Disclaimer: I don't own The Heirs.
Title: Queen of the Game
Chapter Count: 11/?
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.
When she descended from the roof she was much more controlled than when she'd gone there. With her mind clear she got her books and headed for the next class just within the time limit. Which help her avoided dealing with Rachel, Young Do and Tan who were all looking at her like they had something to say.
It wasn't surprising that the gossiping mouths around her were alleging a love square and, apparently, her fault in a possible break in the Tan-Rachel engagement. This had been the main problem with Tan involving himself in things and acting unnecessarily protective, it stirred up rumors about them being together. Their names combined in that sort of way wouldn't do with Rachel and would complicate her life.
Her phone had been purposely switched off to avoid the onslaught of messages she was likely to receive. The teacher began the lesson by announcing the upcoming leadership retreat, and needing confirmation by the end of the week on attendance.
The seat she'd selected was near the front and assured a quick escape, and distance from Young Do's usual antics since he preferred sitting toward the back. Being the Korean Language lesson it didn't require brain power. Subconsciously taking down dictation she would review later to understand because for the moment her mind was working overtime to figure out how to execute her plans.
Whether it was perceptiveness or otherwise, Young Do hadn't approach her after class. Chan Young didn't give Tan the chance to talk to her either by whisking her away to the library to study for the coming week's examination during personal study time. Her phone remained off for the duration to ensure to no interruption, only turning it on when she crossed the main gate with Chan Young.
It didn't surprise her that she had calls and messages from Chan Young, Tan and Young Do. Tan demanding she stay after class so they can talk, Young Do telling her that their conversation wasn't over and Chan Young asking where she was and if she was okay.
She deleted all of them.
"Hyung?" Chan Young's uncertain call was the only thing that forced her to look up from the screen, curious about whom he was addressing. At first she didn't see anything and was about to ask him when she spotted him leaning against a black bike.
Is it really… his hair was certainly longer than the last time she'd seen him, and his bike was a newer model. But it was him. His eyes clashing with hers from across the way confirmed it, if nothing else.
Chan Young was already at his side greeting him when Eun Sang realized she'd stopped moving. The shock, anger and hurt bombarding her mind rendering her subconsciously motionless. The old her, the one he'd abandoned, would have been over there with Chan Young tears and all. But the new her didn't allow such weakness, tempering down any emotion she slide into a carefully constructed mask of indifference. With a turn left, she walked away even as Chan Young called after her, pace unhurried because she wasn't running away. She was walking away from him like he did to her.
"Cha Eun Sang," His unmistakable voice called to her. He was right behind her, but she ignored it and walked on. Forced to a stop only when he got in her way, "Eun Sang-ah–"
"–She's not here. Eun Seok, it's what you came for, right?" he didn't get to call her that or in any other informal way. Whatever accompanied her name, she didn't want to hear. "Go look for her in California. It's where that bitch hiding. I'll leave first."
"You won't allow me to apologize?"
"I don't need it anymore," her icy cold voice stunned him, obviously not accustomed to her speaking to him that way. "Ah, Moon Jae Shin, don't go see mother. It will just hurt her when you leave again."
As if seeing Moon Jae Shin wasn't enough there was Young Do on his bike a little further down the road watching her intently. Ordinarily she would have walked on right passed him with her head held high, and a damn not given. But she needed her mind off her encounter with Jae Shin and what better distraction, than beginning her plan to outplay Young Do at his own game.
She didn't have to fake annoyance and trepidation as she approached him. Taking the helmet that sat behind him, she mounted the bike. "Just go," she instructed when he seemed surprised by her compliance.
You wanted to play Choi Young Do? Let's play.
-~*+*~-:-o-:-~*+*~-
Young Do wasn't happy about her hanging up on him, but it was a small matter he could address later. The measured mask she walked in to the classroom with after disappearing for the rest of lunch was one of barely controlled calm. Taking a seat at the front of the class than the usual seat she preferred toward the back. He wasn't the only one that noticed this though; Tan, Rachel and Chan Young watched just as closely.
Tan watched because, well, he was looking to make himself an even bigger unintentional nuisance.
Rachel watched in annoyance because the speculation around them suggested Eun Sang was some sort of flower snake playing both him and Tan, but mostly because they were associating his fox and Tan as a set.
Chan Young watched in concern for his friend obviously unhappy about the words about his friend, even if it was much to Bo Na's annoyance. Funnily enough the MEGA Entertainment heir was spotting her own version of concern too, even if it was overwhelmed by irritation.
The lesson began with the teacher announcing the upcoming leadership retreat, which he would skip like he did every year. It was enough dealing with the other students on a daily basis; he preferred not prolonging the torture of a camp with them. Besides, it always gave him time to do whatever he wanted away from not only them, but his father as well.
When the bell rang indicating the end of class and beginning of personal study time, Tan was one of the first on his feet intention clearly was to catch Eun Sang before she left. All thwarted when Chan Young by passed him guiding her outside, while Bo Na walked after with Ye Sol. He would have sauntered after, but Rachel had other ideas.
"How will getting rid of her benefit me?" Young Do asked, after Rachel once again prompted him to get rid of Eun Sang. "I think you're misunderstanding something Yoo Rachel. I'm not your shuttle to do what you want. The photo shoot, cancelling it benefited me. Transfer student leaving doesn't benefit me."
She looked displeased at his inaction, which obviously wasn't his problem. Her problem was Tan, not even Eun Sang at this point. The sooner she realized it, the sooner her life would be less uncomfortable.
He'd made it to the door, when she spoke. "Should I do it then?"
"That would be a bad move, step sister," he didn't even say it because he'd do something, but her supposed victim would definitely do more than make Rachel go through trash again. "She's mine. Don't make things unpleasant when we will become related."
"What is she giving you that you defend her so much?" she asked again, preventing his exit. "Isn't her attracting Tan to you a problem?" It was unfortunate that she still held onto Tan for dear life, when he'd shown no desire for her. There was nothing between Tan and Eun Sang, but the guy used her as a crutch to rid him of an engagement he was too scared to say he didn't want with no regard of the two women involved.
"Entertainment," he answered with a grin. "Should I advise you? The problem you have is Kim Tan. Don't protect his name and attack others, Rachel. You'll only lose in the end."
"Do understand now?" Choi Young Do approached Tan for what he hoped would be the last time, who was obviously listening to the latest speculation going around the halls about his stupidity in the cafeteria. "Every time you concern yourself with her life, you just cause problems. Leave her alone to me and concern yourself with your own life. Have your forgotten your commitment to Yoo Rachel? Is embarrassing her with rumors the honorable thing to do?"
Tan looked at him, "You sound like you care for my life? Be careful or I might actually start to believe this." Trying to get around him to chase after Eun Sang, but Young Do stepped in his way.
"Are you pretending not to understand? Will you pick her from the streets when your father puts her there? If your engagement doesn't push through, and these useless words being spoken reach the chairman's ears. Will it be you to suffer or the housekeeper's daughter? Think clearly before playing the hero. It's pissing me off. I'll leave first."
Most of the kids were still in the library trying to cram as much study time as they could for the coming examination week. Young Do wasn't one to bother when everything was already in his head, leaving the school gate to wait for his little fox. She couldn't expect him to leave things when she already broke the rules of their deal.
He'd noticed the long haired guy by the black bike but hadn't given him much importance, dismissing him as one of the girls' boyfriends. It wasn't beyond these Gangnam princesses to rebel using a bad boy, before settling into their arranged marriages.
Car after car left ferrying their little prince or princess home, even Tan's who seemed to have heard his words. He didn't have to wait long as Eun Sang finally emerged with Chan Young. The guy by the bike seemed to straighten and smirk at the sight of them. Chan Young noticed him and approached him first. His fox however looked frozen and pale, eyes trained on the guy and his on her.
Just as she easily slipped in and out of her docile persona, the shock and hurt faded into nothing. A mask of steely stoicism as she walked toward him, eyes looking forward but not seeing him. The guy was persistent, but his fox said something that stopped him in his tracks.
Then she was walking toward him with the same air of annoyance she always seemed to have around him, climbing up behind him without a word, helmet in hand. When he turned to her with questioning eyes, she her only words were, "Just go."
-~*+*~-:-o-:-~*+*~-
Young Do already knew her schedule and dropped her off at Mango 6 for her shift. As per her usual attitude, she was ready to flounce off without a word but they weren't done. Catching her wrist, he pulled her back to face him. "What kind of manners is this? Is 'thank you' so hard?" he asked looking into those irritated brown eyes.
"Thank you," she deadpanned not even bothering to hide the attitude.
Once again she attempted to walk away, but he held firm and pulled her closer still. Thumb caressing her wrist gentle causing her pulse to jump in response and her breath hitched slightly. Another sensitive spot? She was just a ball of sensitivity. "You keep forgetting two of our rules, fox. Answer when I call. Talk to me when I talk to you. Which one is hard?"
"Do you really want the answer?" was her response with an eyebrow raised in mocking.
"If you won't answer that, then answer this. Before, who was the guy?" He was curious about the guy who could affect her so much that she forgot all about masks and brave fronts. Just an allusion to the guy, and the same pain flashed through her brown eyes, but it was gone almost immediately to give way to nonchalance that matched with the poker face.
She sniggered, "Are you going to continue asking me useless things? I have to start work and you're delaying me." Her attempts to free herself failed. He wasn't letting her go until he got an answer.
"Do you think it's a request? Yah, fox aren't you taking your situation to lightly?"
"Still doesn't make this any of your business," that wild cat side of her brimming at the surface, her voice dropped a dangerous octave warning him to tread careful. "You can keep me here as long as you want. My answers won't change."
"Are provoking me?" He grinned, eyes sliding to trace her lips slowly. "I can promise you the answer will come from your lips," and what do you know, blush rose from her neck to cover her cheeks. Just as slowly as they slid off her eyes to take in her lips, he returned his eyes to hers. "Want to see?" An eyebrow raised in mocking and daring, just to annoy her.
He stepped closer until their faces were whispers away, eyes never leaving his. Was his fox becoming even bolder? "Intimidation by seduction or proximity won't work on me. So don't try." Every word spoken sent a brush of breath against his lips, her eyes fierce with enough fire to burn him alive if he dared.
Despite himself his heart skip a beat. "Are you finally fighting back fox? Because I'm ready to bite." Did she really think this was seduction? Oh he hadn't even brushed the surface of seduction. "I told you to be careful about playing with snakes."
"Then I should warn you about fire," he hated to admit it, but she had his anticipation –not that he let it show in his eyes or face. He focused his attention on those brown eyes, looking into hers. "Because you don't seem to think you can get burned."
"Fox, are you really saying such things? Makes me want to play even more."
With even more daring, she moved to whisper in his ear. "Let's play."
Author's Note: So yeah…