Chapter Text
Wishing that he could say that he’d never before wanted to smash a hot frying pan against his roommate’s face, Baekhyun frowned down at the stove in front of him. He fought off the familiar urge almost every morning. Things were supposed to be simple. He got up, showered, got dressed for school, and then made breakfast. The only things Jongdae was responsible for were getting the mail and getting himself dressed, which Baekhyun really would kill him if the boy stopped dressing himself.
Cooking the last of the eggs in the pan, Baekhyun glanced back at the hallway. It was still empty. There weren’t any sounds coming from Jongdae’s room. “I swear, one of these days I really will dump a bucket of water over his head.”
Shutting off the stove, Baekhyun threw the omelets he’d made onto a couple of plates before rushing out of the apartment with his keys. Having the mail in the morning made it less of a distraction for Baekhyun throughout the day. “Seriously, Jongdae. You have one job. Just one!”
Grumbling as he climbed back up the stairs so he could finally eat his breakfast, Baekhyun shifted through the envelopes in his hand without actually seeing who they were from or for. The moment he entered the kitchen and found Jongdae already eating, he lost his composure. “Oh. Oh. Good morning, Chen. Glad to see you could make it out of bed.”
Knowing full well that he was about to be bitched at, Chen smiled with his mouth closed as he enjoyed the eggs that Baekhyun had prepared. His mouth was a bit full, but he answered the greeting anyway. “Morning.”
Scowling, Baekhyun dropped into his seat and pulled his plate in front of him. “Seriously, Jongdae, is it that hard to get up on time to do your part? I made breakfast. You should get the mail.”
The use of his real name made Chen sigh. He hadn’t meant to stay up so late the night before, but his late-night comedy shows were too alluring to be shut off. “But if I got the mail every morning, I wouldn’t get to hear you yell at me. You’re even cuter when you’re mad.”
“Don’t you dare! You and I both know that I can kick your ass. You aren’t sweet-talking your way out of this one. You know that I don’t like not knowing what came for us and it isn’t that hard to be up on time. Five extra minutes of sleep isn’t that much. Just get up!”
Staring at the fork directed at his face, Chen couldn’t help but smile sheepishly. Hoping to change the subject away from his wrongdoings, for now, he looked across the table to the pile of envelopes beside Baekhyun’s plate. “What did we get this morning, anyhow? There’s a lot there.”
Huffing out a breath of air, Baekhyun grumbled some more as he shoved half of his breakfast in his mouth so he had something to chew while properly looking through the mail once more. Bill, advertisement, junk, junk, bill. Baekhyun paused in his shuffles to stare at the envelop sitting innocently among the rest. Swallowing hard, he forced the food out of his mouth and down his throat before looking up to connect his gaze with Chen’s puzzled one. “Uh, it’s from the Do’s estate. Why would Kyungsoo’s grandfather send us a letter?”
Crossing over to the other side of the table, Chen looked over Baekhyun’s shoulder before nudging the male. “Open it and we’ll find out.”
With shaking fingers, Baekhyun flipped over the envelope to lift the back flap from where it’d been glued shut. The last time he and Chen had seen Kyungsoo they’d been told to be nice to the heir of such a large company. They’d expected Kyungsoo to be rather spoiled and arrogant, but the boy was quiet and shy. Things had been awkward for a while, but Baekhyun and Chen had been warned that they needed to impress the young master or their parents would suffer the consequences.
However, that was some years ago and for the Do’s to be contacting them now didn’t make much sense. Either way, Baekhyun pulled out the letter for him and Chen to read together.
Byun Baekhyun and Kim Jongdae,
My grandson, Kyungsoo, has grown up on our grounds out in the country. This being the case, he hasn’t had much exposure to the outside world. He is to take over the family business when he becomes of age. In order for Kyungsoo to understand how the rest of the world works, I’m sending him to live with you. He will attend your school and live in your apartment with the two of you.
I’m trusting you to look after my grandson while making certain that he experiences what it is like to attend a real high school. Under no circumstances are you to be like servants for him. He is making this move to learn more, not to be pampered.
Due to Kyungsoo moving in with little preparation or knowledge on your part, I will be paying for your rent for as long as Kyungsoo lives with you. A monthly check will be sent to your address to help pay for groceries as well. I expect receipts for everything you spend my money on so that I’m aware of the usage and to know that you aren’t spending money you didn’t earn on things for yourselves.
Please understand and help Kyungsoo.
Sincerely,
Do
Staring at the paper in his roommate’s hands, Chen read over a few lines for a second time to make certain he understood them correctly. “So, we’re getting another roommate and free rent.”
“Can we refuse?”
“Baek, don’t be like that. Kyungsoo is cool, remember?”
Sighing, Baekhyun dropped the letter by his half-finished breakfast. “I know, but he still comes from an overly privileged background. Even if his grandfather doesn’t believe in letting Kyungsoo spend money he hasn’t earned, Kyungsoo has never actually had to want for anything. He’s been taken care of.”
“Which is exactly why the old man wants to send him here. His letter is extremely firm in saying that Kyungsoo will be coming here to live with us and we have to make certain he goes to school. We’re not being paid to be his friends or anything, though I’ll still be nice to him since he’s cool.”
Letting out another sigh, Baekhyun wished he could eat the rest of his breakfast and forget about the third person coming to live with them. Kyungsoo really wasn’t that bad. Baekhyun actually liked the boy; it was the extra stuff that came with their new roommate. Chen and Baekhyun would have to be careful once more in case something got back to Grandfather Do that made the old man unhappy and he took it out on their parents. That and keeping track of what they spent the money on. “You make it sound like I’m going to push him down the stairs or something. I’m going to be nice to him, too. We don’t even know when he’s coming, though.”
Realizing that Baekhyun was right, Chen snatched the letter off the table to look through what it said once more. Besides reading what he already had, Chen found no new information on the piece of paper. “I guess we’ll just have to be ready then.”
Glancing over at the clock on their stove, Baekhyun groaned before pushing himself up from his spot. “We have to go or we’re going to be late. I guess we’ll just get things ready in the third room tonight. Your junk is going to have to find a new home.”
“Hey! That stuff isn’t junk.”
Grinning, Baekhyun led the way to the door to grab his backpack and slip on his shoes with a pouting Chen right behind him. “Whatever you say, Chen Chen.”
XXX
Mind focused and prepared for the lessons he had that day, Kyungsoo was surprised when a servant came to inform him that his grandfather wanted to see him. Dropping everything, the heir made his way through the long hallways of their large house to his grandfather’s study. There was nowhere else the old man would be. “You called for me?”
“Kyungsoo, come and sit.”
As always, Kyungsoo obeyed his grandfather instantly. Placing his hands on his thighs, Kyungsoo sat with perfect posture in front of his grandfather’s desk.
The old man took in the sight of his grandson before letting out a tired sigh. There were so many things that Kyungsoo needed to learn and be exposed to before he was truly ready to take over anything. Being this far out in the country might be peaceful like the old man wanted, but it was causing his grandson to grow up in a sheltered environment. “Do you remember Baekhyun and Jongdae?”
Searching through his memories, Kyungsoo nodded as two faces floated up in his thoughts. He’d had to meet a lot of people during his life. People that worked for his grandfather and people that wanted to work with him. Baekhyun and Jongdae stood out in Kyungsoo’s memory only because he remembered spending time with the two as just friends and not anything more or less. They were the only two he actually had. “Yes, are they coming for another visit?”
Shuffling some papers on his desk, the older man hid his smile. “Not quite. You will be seeing them again.”
Nodding, Kyungsoo knew better than to argue against anything his grandfather said. “Okay.”
Stacking the papers in his hands to the side, Grandfather Do folded his now empty hands in front of him on his desk before leaning forward to look properly at his grandson. “Kyungsoo, you’ll be taking over when you’re older. You and I both know this. Everyone knows this. In order to prepare you, I’m sending you to live with Baekhyun and Jongdae. They rent a small apartment in the city near their high school. You’ll be living with them while attending school. They’re prepared to help you out, but they aren’t servants. Do you understand?”
Kyungsoo was stunned. Shocked really couldn’t cover the emotions that he was feeling. Part of him was very excited. He got to see Jongdae and Baekhyun again and even live with them, but at the same time, he had to leave their family home. He’d gone on trips with his grandfather or his mother before but never had he actually lived somewhere else. Kyungsoo couldn’t help but be a little nervous. “Yes, grandfather.”
The older man knew that that was the best reaction he was going to get out of his grandson. He’d watched Kyungsoo grow up for long enough to understand that Kyungsoo wasn’t the best at expressing himself. However, he also knew that his grandson was excited by the thought of getting to go. “Your mother isn’t exactly happy with my decision. You should see her before you go. Your city clothes have already been packed and are ready for your departure. You start school on Monday.”
Nodding his head, Kyungsoo knew that the half a week he had before starting at his new school was going to pass quickly. “I understand, is there anything else?”
Sighing, his grandfather shook his head. “Do well, Kyungsoo.”
Giving the older man a small smile, Kyungsoo stood from his chair before bowing. “I will make you proud.”
After the younger boy left his study, the older man let out another sigh. “You already do.”
Since the servants were taking care of packing his city clothes, Kyungsoo made his way through the estate to his mother’s garden. He couldn’t help but feel excited about leaving his hanboks and sandals behind for jeans and t-shirts, even if it meant also leaving his family.
His mother, Kyungsoo found, was in her garden. She stood beside the small pond, watching the water. “Momma?”
Turning to her son, the older woman gave Kyungsoo a sad smile. “Did you speak with your grandfather?”
“Yes.”
Looking back at the flowers that her son liked to take care of, his mother held back her emotions. This was a decision out of her hands. Besides that, she wanted the best for Kyungsoo. “You have to go and study hard to make him proud. Be nice to Baekhyun and Jongdae. They’re your friends, Kyungsoo. Not servants.”
A bit annoyed by the fact that everyone thought they needed to tell him that, Kyungsoo nodded at his mother’s words. He knew that she didn’t want him to go. His grandfather telling him had little to do with it since he could see her anguish. “I will. I can come back and visit, Momma. Maybe I’ll bring back other friends with me.”
Smiling back at her son, his mother couldn’t help but hope that her boy made some real friends. Servants and tutors weren’t the proper company for Kyungsoo. “I’ll be waiting for you. I have a present before you go.”
Kyungsoo returned his mother’s smile as she pulled out a small box from one of the folds of her hanbok. “What is it?”
Laughing, the older woman moved closer to her son to pass the box to him. “Open it and find out. I already have permission from your grandfather for you to have this.”
The small box held a phone. Kyungsoo knew what they were and had a few opportunities to hold one but had never owned one. “For me?”
Laughing again, the older woman pulled her son in for a short hug. “So you can call me whenever you get lonely.”
Nodding his head, Kyungsoo returned the hug before examining his new cell phone. The small device wasn’t one of the newest or of the highest technology, but it was still his and he couldn’t wait to use it. “I’ll take good care of it, Momma.”
“Good, now go get ready to leave. Your grandfather is sending you in the morning. You’ll have the weekend to prepare for your new school. Don’t forget to call me often.”
With one more hug, Kyungsoo rushed off to his rooms. His excitement was only building.
XXX
Dragging his feet into their school, Baekhyun let out another sigh. The day was going to be long, especially since he didn’t know the arrival of his soon-to-be roommate. All of his worries were pushed right out of his head as long arms wrapped around his chest from behind and his feet were lifted from the ground.
“Good morning, Baek. Happy Thursday!”
“Hi, Chanyeol.”
Placing his best friend back on his feet, Chanyeol spun the shorter boy to face him. “Why is my Baek so gloomy this morning? Did Chen oversleep again?”
Not wanting to be scolded some more, Chen suddenly found that he had somewhere else to be. “See you guys later!”
Baekhyun scowled at his roommate’s back as the boy ran off. “You just reminded me that I was angry with him for that, but that’s not what’s bothering me. Do Kyungsoo is going to move in with us.”
Lifting an eyebrow, Chanyeol pulled his smaller friend along the hallway to their first class. “But I thought you said you liked him?”
Sighing, Baekhyun tried to figure out how to explain himself. “I do like him. He’s a nice guy and everything. It’s just the pressure that’s going to be put on me by my parents to make certain I don’t do anything to offend him since he’s the heir of his grandfather’s company. I don’t want more stress.”
If there was one thing Chanyeol was good at, it was understanding Byun Baekhyun. Another thing was making him feel better. “If you like Kyungsoo and think he’s all right then why would he think any differently of you? I’m sure that he’s pressured a lot by his parents, too, so he won’t want that pressure to be on you. Are we going to give him a warm welcome?”
The smile on Chanyeol’s face turned devious, though Baekhyun just smushed his hands against it and sighed. “We can’t do that to him. Kyungsoo has never gone to a normal high school before. I’m supposed to make certain he gets the proper experience.”
Pulling the hands on his face away, Chanyeol couldn’t help but grin. “There isn’t anything that we do except help people experience things.”
Baekhyun was about to respond to that comment when the people in front of them in the hallway suddenly split apart to make room for a certain Kim Jongin, better known as Kai, to walk down the hall. Smirking, Baekhyun jerked his head toward the other boy while sending Chanyeol a wink. “OUT OF THE WAY PEOPLE! THE GOD! THE ONE! THE ONLY! KAI IS COMING THROUGH!”
Throwing himself to his knees, Chanyeol began bowing only to lift himself up and bow back down. “WE ARE NOT WORTHY!”
Following his best friend’s actions, Baekhyun joined the call as they allowed Kai to pass them by in the hall. People started to snicker after Kai was actually gone but most sent them scowls. Some people just didn’t understand why Baekhyun and Chanyeol chose to treat Kai that way. The man was walking sexiness and everyone wanted him.
Unable to help himself, Chanyeol let out a loud whisper so plenty of people around him and Baekhyun would hear what he was saying. “I heard he banged three girls in the bathroom this morning.”
“Only three?” Baekhyun whispered back to his taller friend. “He must have been tired after clubbing all night and picking up college chicks.”
The two shared evil grins as they quickly left the hallway. The information they’d just dropped about Kai was already spreading through the rest of the school’s population, though none of the other students were really surprised. Kim Jongin was known for his flings.
Word spread so quickly that it beat the ever careful Kai to his classroom. The boy may have refused to look at anyone or speak, but that didn’t mean he was deaf. His chosen silence and refusal to look at his peers or his teachers came from the fact that if he did, lots of screaming happened and people tended to faint and Jongin really didn’t appreciate all the noise. He liked the quiet, which was why he didn’t argue against any of the rumors that always seemed to spread about him. He wasn’t even sure where the nickname, Kai, came from. Most of them just made him feel embarrassed anyhow. One spread right after he decided to stop looking at people, saying that the reason he kept his eyes on the ground was because if he looked at any of his peers, they’d orgasm right then and there. Jongin thought it ridiculous but his classmates seemed to believe it. Again, he didn’t argue against it.
Slipping into the double desk that he sat at alone, Jongin readied himself for another day. His eyes remained on his desk for most of his lesson, occasionally slipping up to look at the board so he could write down notes.
When the bell rang for lunch, Jongin quietly slipped out of his desk and left the room to find some secluded spot to eat the small lunch he always packed for himself. He hadn’t made the mistake of going into the cafeteria for a long time. His absence from the busy room only sparked more rumors, but Jongin wasn’t going to try and explain the truth. Who wanted their classmates to know that they usually ate lunch alone in an unused classroom or an empty bathroom or his dorm? Jongin thought it was embarrassing.