Chapter Text
There was a time before Sehun had turned 7 when he fell off a tree and couldn’t catch his breath. Those few seconds felt as if they had stretched for eternity as his lungs struggled to collect air again. His parents were scared he had fainted as his body was limp and lips a light blue hue. It took his best friend, the one that should not be named, to press his two small hands to his chest and help his body normalize again.
You saved my life, Myeonie.
I can’t live my life without you, Sehunnie.
The memory was so far away now, a past that Sehun didn’t even remember. Especially with the same man standing on the top of the stairs being introduced as the ‘new prince’.
Sehun felt limp. Just like he did all those years ago. While there were a load of thoughts clouding his mind at the moment, the most prominent one was the news reporters questioning the existence of him and his brother.
Were you the man the prince was spotted with?
Did you help with the prince’s plan to chase away his fiancé?
Sehun felt anger slowly boil in his gut. He spun around just in time to see the prince and his fiancé link hands and gracefully walk toward the bottom of the stairs.
The claps and the roars of cheers were much louder than all of the royal family members combined. He doesn’t know why, but the action angered Sehun more. Here before them was an unfaithful royal that they were openly supporting. But to be fair, everyone here must have been okay with his infidelity. Wealthy people were sure to have too much time on their hands.
Sehun turns his heel once more and walks outside of the dance hall. He doesn’t stop until he reaches the sound of trickling water and the sight of yellow tulip buds before him. At least this is pure and beautiful.
He took a seat by the edge of the waterfall. Letting his brain forget the moment that he just witnessed and calm his heart from jumping out of his chest. Sehun froze in place. Why was his heart beating so fast? It had been years since he had last seen Junmyeon and even then, with all the rumors he had heard about the man today, he did not want to meet him again. Whatever life Junmyeon chose to live now was none of Sehun’s business. Learning about where he was only made Sehun want to place even more distance between them.
He was frowning. He only noticed when he caught his reflection in the water. He rolled his eyes at his lack of restraint. His true emotion did not have to be shown on his face. Yet Sehun knew that his Junmyeon was never the type to want to be unfaithful to anyone. He was never the type to want to find a way to intentionally hurt someone else’s heart. But to be fair, Sehun only knew Junmyeon until he was 8.
Sehun grew tired of defending Junmyeon. He was a grown man. He was going to change. Sehun just had to be okay with it.
Or he didn’t. He could and still wish for the downfall of this evil royal.
Tracing the cool stone he was sitting on, Sehun noticed he was outlining a heart. God, it had been so long since he caught himself doing so. Perhaps Junmyeon’s sight was enough to make his heart go haywire.
Chanyeol tapped his shoulder a couple moments later, way after Sehun had calmed himself down and reflected over who he had revolved his love life around. His older brother only smiled knowing there was no visible irritation or pain in Sehun’s face. He invited him to the dance floor as the prince had requested for all bachelors to leave with someone tonight. Sehun rolled his eyes and decided to be his brother’s partner.
Sehun instantly regretted it.
Chanyeol danced too carefully, constantly looking down to ensure he wasn’t stepping on Sehun’s feet but would do so anyway as soon as he looked back up. Sehun was close to giving up all together but instead drew himself closer to his brother when he saw Jisoo appear.
She was stunning. Beyond as breathtaking as a starry night. She was sculpted to perfection with her cheekbones and eye creases curving at every right corner. She’d laugh with the people she’d converse with and even the sound that came out of her body was so pleasant.
Sehun’s heart almost shattered. How could someone plan on breaking her heart?
She took graceful strides across the room, making sure she greeted and familiarized herself with every guest in the palace. It was such a small selfless act that none of the other royal members had decided to do. Jisoo earned Sehun’s respect, and he prepared himself for when she went up to Chanyeol and Sehun next.
“Hi!” Jisoo greeted and bowed to the brothers.
Sehun and Chanyeol instantly bowed back and struggled to look at the future princess in the eye. Sehun was more nervous looking at her than at Jongin. It was a weird revelation, and the observation only made him question useless things.
“Welcome to the palace,” Jisoo spoke again before an uncomfortable silence settled between them.
The brothers bowed again, and Jisoo only smiled.
“I hope you’re enjoying the ball! I was nervous to be introduced for the first time.”
Sehun wasn’t sure why she was saying this. Maybe the small talk was needed to break the ice between them. But trying to respond back to Jisoo was hard in itself. Sehun found all his words stuck in the back of his throat.
“We are,” Chanyeol finally spoke, “And welcome to the royal family!”
The cheeriness made Jisoo give a more genuine smile. She took Chanyeol’s hands and enclosed them in hers.
“You’re the first to say that to me, thank you.”
“Really?” Sehun questioned. Out of the couple hundred people here, not a single soul even spared a small welcome to the future princess? Sehun only felt more uneasy as thoughts clouded his mind. Either the people did not care that Jisoo was new to the royal family or Junmyeon had made sure that she never felt welcomed by anyone. A shudder went through Sehun at the mere thought of Junmyeon planning on such evilness.
Jisoo sighed, a little too melancholy for Sehun’s liking, and grabbed onto Sehun’s hands. Her fingers felt light and fresh in his. A contrast to his rough and cracked baker hands. The small detail made Sehun feel him, and Jisoo were on different social statuses. Creating a disconnect between them, Sehun took a step back and let go of the future princess’ hands. Jisoo’s face faltered for a millisecond, but she composed herself and offered another small smile.
“You both should come to the dinner!”
🐰 🐥
They shouldn’t have come to the dinner. Sehun and Chanyeol were invited as Jisoo’s guests or as she excitedly exclaimed her friends and were required to sit near her at the royal banquet. Thankfully, being the extrovert that he is, Chanyeol was able to get along with the princess and the other guests just fine, even making some laugh their heart out.
Junmyeon sat on her right, and occasionally would glance at Chanyeol’s direction to get a glimpse of the new man. Chanyeol wasn’t exactly new to Junmyeon, so it was weird to see him look so intently at his brother.
Sehun found himself carefully observing Junmyeon. Analyzing every detail of his face, to his mannerisms, to even the way he glowed when Jisoo would talk about how great of a man he was.
The atmosphere felt so artificial and Sehun never shook off the feeling of being out of place. He had dropped his fork once, garnering harsh murmurs from the other guests and waiters. He had denied a glass of wine, which shocked even the queen as the wine was from “the best winery her great grandfather had worked so hard to create” (her exact words which made Sehun immediately feel bad). Even worse than all of these things combined, was the fact that Junmyeon never looked in Sehun’s direction. Never made any comments or any effort to acknowledge that he was in the room.
Did Junmyeon forget him?
Was it possible that Sehun had held onto this man for far too long?
Sehun no longer felt like eating. He wished there was a way to escape the mundane dinner as the conversation revolved around future plans for Junmyeon and how just “amazing” he was as a prince.
After rolling his eyes for a million times, he decided he needed to excuse himself.
To get some fresh air at least.
He walked out of the room and sprinted until he was back at the mini waterfall.
There were frogs in it now. Croaking a soft song and huddling next to each other for comfort. The sight made Sehun smile, and he wished for nothing more but to be in his bed swaddled by his own blankets.
And maybe Jongin by his side.
Jongin.
Sehun hadn’t heard from the boy since after he left the dance hall. He didn’t even know if he got home safely or what he was even doing at the royal ball.
Did Jongin end up leaving home with someone? After all, it was the prince’s plea for all single bachelors to find a partner. Sehun’s heart ached even more at the thought. But, if the man was happy, then Sehun was happy.
The song sung by the frogs began to die down, until there was only a faint buzz of the beetles nearby. Looking up, Sehun saw the moon shinning down at him, as if to remind him that there is still some light in his life. Whether that came in the form of his brother, who shone no matter where he was, in the form of Jongin, whose smile always lit up a room, or even his new friend, Jisoo, who’s heart was so pure and kind that it reminded Sehun there is still good in this world, the light that radiated from these individuals made Sehun feel content by their place in his life.
The sudden change in his heart made all the worries that had been accumulating, simply vanish. Sehun felt so light that he could stride into the dinner and simply become one with the rest of the group. He could. But should he?
The choice was already made for him when Jisoo ran out shouting his name.
“Hey, Sehun!” she called out as soon as she spotted him, “They’re about to announce some big news, come on!”
Sehun and Jisoo skipped alongside each other back into the banquet and smiled at one another as soon as they reached the table. Finally being acknowledged by someone made him feel better. Jisoo was definitely his friend now. A couple hours and genuine smiles are all it took to win over Sehun’s heart.
Junmyeon was not so lucky. His eyebrow rose at the sight of his fiancé and Sehun being giddy around each other. The friendliness made him change his initial plan.
“Thank you again for being here,” Junmyeon began and rose from his chair to stand front and center of his guests, “As you know, I’ll be going down to the town tomorrow to formally introduce myself to the people. I’ll be hosting a party. And,” Junmyeon clasps his hands together, “I will be requesting for the mighty Park Chanyeol to guide me through it all.”
Chanyeol jumped in his seat, out of pure excitement and glee and ran to shake the prince’s hand. The sudden bolt of energy surprised Junmyeon, but he accepted the eagerness as a tool of advantage.
"Thank you so much mighty prince! I won't let you down."
Junmyeon half embraced Chanyeol and his new companion rushed to complete the hug. Junmyeon smiled and felt like it was all falling into place.
He needed everyone to like him.
And Junmyeon meant everyone.