Disclaimer: I don't own The Heirs.
Title: Queen of the Game
Chapter Count: 4/?
Warning(s): None really…
Pairing: YoungSang,
Rating: T
Young Do hated that she'd one upped him, even more than Tan's ridiculous knight in shining armor act. Eun Sang needed as much saving, as he needed a hole in the head. But, he had to admit she was an even bigger snake than be realized.
He'd underestimated slightly.
She wasn't a little girl playing fox. She was a seasoned snake well versed in the game of manipulation. She was also not shy and easily abashed by his antics, shown by her the fact she felt no shame moving to search his trouser pockets for his phone. Still had fire in her eyes and a viper's tongue even when he had her trapped.
It was like she was provoking him into much less subtle action.
She wanted to play and he would play, because this game was actually fun: an opponent that didn't just roll over and give up despite his intimidation, with a backbone of reinforced steel.
"Yah, punk what is this I hear about picking on girls now," Myung Soo inquired in measured outrage.
"And when have I picked on girl?" Okay fine he didn't deny being less than pleasant, but he didn't pick on girls. He wasn't even picking on Eun Sang, he was just coercing her to be truthful.
The situation with her in the classroom that Tan conveniently walked in on was greatly misconstrued and fuelled by Eun Sang's act. But of course everyone would rather assume the worst form him, right? "Do you have this little faith in me? Are we even friends?" He continued in mock shock and anger.
"I'm still your friend until now. Do you take me so lightly?" the usual comical shock playing on his face. "Are you trying to break my heart like this? Have I not done enough, oppa?"
"I'm not picking on her," he assured the only friend who'd stuck by his side throughout the years. He owed no one an explanation, but no one came as loyal as Myung Soo and it would be stupid to lose him even if most of the time Young Do didn't show it. "I'm interested."
"You like her?" exclaimed Myung Soo in disbelief, because Young Do rarely showed interest in women. There were one or two, he would admit caught his eye, but that wasn't it with Eun Sang. She was cunning, challenging and stirred his mind.
"No," he confirmed, staring at the ceiling. "I'm interested to see what her real world looks like."
"Are you having a crisis I don't know about? Right now, this is impossible," Myung Soo didn't understand him, which was okay. He didn't need to know –the only ones involved in this game were Young Do himself and Cha Eun Sang.
[The roof. Let's meet]
She was bold, wasn't she? Thinking she could summon him, and he would jump to her will. He realized now he'd been too rash to inform her about his knowing her secret, instead of letting her come to him like he'd initially wanted.
Running tongue over his teeth he laughed. He didn't think knowing her number would unsettle her so much, it hadn't been a move to achieve such result, but it worked nicely.
[Do I have a reason to, Eun Sangie? To see me, come to me.]
-~*+*~-:-o-:-~*+*~-
Eun Sangie? Did this punk take her for a child? Come to him? Wasn't he taking her too lightly? Perhaps, Eun Sang had given him too much by demanding about how he'd gotten her number. In retrospect, it didn't really matter that much. Even the picture what exactly could he do with it.
Come to him. Tch, was he crazy?
She'd expected to have him annoy her during lunch, but he was nowhere to be seen. His two lackeys looking lost without their leader at their table.
But at present she had bigger problems to deal with.
Once again she had been summoned by the administrator so the woman could throw her weight around. Nose so high up in the air Eun Sang was surprise the woman could even see her as she looked down her nose at her.
"My scholarship, you asked me to come," Eun Sang asked in forced politeness, that wasn't even all that subtly hidden. The woman just rubbed her the wrong way, and the feeling was mutual as once again the administrator narrowed her beady eyes at her.
The woman sniggered, "Everyone here is smart not just rich. Do you honestly think you can compete?" giving her a look down like Eun Sang was something grimy she found under her shoes. As for smart and rich, it didn't apply to everyone and the bitch knew it. What the woman wanted was for her to look down on herself and be self conscious to make her feel better.
But, Eun Sang wouldn't let her.
"I know I'm lacking," pretended to be humbled by the scolding to give the poor woman the significance she was desperately craving. "I'll work harder, to show a better side of myself," she bowed, giving the woman a sassy raised eyebrow to ask if she felt fulfilled.
Of course it annoyed her to high heaven, and Eun Sang enjoyed it. Clicking her tongue in pure annoyance, the administrator threw the paper at her, "The scholarship only pays for classes. Your special activities fees are due. Pay them. Join at least one, it not an option." Ah this woman surely needed a man or a good drink, so uptight. "Leave now, I'm busy," she dismissed with pretentious waving off.
She was required to join a club, all of were paid for by that obnoxiously expensive activity fee. Some would even require additional investment. All the money she made from her part time jobs were going into saving for a deposit on a house for her mother and her, so they could leave the mansion and, her university tuition.
Not for frivolous nonsense like golf club.
A closer look at the list, however, had offered a solution to her problem. The Broadcast Club had a fee waiver of activity fees if she joined. The mammoth task was convincing the president of the club to allow her to take the test.
For what it was worth, Hyo Shin Senior wasn't an elitist prick. He didn't look ready to insult or all that threatening. If anything he looked passive, like nothing in the world mattered. Jaded she would say.
"Broadcast Club, why?" he asked after a moment of considering her request to join.
She could say it was for the money, which if he was smart was already all too obvious to him. But, she needed to add another level to her reasons to not look like it was a last resort. "It's the only one that can help me in future. People like me won't benefit from golf club. Maybe here I can learn a skill to help me consider a job."
"The waiver is not a reason?" the senior asked, arms crossed in an interrogative stance even if his voice wasn't as demanding.
"It's important too," lying won't get her anywhere. From the first time since stepping in this school and donning her mask, she was being genuinely earnest. "Will you let me take the test, senior?" the genuine was always stronger than pretense.
-~*+*~-:-o-:-~*+*~-
Young Do was surprised that Eun Sang could actually be genuine with any words that came from her mouth. But there in the broadcast room with Senior, her words were undeniably sincere as she asked for a chance to join the club.
When did a situation warrant such earnest words from her, while to everyone else it was a mask? With him she was an unrelenting devious.
"You're words were so sincere with Senior, I could cry," he sounded when she stepped out of the door long after Senior had left.
Hyo Shin only warned him to not cause trouble or he'd be dealing with him. Aish the guy was so handsome threatening him, but for what it was worth he wouldn't cause a lot of trouble.
Well, at least not yet.
She stiffened, pivoting to face him with a raised eyebrow. "Do you want to be my shadow now? Why are you here," a sigh of exasperation escaping her lips, as she crossed her arms and tipped her hip to the side in unhidden defiance. It was to show that she was not, and she never would be, scared of him.
"The hallways are free," pushing of the wall he was leaning against to approach her. "Am I not allowed to pass on them?" It truly was coincidental on his part to happen on her. He'd meant it when he'd resolved to not go to her until she came to him first this time. But, what can he do about his reputation and her ideas.
"Don't you know, lying can become a habit?" she chuckled, believing him as far as she could throw him. "But it serves a purpose," she shrugged, stepping up to him. "Will you tell me? How you have my number?"
Even the way she moved when she shed her pretense was difference. Unrestrained confidence that made her looked taller and much more dangerous –her very steps were a sly saunter. But she wasn't dealing with a pawn she could push around, so he called her bluff and stepped even closer. "This world isn't free. I want something in return."
She laughed.
She laughed loud and almost hysterical, even holding onto the wall for support. "Be serious. Do I look like someone you can control?" her tone mocking, and provoking even if it was breathy, "Move."
This girl was really annoyance and mystery all in one go. The laughing he could definitely do without, but being angry would have her think she was winning. So he controlled it. He didn't lose, especially not to her, "Are you sure I was stopping you? Don't you think that you weren't just moving?" he teased her changing tactics to unsettle her, because uncertainty shined in her eyes at his antics. "Am I blocking the entire hallway?" Then it fizzled to annoyance, when he gave a show of block the hallway by stretching his arms wide. It barely blocked even a quarter of it.
She rolled her eyes before walking away.
"Let's talk again, Eun Sangie," he bid her farewell with an exaggerated cutesy tone, that achieved its purpose in giving him the last word. As he continued down the opposite side of the hallway, leaving her visibly annoyed.
It was better to lure her into a false sense of security, before he really begun playing his hand. She was just a little too bold at the moment. He needed to return a balance of power in his favor before she got too comfortable.
"Still playing with the Welfare Student?" Rachel who'd descended the stairs ahead of him asked, probably spying Eun Sang's receding figure down the hall.
There was an unnecessary disdain in the girl eyes, but what did he care. It was her issue. "What is this step sister? Are now interested in my life? Don't warm brother's heart like this."
"The photo shoot, you haven't done anything yet." Like usual she ignored his teasing with a roll of the eyes, and got to the agenda at hand. Always with the measured annoyance like no one in the world would ever be worth her time.
"Right now, are you doubting me?" Young Do had that handled, but was waiting for the day itself to have maximum impact. She wasn't the only one less than thrilled about this stupid photo shoot, and he'd be damned if he had to pose for the camera. "Just come and look pretty, step sister. Brother has everything under control," adding a condescending pat on the top of her head, which earned him an icy glare. "I'll leave first."
At the moment his mind was on how to win against one Cha Eun Sang. Unmasking her wasn't as easy as irritating her out of it, because she slipped in and out of her crafted façade so skillfully it was hard to capture a crack he could exploit.
With Eun Sang he couldn't scare her into following his way.
-~*+*~-:-o-:-~*+*~-
"Does it make you happy? Being on people's lips because you're Choi Young Do's new toy?" Rachel told her, occupying the sink next to hers as she casually reapplied her lip gloss. It was obvious the heir was there to throw her weight around and re-establish some sort of superiority over her. "Don't get comfortable, because this won't last. The excitement always wears off. So just remember to stick to your level, Welfare student."
Eun Sang smiled sweetly, even maintaining it in her tone as she spoke. "You should keep such advice to yourself Yoo Rachel. I don't require it." It was enough playing Young Do's game, dealing with a pompous administrator, and now she was meant to deal with an insecure girl? If she was really the social climbing bitch the female heir was painting her out to be, shouldn't she have fallen over her feet for Tan or Young Do for that matter. Her relationship was secure; Eun Sang had no interest in Tan what so ever.
"What?" Rachel looked confused and outrage, probably thinking she misunderstood Eun Sang words since face and voice didn't display any of the harshness of the dismissive words.
"Aren't you saying this because of Kim Tan," Eun Sang spoke clearly, turning fully to the girl still keeping her face the picture of friendly humbleness even as she spoke. "Don't misunderstand me. Between me and Tan is nothing. Please feel comfortable with this." She'd given the girl an out, but Rachel caught her arm as she tried to walk past and leave.
"Do I look stupid to you?" Rachel asked in measured annoyance bringing Eun Sang to face her again. "Let me warn you. Don't let your name and Tan's come from other kids mouths as a set. That level is too high for you to climb. If you attempt I'll make you fall hard."
Rachel was stupid, or hard of hearing. Eun Sang had assured her of her lack of interest in Tan just moments ago, threatening her again over something that she considered closed was just choosing to be ignorant. Prying the heir's hand off her arm, spoke again. "Then it's good we have an understanding; because even if you won't believe me, I want the same thing."
It was mentally exhausting dealing with heirs, but it would be only two more years she would have to tolerate. Things at the café at least had been less hectic with the re-opening of schools and universities, the patronage to the establishment lightened. But that didn't mean she wasn't practically dead on her feet when she got to convenience store. The table looked inviting to allow her to rest before she had to make the distance to the mansion.
But since this was her life, she couldn't even have that much.
"Why do you always sleep in places like these?" the deep, smooth drawl was unmistakable, "Makes me want to protect you."
Choi Young Do.
Honestly, did this guy have a tracker on her or something that he always found her so easily? She continued feigning sleep, determined to ignore him. Even if she wanted to know how he knew she sometimes took naps out there. Did he really want her to believe he wasn't stalking her?
"Wake up. It's rude to sleep when people are talking to you?" he added after a long moment when she didn't respond to him. Aish this fool, did he still not understand she wouldn't jump when he told her to, if anything she'd kick him in the shin and walk away satisfied as he jumped around in pain.
But despite being clueless on some things, he wasn't entirely an idiot and obviously knew she was faking. Confirmed by his long leg swung out and kick her chair, just like a week ago when he was trying to gain her attention in class, "Yah, transfer student."
Annoyance had definitely descended on her life. "Why are you so noisy? Don't you know this isn't your house?"
"But your sleeping here like it's a bedroom. Can you really scold me?" He returned with grating observation. "How can you be like this? Lack so much caution. Bad things can happen to you sleeping here." He went on, enjoying his ramen leisurely.
What did he care about her safety? On top of that, did he think she was incapable of protecting herself? He should know better, "The warning is too late. You're here making noise." He seemed amused by her snippy response, eyes shining with laughter.
"Keep talking like this, and you'll know the consequences," biting his lower lip as he regarded her in open interest and curiosity, like he was looking for new ways to play with her.
The threat as always delivered in charismatic elegance that had you questioning its intent. She was unmoved by it either way, "Is that a threat?" raising an eyebrow and leaning back with her arms crossed in challenge.
"At least you know this much," he congratulated her, mimicking her stance as he engaged her in a battle wills with a staring match.
She didn't have all night, "What do you want?" He wouldn't work this hard to annoy her if he didn't want something. It was better to get it out of the way, so he could leave her alone faster.
"Kim Tan warned me to stay away from you." Oh great, let the guy play the hero once and Kim Tan now thought she required constant protection. And now here were the tall tale signs of her being pulled into a turf war between the two. How did things get so messy without attempting on her part? "Are you playing with him? Isn't that playing with your life?"
Now she was a seducer. Did every rich person think all poor girls dreamed of landing a prince charming to make her life better? Or even worse, that they were all set on seducing one should it not happen naturally. Her life was hard, tiring and difficult but she wouldn't become a meek trophy girlfriend in exchange for a better life –she was worth much more than that. "Why is it important?"
"That wasn't an answer. Do you think I'm asking nicely?" His smile faded into a threatening grin, emphasized by him leaning in again, hand clasped on the table.
"Why are you asking me? Shouldn't you ask Kim Tan?" She countered. He didn't deserve an answer from her and he was asking the wrong person anyway. If he wanted to know he could just suck it up and ask his enemy or whatever the hell they were, not her.
"Because you're prettier to look at, and I like your voice better," he told her cheekily, in that smooth velvety voice that would be seductive and hypnotizing –if he wasn't such a jerk. "Are you going to answer?" the prompting delivered in the same tone. He was so venomous; because bullies weren't suppose to embody elegance and charisma.
It was oddly fascinating to watch, which signified her time to leave. "I have to get home," she didn't want to have this conversation when such a disgusting thought had crossed her mind. She wouldn't fall into whatever web he was weaving. "Let's not meet again."
Her leave however was hampered when he grabbed her hand and pulled her back unceremoniously onto his lap, "Ya –" securing her there by wrapping arms around her waist and securing her wrists, holding her down when she attempted to vacate his lap.
Forget her momentary fascination, it was sufficiently flushed out. Was he looking to lose a limb? "What do you think you're doing?" Her voice dropped a dangerous octave that was always a warning that someone was about to get hurt.
"Cha Eun Sang, are you mistaking me for a good guy. I've been generous, and you're taking advantage of this," he informed her. "It's a wrong move. Answer me, what is between you and Kim Tan?" Her further struggle stifled when he tightened his hold.
This idiot, "If you're hoping to become a father in the future without complication, you'll let go." If he forced her hand, trust her she would mess his equipment and pretty face for good measure.
"Do you really want to know what happens if you keep squirming like that? Just answer the question. This isn't hard." Well at least she knew he was still a fully hormonal male that is, if he was referring to what she was imagining.
"Should I scream?" it was weak, but he was forcing her hand. But, damn it she would scream bloody murder and wake up the devil himself if he didn't let it go. "That won't be good for you."
For a long moment it looked like he wouldn't call her bluff, but he finally loosened his arms. She was actually stunned that he actually complied without finding out the hard way. "Are you waiting for the sun rise? Leave."
"What are you planning?" He couldn't be letting this go so easily; she glared him down as he went back to his ramen as if nothing happened moments prior.
His withdrawal was suspect.
"To finish my dinner," he deadpanned, continuing his meal unaffected. "You are still here. Weren't you leaving?"
She wouldn't be a sitting duck. "You've let me go, stopped asking the questions. Have you found the answers?" She demanded.
"It's in the car waiting for you," looking past her at something, forcing her to follow his gaze only to find Kim Tan looking out of the car at them.
Aish really, just what I needed.
TBC
Author's Note: No triangles. Just thought I should clarify. 3K+ chapter, however others won't be this long. Next update will probably be Thursday next week hopefully, but I'm working on other stories I've neglected so it might not.