the entire room had been empty save for the three of them. His mother, having clearly dismissed the other guests, before her little conversation with her son and his boyfriend.
"Well that went worse than I expected." Ryeowook told him, breathlessly, the fear from the whole, nerve wracking incident still coursing through his veins. Kyuhyun himself looked a little shaken, now that he'd let that guard down, but he still managed a small giggle, as he replied, "Really? It went better than I was expecting."
Ryeowook shook his head at the response, "how on earth, could it have gone any worse?" he shrugged lightly at the question, "She could have hit me, she's done it before. Doesn't hurt much but it still is more pleasant when it doesn't happen." he told him. Ryeowook felt the pity from earlier returning, and did his best to quell it in his stomach, but knew from the grateful look Kyuhyun sent him, that some of it must have slipped through.
"Well you won't have to worry about that when we live together" he told him easily enough, as he spied some of the guests returning out of the corner of his eye. Kyuhyun broke out in an embarrassed little grin, at the comment, "Yes, I'm sorry about that. I know we agreed not to tell her yet." Clearly also having spied the returning guests.
After the spectacle his mother must have made by her dramatic entrance and exit, and any words overheard from the argument, the couple knew they were going to be the focus of everyone's attention now, whether it was obvious or not.
"I don't mind you telling her, but I thought you wanted to tell her in a more private setting." he told him gently, smiling at Kyuhyun's discomfort with the whole situation. Were they not working, Ryeowook realised he probably would have been laughing his head off at Kyuhyun's discomfort. He'd never imagined enjoying any of his clients company outside of work before, but maybe that was just because all of his current clients were so much older than himself.
"Well, something tells me, your mother no longer wants us around here any more." Ryeowook told him, hoping that Kyuhyun would agree and they could leave. The interest in them was starting to get a little overwhelming., and the hundreds of pairs of eyes that would no doubt be raking over their forms were disconcerting him; the sooner they were away from them all the better. "I agree, we've probably outstayed our welcome, and it is getting late. Come on, I'll take you home." he told him gently, escorting Ryeowook back through the large party rooms.
The music and chatter had returned, in every room they passed through, and Ryeowook almost thought he caught the sound of a voice, he would always recall, filled with anger and venom, laughing in one of the rooms out of their sight. But even still, the pressure of everyone's gazes on their backs still burned, and he found himself, more grateful than even during the confrontation, that he still had Kyuhyun's warm hand grasped firmly within his own, reminding him he wasn't the only one they were staring at. As small a relief as that was, it was the only one he could see, on the agonisingly long walk to the front door.
He was so grateful for the cool, quiet night air that welcomed him, he barely noticed Kyuhyun calling his driver to come round and pick them up. Nor did he notice when Kyuhyun shuffled him down to the car. He only really came back, when he felt the car jolt, as they took off.
"Look it's pretty late, so if you don't mind, we can drop you off at your apartment." Kyuhyun told him quietly, clearly still processing everything that happened himself. "I'm not supposed to let you know where I live, it's one of the rules." Ryeowook commented mournfully. Truthfully he didn't really want to have to make his way home from the coffee shop they'd picked him up from. It may not have been far from his apartment, but he still wasn't particularly keen about the thought of walking there at night.
Not being vain or anything, Ryeowook was well aware of the fact that he was pretty, in a feminine sort of way, and he'd heard more than enough stories, of all sorts of dark things that can happen to those who make the mistake of walking home alone at night. Call him paranoid, or narcissistic, but Ryeowook was certain, with his looks, that such an untimely fate was guaranteed for him.
"As if I'm about to let you walk home at this time of night, after what you're doing for me." Kyuhyun told him bluntly, and though the words were touching, Ryeowook couldn't resist the urge to point out, "It's not like I'm doing it out of the goodness of my heart, you and your father are paying me." "I know we are... Thank you, for not telling my mother what she wanted to hear."
Ryeowook snorted at the almost sentimental way Kyuhyun said it, as though the action had given him a little bit of hope that there is goodness in people. He may have found it sweet, but the idea that something so small could provoke such a sweet reaction, was still amusing to him. "Please, what do you take me for? A man of no loyalty?" he demanded, laughingly, before directing the driver to his home, the driver having pulled over, when he realised they had yet to give him instructions of exactly where they wanted to go.
"What sort of man feels loyalty to a three time client?" Kyuhyun challenged, playfully, Ryeowook's good mood seeping into him, helping thaw his heart from his encounter with his mother. He may have known it was coming and had prepared accordingly, but even still, the encounters with her, always left him feeling cold on the inside.
"A good man like myself. One who knows he will be rewarded for that loyalty" he told Kyuhyun proudly, making Kyuhyun smile. "Apparently in the form of a new room mate?" he commented, curiously, eyebrow raised. Immediately Kyuhyun froze as the words left Ryeowook's lips. He could feel himself withering beneath the look Ryeowook sent him, even though it was only filled with curiosity.
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that." he sheepishly replied, but Ryeowook's curiosity had not been appeased by the apology. "Why did you say we were moving in together?" he questioned lightly. "It was the first thing I could think of that would stop her in her tracks. She was winning, until I said it. Now we've got her on the defensive." he told him animatedly. As embarrassed as Kyuhyun was by his spontaneous admission, he still revelled in the small victory it afforded him in the most important battle of his life.
Ryeowook's joking smile, disappeared suddenly, as he realised how close they were to his home. The most important thing he needed to find out from Kyuhyun had still been left unsaid, cast aside in favour of their friendly joking, and now he risked not knowing at all. "We have to, now that you've said it, don't we?" he asked, quietly.
He may have grown quite fond of Kyuhyun, and enjoyed spending time with him, but to Ryeowook this was still very dangerous. His mother had warned about things getting serious soon, what if she wasn't lying? What if she did something drastic? This was just supposed to be an easy gig, that paid well, nothing complicated. And failing her, what if Kyuhyun did something. He'd heard far too many tales of woe, from couples moving in together too soon. Of people being financially ruined, crippled with debt, homeless, because they took the wrong person at their word. And he and Kyuhyun weren't even in a relationship. They'd met twice, and were lucky if they'd spent 5 hours together. He knew nothing about the guy; he could have been some criminal, who planned on murdering him, or a gang leader who forced him to be his new recruit. This sort of thing was very concerning to Ryeowook, and though he had a good feeling about Kyuhyun, he didn't want to be stupid. Too many people lose their life because of a good feeling.
Kyuhyun frowned slightly at the question, the way he looked at Ryeowook telling him that he knew every thought that had just run through his mind, as he was thinking them himself. Finally he sighed, dissatisfied, "I'll have to talk to my father about it, but I'd guess that we will. I'm really sorry. We'll sort out all the details later, just try and get a good night's sleep, okay?" he told him. Noticing that the car had stopped out the front of a building, he guessed was Ryeowook's home.
Ryeowook noticed this too, and though frowning, he managed to nod, and even smile as he said "You too. Goodnight Kyuhyun." before he shut the car door and went upstairs. His mind was racing as he fell into his bed, deciding that there was too much to think about, he'd worry about it when he caught up with Heechul in a day or two, something told him the boy would be dying to discuss what had been happening in his little drama, which was apparently getting bigger by the meeting.