Chapter Text
The bright light from the chandelier in the large dinning hall of the Park Family illuminates the quiet atmosphere of their usual family dinner this Sunday night. A variety of food was served on the table that is being occupied by twenty people, mostly Jeongwoo’s cousins and their parents. Despite the dinning hall being occupied by this many people, not a single one of them has dared to speak. Knowing the standards of their huge family, no one should talk while in front of the food.
Being part of a very popular and powerful family the Parks can be exhausting. Just like how Jeongwoo feels right now. Jeongwoo is the type of person who hates being controlled. He does things on his own way, not minding any of the virtues that their family has been practicing for years now. But of course, Jeongwoo would always hear her mother’s sermon for being careless and doing things that could taint the perfect family image they’ve been protecting since then.
One single cough from his brother, Park Jihoon, had made every single person in the dinning hall look at him, low-key judging him for not showing etiquette while sitting right in front of the food. Park Jihoon, being the I don’t care boy that he is shrugs and continues eating his remaining food not giving much attention to the eyes that was watching him.
The servants came to the dinning hall when everyone was done with their food. They cleaned every single bit of dirt on the table, not leaving any kind of dirt on the table knowing how meticulous Jeongwoo’s mother is when it comes to cleanliness.
Jeongwoo’s mother clears her throat, loud enough for everyone to look at her direction, which was her intention. Everyone started sitting properly, his mother was checking on each member of the family while she was on her seat. It is one of their family meetings every after Sunday dinners, a time where they discuss specific family events for them to prepare.
“So as you all know, father will be celebrating his 75th birthday next month. And I think we should make a plan as early as now. Everything has to be perfect, even the smallest of details has to be perfect. Media will be there, they will try to look for an imperfection within our family, so I am expecting each one of us to act in way that they won’t be able to see any imperfections.” The moment Jeongwoo’s mother opened her mouth, Jeongwoo knew that she will be talking about “perfect” and repeat it for god knows how many times.
Jeongwoo rolled his eyes. He hates how his family always seeks for the media’s validation. He hates how they need to be perfect when in fact they know to themselves, they are far from the perfection that they’ve been trying to maintain.
The conversation goes on and on. They plotted every single detail of their grandfather’s birthday. They decided to hold the celebration on a villa that is located in the far south of the city because there’s no way they will be letting media enter their mansion.
Just as Jeongwoo thought that the meeting is about to end, his mother suddenly called his name, making everyone divert their attention to Jeongwoo who was playing on his phone at that very moment.
“Jeongwoo.” His mother called him. Jeongwoo quickly turned of his phone, slightly pissed because the game he was playing is an online game and his teammates might be needing him right now. “Your grandfather wants his favorite grandson to play piano on his birthday celebration, which is you.” His mother said.
What the fuck… Jeongwoo cursed on his mind.
Park Jihoon laughed after hearing what his mother just said. “Jeongwoo doesn’t know how to play piano. Neither anyone of us knows how to. That would be a ridiculous request to ask from our grandfather.” He said.
Jihoon knows that Jeongwoo won’t be able to answer his mother in front of the whole family so he did it for Jeongwoo. His brother never played piano, neither studied playing it. Playing instruments was never a thing for this family, so Jihoon doesn’t know why all of a sudden they want Jeongwoo to play the piano.
Jeongwoo shakes his head in disbelief. “I can’t play piano. I know how to play a guitar, but just the basics, I still can’t play a whole song, but I am in the process of learning. But if you want me to play the piano, I am very sorry but I don’t know magic. I am no magician. Maybe find another person to play the piano for grandpa?” Jeongwoo spoke.
“Of course, you are not a magician. But father made it clear when I talked to him through the phone that he wants you, Jeongwoo, to play the piano for his birthday.” His mother responded.
Jeongwoo felt burdened after hearing that his mother is really pushing him to play the piano in his grandfather’s birthday. He loves his grandfather so much and he can’t go against his will even if he knows nothing about how to play the piano.
“Okay.” Jeongwoo sighs. He felt like he went through a boxing match and was knocked out in the last round. There’s nothing he can do anymore, but to obey his grandfather. “But how am I supposed to learn how to play piano in a month?” Jeongwoo asked.
His mother smiles, and Jeongwoo doesn’t like it when she does that smile. “There’s always a solution for every problem my son. I’ve talked to one of the Kim’s grandson. He is the same age with you, or maybe a little older? But nonetheless, he said he is willing to help you learn how to play the piano within a month, maybe you will gain another friend in him.” His mother said.
Of course, the Kim family will always be involved. It’s been years and the Parks has been trying to establish a strong friendship with the Kim’s. “Okay, then I guess I will just meet that Kim guy soon so I can get piano lessons from him.” Jeongwoo said.
Jeongwoo’s mom smiled. “Then I guess everything is settled for now. Thank you for joining our family dinner.” Everyone stood from their seats and started leaving the dinning hall.
Jeongwoo moved lazily. He felt like he lost all of his energy after being burdened of learning how to play piano within a month. He knows it’s all for their family to brag. It was just to show off. They want to proudly say that one in their family knows how to play piano.
Jeongwoo walked through the hallways, heading towards the part of the house where he and his brother’s rooms can be found. Jeongwoo was startled when suddenly hand rested on his shoulder. Jeongwoo turned to look for whoever owns the hand. It was one of his cousins, Park Jisung
“Good luck on learning how to play piano.” Jisung pulled Jeongwoo for a hug. He is one of the few cousins who Jeongwoo genuinely cared for. Jisung has a very bright personality. And Jeongwoo finds comfort in him most of the time.
Jisung let’s go of Jeongwoo and smiled at him. “I hope I can learn in no time.” Jeongwoo said. Jisung tapped his shoulder. “I know you can. Don’t burden yourself so much.” Jisung smiles again before living the hallway, going the opposite direction which will lead him outside of the mansion. Jeongwoo on the other hand continued walking towards his room, slightly happier than before after receiving a hug from his cousin.
The next day, Jeongwoo woke up with someone hugging him while sleeping on his bed. He wasn’t sure who it was. He can’t clearly see who it was since he just woke up and the person’s face was buried on the pillows beside him. Jeongwoo scratches his eyes carefully, trying to have a much clearer view of who was beside him.
Jeongwoo smiled once he knew who it was. It was his boyfriend, Haruto Watanabe, lying beside him. Jeongwoo wondered what his boyfriend was doing on their house so early in the morning. He removed Haruto’s hand that were hugging him earlier to allow himself to get up from bed.
Haruto moved once Jeongwoo got up from bed. He opened his eyes, searching for the boy that was beside him earlier. He saw Jeongwoo sitting on the edge of the bed while looking at him. Haruto smiles at the sight of Jeongwoo’s messy hair.
Haruto gets up from Jeongwoo’s bed and moved closer to his boyfriend. He pulled Jeongwoo closer to him, allowing him to hug him again. Jeongwoo rested his chin on Haruto’s shoulder. Haruto’s hands traveled to Jeongwoo’s back, pulling him much closer.
“Why are you here so early in the morning?” Jeongwoo asks his boyfriend who is being extra clingy right now.
“I don’t know. I woke up and it’s raining. I felt like I need cuddles today so I went here after taking a bath.” Haruto said.
“Did my mom saw you?” Jeongwoo removes his chin on Haruto’s shoulders and faced Haruto, their faces were so close to the point that they can almost feel each others breathing.
“Yeah. She did saw me. But like usual, he didn’t greet me or even smiled at me.” Haruto sighs. Jeongwoo felt like he needed to comfort him, so now it was Jeongwoo’s turn to pull Haruto closer and hug him.
“You know she is always like that right? Cold-hearted and always acts tough. Just don’t mind her.” Jeongwoo taps his boyfriend’s back.
They stayed like that for about a minute. Jeongwoo and Haruto surely enjoys hugging each other. Haruto loves Jeongwoo’s hugs cause it makes him feel warm and all, while Jeongwoo finds comfort in hugging Haruto.
“Don’t you think you need to eat your breakfast now?” Haruto asks. Jeongwoo breaks their hug and stood up from his bed. “Yeah, I’m hungry. How about you? Do you want anything for breakfast?” Jeongwoo asked Haruto this time.
“Anything my Jeongwoo cooks will turn out great and delicious. So anything will do.” Jeongwoo felt his heart melt at his boyfriends words. He rolls his eyes, trying to hide any obvious reactions.
Haruto was holding Jeongwoo’s hand while they were walking through the hallway of the huge mansion of the Park Family. It was raining outside, so Jeongwoo thought that most of his cousins are still sleeping because it was unusual for their mansion to be quiet in the morning since his cousins love shouting at each other, forgetting every damn thing about being perfect since no eyes from the elders are watching them.
“What a sight to see. A couple holding hands and walking slowly like they are walking in the moon, while I am peacefully eating my breakfast. Now it tastes bitter…” Jeongwoo’s brother, Jihoon said when both of them had reached the dinning hall.
Jeongwoo rolls his eyes at his brother. Jeongwoo let’s go of Haruto’s hands and went near his brother, poking his cheeks. “So my dear brother, what’s for breakfast?” Jeongwoo asked.
Jihoon snaps at Jeongwoo and he harshly removed Jeongwoo’s finger that was poking his cheeks earlier. “Look at the fridge and cook for yourselves. Seeing couples so early in the morning makes me wanna puke so bad.” Jihoon said, he took his plate and mug to the sink before leaving the dinning hall.
Jeongwoo laughs, teasing his brother is always a fun thing to do for Jeongwoo. He loves how Jihoon always acts irritated when he is teasing him. He loves seeing those reactions from his older brother.
He went to the fridge to look for ingredients. He saw a pancake mix so he decided to make pancakes for breakfast since it is easy and convenient, it won’t take much of his time making it.
Haruto enjoyed the breakfast made by his boyfriend. He finished three pieces of pancakes that was served on his plate. The strong taste of the coffee added balance to the sweetness of the syrup they poured on the pancake. Jeongwoo on the other hand is yet to finish his food. He is a slow eater, one reason for this is because they practiced Jeongwoo of eating slowly as much as possible. Haruto watched his boyfriend slice the pancake into small pieces, too small that it would look like Jeongwoo was feeding a toddler or something.
They left the dinning hall right after eating their breakfast. The weather right now is so weird. It’s not normal for Jeongwoo’s city to experience rain during the summer season. Moreover it’s been raining for hours now, not that he is complaining but this kind of weather makes Jeongwoo a lot less productive and makes him wanna sleep all day.
And that’s what they did. Jeongwoo and Haruto cuddled and slept for the rest of the day. They made the most out of their time to be together since Haruto can be really busy sometimes with family stuff. And it’s the same with Jeongwoo, becoming an adult had made them value their time together even more.
Haruto noticed earlier that Jeongwoo has been feeling low. He’s been observing his boyfriend for quite a while now, and Jeongwoo would smile sometimes but not his usual ear to ear smile.
“Is there something wrong you are feeling, Woo? You know you can always tell me.” Haruto speaks up while they were cuddling on Jeongwoo’s bed.
“Actually I feel really burdened right now. I am pressured.” Jeongwoo replied.
“What is it? Tell me maybe I can help.” Haruto said while playing with the younger’s hair.
Jeongwoo sat properly, he sighs while thinking of how he needs to learn everything within a month. “My grandpa requested me to play the piano in his birthday. But for goodness sake, I don’t have any idea how to play piano and his birthday is next month already. It took me months to play a whole song with my guitar and now how am I supposed to learn a whole piano piece in a month.” Jeongwoo stared at the ceiling while telling Haruto everything.
“It would be a challenge, but I know you can do it. You are Mr. Good in Everything for a reason.” Haruto consoled him.
“Not gonna lie, you added more to the pressure.” Jeongwoo joked. “I’m meeting one of the young Kim tomorrow, he will teach me how to play the piano. I just hope he will not make it hard for me to learn, I hate it when people make me try things repeatedly.” Jeongwoo explained.
“It won’t be that bad, Woo. I know some of the Kims. And most of them are really good, but there’s one of them that I don’t like. You’ll be in good hands, they are kind and very welcoming.” Haruto smiles at him.
“I hope so…” Jeongwoo said.
The day has come, Jeongwoo is now outside of the Kim’s huge mansion. He is still inside of their car, waiting for the guards to open up the tall gate of the mansion. He didn’t have enough sleep last night because Haruto only decided to go home when it was 1 am. He tried convincing him to just sleep in their house but Haruto insisted that he needs to go home.
Jeongwoo surveyed through every corners of the Kim’s Mansion once he got inside of it. This is slightly smaller than their own mansion. But the interior is really eye catching. The colors made the mansion even more elegant and classy. It was his first time entering the Kim’s mansion and all he can say is that he is amazed by everything he has seen so far.
The househelps toured Jeongwoo around. They said their young master is still taking a shower and they were asked to entertain me while waiting for him. I hate waiting but this house is really interesting. I have seen much more beautiful mansions in the past but something about the vibes of this mansions makes you feel more expensive and rich.
Once their young master was done showering, he told them that I can enter his room already. I had a weird feeling, why am I entering his room? Why of all places?
“So I supposed you are Mr. Park Jeongwoo, right?” A person with a snow white like skin greeted him once he opened the doors of the said room.
“You’re right, I am Park Jeongwoo. What about you? What should I call you?” Jeongwoo asked.
“You can call me prince, my princess.” The boy smirked. Jeongwoo cringed at his words. Is he flirting with me? Jeongwoo thought.
“I don’t like you already.” Jeongwoo rolled his eyes.
“We can change that, you know?” The boy grinned, Jeongwoo felt really annoyed.
“It won’t change.” Jeongwoo counters him.
“Well let’s see. I’m Kim Doyoung, and we have a whole month for us, Mr. Park Jeongwoo.” Doyoung winked and for the nth time, Jeongwoo rolled his eyes again.