The Palace

Sooyoung stood awkwardly in front of the Queen, her heart racing so fast she was certain it was going to win a race if ever she joined one. What did the Queen wanted? Why was she summoned by the Queen? She didn’t know what to react!

 

It was a moment of silence. Sooyoung had bowed in respect and had given the permission to look back up by the Queen. They were at the Palace’s garden, the Queen seated at the garden bench with a huge umbrella above her head held by one of the servant.

 

The Queen waved her hand over the bench beside her. “Sit.”

 

Sooyoung hesitated, but quickly obeyed the orders when the Queen looked at her again. The brunette avoided looking at the Queen, but instead stared at her white skirt she wore today. She had to thank the Heavens that she had chosen something feminine and appropriate to wear today by coincidence.

 

“You are Choi Sooyoung?” The Queen asked.

“Yes, Your Highness.” Sooyoung replied, her head still bowed down.

 

“It’s alright, you may look up.”

 

Sooyoung looked up slowly, half-wishing that the Queen had not given her the command to look up. She rather stares at her skirt than to look at the Queen’s elegant face. It took about several seconds before the Queen loosen her strict look and gave a polite smile at the tall brunette who mentally sigh in relieved. A smile is a good sign…right?

 

 

“How’s Siwon doing in University?” The Queen politely asked.

 

“Huh? Why are you asking me that?”

 

“I think The Prince’s doing fine.” Sooyoung replied in a humble tone and worried afterward that she might have said too much. The Queen doesn’t seem to mind though as she gave another kind smile at the young lady.

 

“I heard that you’re a Biology major.”

 

Sooyoung nodded her head slowly. “Yes I am, Your Highness.”

 

“Are you planning on becoming a Doctor?” The Queen asked the same question she asked Siwon a few days before.

 

Sooyoung smiled. “Most probably, Your Highness.”

 

The Queen said nothing then; she studied the young lady in front of her carefully. The silence among them was never ending, and after what seemed like forever, the satisfied Queen gave another curt smile. “Thanks for coming, Sooyoung. You may leave now. And oh, you will mention nothing about today, okay?”

 

“Okay, Your Highness.”

 

Sooyoung was startled at how fast she was dismissed, but felt relieved even more as she stood up, bowed, and followed the servant out from the Garden.

 

When the brunette left, the Queen ushered her personal butler to her side.

 

“Mr Han,” The Queen said softly, “I want you to find out everything you know about this Sooyoung girl. Her background, where she lives, what school she had ever attended, just…everything.”

 

Mr Han, the man who had brought Sooyoung to the Palace nodded. “As you wish, Your Highness.”

 

 

--

 

By the time Sooyoung finished baking her cookies, it was already 6pm. Realizing that she only had an hour left before dinner, she quickly packed them nicely in a container before leaving her house and cycled to her best friend’s house which was located not too far from hers.

 

To: Kris

From: Sooyoung

Hey Kris, mind coming out for a second? Just outside your home.

 

Ten minutes later, Sooyoung came into a halt in front of Kris, smiling brightly when she saw Kris waiting for her in front of his house.

 

“Hey Kris,” She greeted. “I brought you some home made cookies!”

 

The container in the bag was handed to Kris, and he couldn’t help but smiled. “Aww, thanks Soo. You really do know how to cheer me up.”

 

Sooyoung responded with a smile, wiping her sweat from her face.

 

“So…Are you….?” Sooyoung left the sentence hanging, and Kris raised an eyebrow.

 

“Am I fine?” He asked and the young lady nodded her head. “Well, yeah. I guess so. I’m coming back to the University tomorrow.” He said as optimistic as possible, although his left arm was still in a case.

 

“I’m glad you’re better now,” Sooyoung grinned. “So I expect the cookies to be finished as soon as possible, okay?”

 

Kris laughed. “You know I can finish your cookies within minutes, right? They are yummy~”

 

“Well thanks, I like your appreciation. You had no idea how long I’ve spend baking those cookies--!” And you’ll surely flip if I tell you the Queen met me earlier. “—and some of them came out burnt so I had to redo and it was tiring but I’m glad you like it because when you’re happy, I’m also happy. So no matter what, you must know that I’m always here for—“

 

“Soo?” The sudden change in tone from Kris’ voice made Sooyoung stopped talking immediately.

 

Kris sighed, playing with the bag of container on his right hand. “BoA sunbae called me earlier.”

 

Sooyoung’s heart sank a little as she knew what Kris was going to say.

 

“After asking how I was doing, she told me that they had no choice but to find a replacement for me. She asked if I was alright about it. What say you?”

 

Sooyoung tried to twist the unhappy news into something happy; “Well at least you don’t have to dance ballet anymore.”

 

Kris gave a slight laugh, which made Sooyoung a million times better. She was afraid her lame joke will not work. “Right, because a cool guy like me ought not to dance a girly dance right?”

 

Sooyoung laughed.

 

“Well, I’ll still be present on the day to support you kay?” Kris cheered up as quickly as he became sad earlier. “So you must do your best, Odette!”

 

“I will, Kris. And you must promise me that you’ll be there no matter what happens.” Sooyoung said sternly and Kris laughed again. “Course I will, Odette. Aren’t I always so supportive?”

 

The young lady grinned. “I’ll see you tomorrow at campus okay? Dad’s probably waiting for me at home…”

 

Kris nodded. “Of course. See you tomorrow!”

 

Sooyoung cycled off after waving goodbye and Kris walked back into his house. He took out the container from the bag and opened the cover with his one usable hand. Smelling the freshly baked aroma of the cookies, Kris smiled again as he took one and munched on it.

 

Yummy.

 

--

 

 

“Please, Siwon, PLEASE!”

 

Choi Siwon was still alarmed from what he had been asked to do just moments ago the next day. He was just casually walking across the campus with his two bodyguards to the library when Eunhyuk popped out of no where and pulled him to the hall where BoA and Yunho were there, waiting. (If Siwon had not alerted the guards to stay put, Eunhyuk might have had a bruised head already)

 

Then, a few seconds after he had calmed down, Eunhyuk had asked a really shocking favor from the Prince which sends his jaw hanging in shocked.

 

“I can’t!” Siwon retorted and he could see disappointment flashed across Yunho and BoA’s faces.

 

“Why?! You’re a Prince, you know how to act, you know how to dance—well you can learn Ballet in a jiffy that is—you’re perfect for the role!”

 

Siwon bit his lower lip. “I can’t.” He repeated firmly.

 

“Then tell us why!” Eunhyuk sighed. If Siwon doesn’t accept this role, he would have to accept it then and he doesn’t want to because ballet just isn’t his style! Besides, he can’t have Hyoyeon teasing him forever until the last day of his life!

 

“Because it’s Kris’ role,” Siwon simply replied. “I can’t just take that away from him. I’m not even a Performing Arts’ student!”

 

“You’re a Prince!”

 

Siwon frowned. “I’m not a Prince in the campus.”

 

“Is that even a legit excuse to use?”

 

“The point is, Kris is probably still upset about his injury and that he is unable to participate any longer. I don’t think it is fair that I just take the role from him since I don’t have any rights to.”

 

“You’re a Crown Prince!”

 

“Eunhyuk,” Siwon said in his stern tone that shut Eunhyuk up immediately. “Let’s respect Kris as well, okay?”

 

“I’m sorry, BoA-sshi and Yunho-sshi.” Siwon apologized to the two silent human beings at the back of Eunhyuk.

 

“Hey, it’s okay man.” Yunho said although disappointment still flashed across his face.

 

BoA only sighed as she sat on the empty cushioned chair in the hall, worried.

 

Just as Siwon was about to leave the hall, a voice startled the four of them suddenly.

 

“Wait.”

 

All four of them turned to the direction of the voice, and out walked Kris from behind the curtains on stage, his expression unreadable.

 

“Why are you….?” Eunhyuk gasped slightly.

 

“I came here to get my cap I left here the other day…” Kris explained curtly, waving the white cap on his right hand. He walked down the stairs of the stage and walked nearer to the four humans at the center.

 

“Kris, We’re sorry—“ BoA began to apologize but Kris walked past her (much to the surprise of the sunbae) and stopped right in front of Siwon.

 

“Would you be able to portray the role well?” He asked, causing Siwon to do a double take.

 

“Huh? What do you mean, Kris?”

 

“I’m serious, if you were given the chance to act out my role, would you be able to do it well?” Kris said again, sternly that even the Prince was shocked. He had never seen Kris acted this way before.

 

“Umm, I…I guess?” Uncertainly, Siwon replied.

 

Kris raised an eyebrow as he stared at Siwon for a while. The Prince stared back, wondering what he was thinking.

 

The younger man turns behind, now looking at BoA, Yunho and Eunhyuk.

 

“Okay.” he said and confusion struck BoA and Yunho’s face. Eunhyuk kept mum.

 

“Let Siwon replace me in the play.”

 

‘What?’ Siwon mentally gasped.

 

There was an awkward silent then, but Kris could see the delighted look flashed across BoA’s face, and the relieved look across Yunho’s. Then, Kris turned back in front to look at the shocked Prince.

 

“Ace it.” Kris said and gave a really tight smile to the royalty in front of him. “I’ll be watching.”

 

Siwon was still shocked. Everything happened too fast and he couldn’t digest the fact that Kris had just asked him to replace him in the play. Kris stood there still, as if waiting for a response from the Prince. It took Siwon everything to snap out of trance and gave an awkward smile in return.

 

“Thank you, Kris.” He said, although still confused.

“Welcome.” Kris curtly said before leaving the hall.

 

When Kris saw light outside, he turned over his shoulder to look at the closed door of the Hall. The conversation kept replaying in his mind and although he didn’t want to admit it; he felt it was really nice of Siwon to respect his feelings, although it was clear that Siwon could probably just get anything in this world without worrying since he is the Prince.

 

“I guess--” Kris sighed.“--he is not a bad guy after all.”

 

--

 

a/n: BOOYAH WONKRIS. Lool. Fast update because I feel happy today ^__^ Thanks for the continuous support, yall. Love each and everyone of you! Stay tune for more SooKris/SooWon!!!