Disclaimer: I don't own The Heirs.
Title: Queen of the Game
Chapter Count: 10/?
Warning(s): None really…
Pairing: YoungSang.
Rating: T
Author's Note: Thank you for reading, reviewing, following, and adding this to your alerts and favorites. I really appreciate it.
With her paycheck due at the end of the week, Eun Sang finally had enough for a deposit on an apartment. No more dealing with Madam Han and her capricious demands of spying on her son or wine bottles. Her mother would unfortunately have to return for her work, but at least staying away offered her a break. The only down side was that the likelihood of running into Won were slim to none with her leaving the house, once again putting that particular plan up in the air.
Even though he'd gone around the point enough times to warrant another bowl of noodles to the pants again, the night had ended with Young Do cancelling the charges. But, like was expected with every concession were new conditions.
He did after all possess the video.
He didn't get off the bike to help her off this time, forcing her to use his shoulders as support to descend. The helmet she kept hugged to her chest as leverage, because she wouldn't let him ride off until she knew where they stood in terms of the charges.
"The charges will you cancel them?" her tone a demand than a question, because he was playing with her and she definitely wasn't his toy.
He took off his own helmet, taking the time to rearrange his hair just to annoy her than out of vanity. "You came so I'll cancel them," giving her that annoying grin that didn't reveal whether or not he was joking. Did he not know that he was pushing her patience? She would make those assault charges real with the helmet in her arms if he was playing with her.
"Be serious –"
"–is it my problem you don't believe me?" He replied still spotting that silly grin on his. Harshly pushing the helmet against his chest ready to storm off and leave him grinning like the sociopath he was, but of course he wasn't done. "But, I still want something more, fox."
Taking a calming breath, she faced at him eye narrowed. "What?"
"A deal so things can remain pleasant," he drawled smoothly. What pleasantness was he referring to exactly? All she'd gotten from him so far was threats, warning and blackmail, unless for him this was pleasantness. She raised an eyebrow, prompting him to continue arms crossed. "Answer your phone when I call. Talk to me when I talk to you. Come to me when I say. Eat with me when I invite you. This is simple right?"
If she refused to do it, or questioned him he'd just bring up the evidence as coercion. But she was curious at his words, "Why?"
"Because I like seeing your true face," he explained frankly. "You don't wear your mask with me. Just like this now."
She believed him as much as she believed pink elephant could float through the sky, but it offered an opportunity to rectify her current situation. If she was reading him right, then Young Do was fascinated by her. Fascination can easily become a distraction. Distracting enough to get her hands on that video and destroying any leverage he had over her.
But being too compliant would have him smelling a rat before she had a chance to act, so she had to strike the right balance between submissive compliance and stubborn defiance.
A hand enclosing around her wrist as she reached in for her books, brought her out of her thoughts. It wasn't surprising that it belong to Young Do, she didn't even have the energy to put up her frightened mask. "Do you think this is a drama? Let go of my wrist," sharply pulling at his hold, but it remained.
"Why do you want to be my female lead?" he inquired with a raised eyebrow and devilish smirk. Eun Sang would admit that he would be less irritating if he wasn't so smug about it. She tried freeing her hand again, "Relax. I'm not doing anything now."
She didn't even want to comment on the irony of the statement. "What are you even doing?" she asked giving up her futile attempt to get free, as he pulled up her sleeve and retrieved one of the slim bands she kept round her wrist for work. How he even knew about them being there, she didn't even know.
"Wear this," placing the band in her hand, and leaned against the locker waiting for her to comply.
Was he now telling her how to wear her hair? This was getting ridiculous. "What?" she feigned ignorance wanting him to repeat.
"Your neck is pretty. I want to see it," she didn't believe him, even with that innocent smile tugging at his lips accompanying his words. He was up to something, but she just couldn't figure out what that was exactly. "Should I do it for you, then?" he asked when she remained looking at him with narrowed eyes of suspicion.
That was definitely something she was never going to allow. His hands anywhere near her hair was asking for trouble. "Fine," tying her hair in a high ponytail, while he watched her biting his lip. "Satisfied?"
"I will be," was all he left her with as he sauntered off.
It was definitely trouble; things with him were never this easy.
Half way through their math lesson Young Do began his usual distracting tactic by playing with her hair, which she managed to ignore as always. He'd soon get bored when she didn't respond and leave her alone.
Her concentration was on the board and nothing else.
It was all shot to hell of course, when he blew against her exposed nape and making her squeak all too audibly disturbing the class. No good, dirty –
"Is there a problem, Cha Eun Sang?" the teacher asked irritated by the interruption as the whole class looked at her accusingly. Young Do sat back with his arms crossed, with a smirk at his lips. Would it be unadvisable to kick him?
Even if she was picturing messing up his pretty face, she maintained the remorseful blushing appearance she was expected to have at the situation. "I'm sorry," was all Eun Sang could manage, with a small nod of the head in apology. "Sorry," she added to the rest of the class for good measure.
The teacher gave her a huff, before returning to the lesson. Young Do would certainly feel her wrath later. He liked seeing her true face? Then he'd get a heavy dose of it. This punk didn't even know who he was messing with; video be damned, this was war.
Subtly turning to glace over her shoulder, she wasn't surprised to find him smirking even harder because his actions seemed to have annoyed Tan. But for the sake of the latter it was better for his health to stay away from the situation, or he'd suffer the backlash.
-~*+*~-:-o-:-~*+*~-
When Young Do spotted Tan coming down the other end of the hallway with that determined look he knew his rather enjoyable morning was going to be ruined. Their last conversation seemed to have not gotten through to the guy about dropping the heroics when it came to Eun Sang and that only he was allowed to play with her.
Aish, this punk. Couldn't he mind his own business? "It's seems like you're looking for pain and tears. Should I help you with this?" Young Do inquired with a characteristic smile that was likely to annoy the guy. It wasn't his fault though; Tan was the one who chose to block his way rather than walking on like a good boy.
"Do I have to repeat myself so you understand? Trying to attack me with Eun Sang isn't advisable. Don't waste your energy." His game with Eun Sang had nothing to do with Tan. In fact, Tan hadn't been on Young Do's radar for a while now, but he seemed starved for his attention it seemed.
He chuckled, "Why are you involving yourself so much? Is it that you miss me that you want my attention, friend? I'm so touched." They were long past the time either of them could tell the other what to do.
Young Do would do as he pleased.
"Don't bother Eun Sang. I'm warning you," Tan repeated getting in his face like that was meant to intimidate him. You can't intimidate intimidation, and Young Do was an embodiment of it. Couldn't Tan see that Eun Sang required no protection? She was likely to scratch his eyes out on her own for the stunt Young Do pulled in class. Were his heroics so important that he failed to see that he was a nuisance even greater that Young Do himself.
"Should I tremble in fear? You're attacking straight on. This isn't a good strategy. You should watch your knees instead," Young Do reminded him of the secrets he knew that could topple the guy should they pass his lips. "There are no rules on the mat, and I won't hold back if you continue to provoke me." With those words he sauntered off with no challenges. Yes, he wasn't that much of an ass to expose the idiot's secret, but Tan didn't know this and that was what counted.
For now he had a fox to see. He spotted her at the end of the lunch line, with her hair still up despite the dangers of that particular hairstyle. Just to prevent any food accidently on purpose landing on his clothing once again he snatched the plate from her and walked toward his table.
"What are you doing?" As expected she followed. The words were said in alarm, but her eyes were a blazing fire. He liked it. He even placed the plate right in front of her to taunt her with the possibility of repeating her noodles attack.
"What do you think? I want to eat with you," he replied with a smile. "Have you already forgotten our deal, friend?" Just that word, friend, and the nearby tables looked unable to contain their stir in belief that he'd attack the welfare student.
He didn't blame them. Eun Sang played the part of the terrified victim to an Oscar deserving degree, despite the sparks of anger that glinted dangerously in her eyes. She was livid, but unable to react. Yes he liked being one of the only ones to know her true persona, but that didn't stop him from trying to provoke it to the surface in public. "You're enjoying this right?" her tone was defiant but scared for their listening audience.
His lackey being the trusted servants they were forced the defiant fox into her seat. She looked ready to cry, or rather jump across the table and strangle him and his helpful sidekicks for good measure. Wasn't she pushing this act too much? Everyone would think he was a monster with the way she was shaking now. Ah, maybe it was the anger and fighting the urge to act was getting to her.
"Earlier in class, you should be more cautious. It almost seems like you begging me to destroy you," She spoke when she was sure no one heard. It always fascinated him on how she could deliver such deadly words, but maintained that scared kitten look.
Young Do chuckled, "Is it my fault that you react like this? Makes me want to find other places that are this sensitive," the octave drop characteristic of seduction slipped into his tone. Her jaw twitched; oh he'd meant the words just as they sounded. But that was for later when they were alone and she wasn't wearing her mask. He moved onto other matters, "Our Tan, seemed so upset about my actions. Have you been playing with him again, fox? I feel cheated."
"Do I have the time for another punk like you? Don't use me to play with him. I have nothing to do with him," she confirmed something that he already knew. That she was just as irritated with Tan's attention as he was with it.
"Really? I don't have anything to do with him either," he meant it. With Tan he hadn't even considered him until earlier today, and she seemed to be in consensus with him on that.
-~*+*~-:-o-:-~*+*~-
Eun Sang's irritation wasn't at the conversation, but at the fact that she had to sit being terrified instead of being able to teach a lesson about propriety. But her precarious hold on her façade was almost broken, when Tan came to loom over her looking pissed the hell off for some reason.
As if her day wasn't already bad.
"What is this?" he demanded, his voice booming. If the entire hall wasn't looking at them, they were now. Hadn't she made it clear to him that he should leave her alone?
"We are eating," Young Do kept his eyes on her, not even sparing the guy a glance.
"Get up!" the yell wasn't aimed at Young Do anymore, but her. Was he kidding her right now? If he was used to yelling at Rachel to get her to do what he wanted, that was his problem. As for her, she wasn't one to be yelled at or ordered around.
She remained seated. If they wanted to fight, they could fight. She refused to be involved.
As if on cue, Young Do threw down his fork and got in Tan's face. "What is this meal etiquette? Do I have to teach you manners in front of these people?" his face hard for the first time, making his sharply handsome features fiercer. It was clear he was spoiling for the fight Tan came looking for. But like she said she was staying out of it.
"Are you still sitting? Get up," Tan ignored the provocation to turn his attention to her, even grabbing her arm to pull her up as if she was a rag doll. She definitely wasn't going to have this, pulling her wrist from his hand and standing on her own.
She forced that scared, but proud welfare student routine through. Glaring at him with tear filled eyes, "I'm I a toy? If you want to fight go ahead. Don't involve me," she was ready to storm off in indignant anger, but of course the other punk in the situation wouldn't let that happen. Arm snaked around her waist and pulled her flush against his body.
"We're not finish, Transfer Student. Don't run away so earlier," his words vibrating against her crown, thumb caressing her waist through the uniform all in hope of taunting Tan further. He succeeded, Tan's fists balled in anger. "You're getting to comfortable because I have been nice to you these days. Do you want to test my patience?" Young Do provoked further.
The patience being tested was hers, grabbing his arm to pry it off her. His hold wasn't as secure as it could be and it came away easily. Chan Young and Hyo Shin finally arrived to pull apart the two idiots before they started a brawl.
She walked away from the scene, letting the two handle it. She needed to regroup and think on the situation, passing a glaring Rachel just emphasized the problems that lay ahead because of the altercation.
The roof seemed to be a good place as any to catch a breath. She still owed Young Do a smack for putting her in an uncomfortable situation in class, and that certainly wouldn't change. As for Tan, he didn't seem to understand her which meant she needed to find someone who would make him: Kim Won. They weren't on that level yet probably, but she needed Tan off her back, because it would in turn get Rachel off as well.
As if the trouble he had brought to her wasn't enough, her phone vibrated with Don't Answer scrolling across the screen. "What!" she yelled.
"Where are you? I'll come to you," he got straight to the point, not even teasing her like he usually did. He didn't sound angry, but he wasn't his usual amused self.
She sniggered hanging up. He can go play with someone else, she needed to think. If he wanted to find her, he could go search for her. Eun Sang certainly wasn't stupid enough direct him to whether she was especially when she was still thinking about slapping him.
It was better to avoid until she could think clearly without resorting to violence.
TBC