New Friend Found II

 

“Oh, Hey Siwon-sshi.” Sooyoung casually greeted the handsome young man at the entrance of the hall, slightly confused at his presence. “What brings you here this morning?”

 

Siwon wanted to greet back with his usual charming smile, but paused halfway when he realized the confusion in Sooyoung’s tone. “You…don’t know?”

 

“Know…what?” Sooyoung was even more confused now.

 

“No one told you anything?”

“I guess not.”

 

Siwon kept mum. He was still having difficulties in accepting the fact that he was replacing Kris for the play. Sure, he acted before and attended dancing classes when he was young (because his mother thought it would be nice for a Prince to be good in dancing and acting) but this was huge! It was the first time he would be acting in front of such a huge crowd and not to mention dancing ballet--although not throughout the whole Play, just a few scenes...But still?. Siwon made sure to remind BoA that no reporters would know of his participation in this Play. What would people think of The Nation’s Prince performing in Theatre Art?

 

“So what’s going on?” Sooyoung asked, still curious.

“Uh…uh…” Siwon couldn’t seem to find the correct word to say but was greatly saved by Baekhyun who (suddenly) appeared from the hall and greeted them.

 

“You’re both wanted inside.” He curtly said before giving a sly grin at the Prince and disappearing back in. Sooyoung, who witnessed the grin, tilted her head in surprised.

 

“What’s up with that Baekhyun?”

 

Both of them walked into the hall together, Siwon still couldn’t believe he was actually going to perform. When the Prince walked in, all the girls in the hall shrieked softly and began (what Sooyoung called) fangirling. They started slapping the arms of one another, pinching their own faces to see if they were dreaming or not.

 

Why is the Crown Prince here?

 

Siwon gave a polite smile to all of them just as he and Sooyoung stopped beside the group of students, who shrieked even louder. Yoona eyed the Prince for a few seconds, wondering as well what he was doing here before directing her attention back to BoA. Baekhyun, who seemingly already know what had happened only smirked to himself as he knew exactly what would everyone react in a few minutes.

 

“Good Morning everybody!” The voice belonging to BoA greeted them happily on stage and everybody greeted back excitedly.

 

 

“I have very important news to announce today, before we start our practice so please listen up.” BoA announced in a stern tone that everybody immediately kept quiet to listen. Even the fangirls turned their attention back toward their President, and waited anxiously for what she wanted to announce.

 

 

“As you guys know, Kris, our lead male for Swan Lake, injured his arm a few days ago,” BoA said in a somber tone and everyone sighed. “And it is really an unavoidable decision whereby the show must go on even if he is unable to play his role.”

 

“Yunho and I had already asked around if anybody of you would like to replace him, but no one volunteered.” The edge in BoA’s tone caused most of the students in the hall of gulped. “But lady luck is on our side, because we have found a replacement!” BoA smiled brightly then and everyone began to murmur out of confusion.

 

Siwon groaned.

 

Sooyoung gasped. “Could it be…”

 

“The person who will be replacing Kris is--” BoA paused to give suspense, and everyone widened their eyes in anticipation.

 

“--The Crown Prince, His Majesty, Choi Siwon!”

 

A ripple of surprise went across the whole hall and everyone immediately turned their heads around to look at the Prince who was trying his very best to keep calm. Then, it became clear that it wasn’t a ripple of surprised that went across the students. It was a wave. A wave of shock and awe. All aimed at Siwon. They gaped at the Prince, their eyes wide open and their mouth dropped.

 

Sooyoung kept her face straight. She hardly showed any emotions but deep down she was screaming and jumping around. 50% because she was excited, and another 50% because she was plain nervous and scared and worried. Yoona on the other hand gave a shriek before covering a hand over her mouth to stop herself from spewing out nonsense. Baekhyun….well, Baekhyun was just in his usual dorky world.

 

Siwon bowed (everyone gasped again; “DID THE PRINCE JUST BOWED TO US COMMONERS?” ) and when he looked up, he gave a sheepish smile and nervously said; “I hope we can work together and that you would point out any flaw on me to improve myself. Hwaiting!”

 

Silence.

 

 Either everyone was too shocked or they were too afraid to say anything. Most of them were still having their hands over their mouth, or their mouth hanging open due to the shocking piece of information told by BoA.

 

Siwon felt sweat tinkled down his forehead, and he gulped nervously. For once, he wanted people to not see him as a Prince, but instead a normal student waiting to be acknowledged. At the verge of giving up on that hope, it was finally Sooyoung who acknowledged him first.

 

The brunette smiled, reached up to pat his muscled arm (everyone gasped) and said in her usual cheerful voice; “I’m sure you can do well, Siwon. Hwaiting! You are—to me—more than just a Prince.”

 

It was still pretty quiet, but the spell seemed to be broken when Yoona chimed in suddenly with a; “Hwaiting Prince Siwon! I’m sure you’ll do well too!”

 

Then Baekhyun; “Good luck Prince!”

 

Then Yunho and BoA; “Hwaiting!!”

 

And a few followed up of “Hwaiting” began to ripple across the hall as well, and for the first time since he stepped into the hall, Siwon felt his nervousness being lifted up from his body.

 

“Thank you, everyone,” He bowed again. “I really do appreciate it.”

 

“And thank you, Sooyoung, for believing in me.”

 

--

 

Kris sat behind quietly, watching the rehearsal and practice going on stage. He saw the determined look on Siwon’s face, the type where even Kris had to approve. The Prince was positioned on the side of the stage, reading the script in his hands and making hand movements as a part of his acting. Kris had to admit, for a Prince, his acting was not quite bad at all. No, actually, it was really good. Dang.

 

“I’m supposed to hate that guy. Why am I even looking at him?”

 

Looking away, he landed on the two females at the center of the stage, and he immediately studied the expression of his best friend, who was half reciting her lines and half twirling around in her ballet routine. Both Yoona and she practiced together since their roles were somewhat similar. They laughed at mistakes, and cried in happiness when they managed to memorized their lines and routine.

 

Then, he looked back at the lonely Prince, sitting alone at the side and had no one to practice with. Pitiful.

 

Kris wanted to get up and walk away, but somehow, (and he swore he doesn’t know why) he began walking towards the Prince. He crossed the group of females who were keeping a close watch on Siwon, and walked up the stairs onto the stage. He greeted the Prince with a nudge on the shoulder and plopped down beside him.

 

“Need any help?” He casually asked, not looking at the older man.

 

Siwon brightened up immediately. “Would you really...”

 

“One time offer.”

 

“Thank you Kris!”

 

For the remaining hour of practice, Kris sat there and watched him recites his lines, correcting his tone when he needed to, and giving thumbs up when he deserved it. By the time the clock strike the finishing minutes of practice, Kris was proud of himself.

 

“I’m really glad you’re replacing me, Prince.” He sincerely said, causing Siwon to widen his eyes in surprise. He knew that Kris had been cold to him ever since he befriended Sooyoung, it was really surprising that Kris turned so nice suddenly.

 

“Umm…thank you, Kris…”

 

“Because really, I can’t imagine any other people acting out that role,” Kris bit his lower lip as he mentally slapped himself for what he was about to say next. “You fit the role so perfectly it’s as if you live the role of Prince Seigfried.”

 

 “Wait. You are a prince after all.” Kris corrected his previous sentence and Siwon laughed.

 

“You know, Kris. I can somewhat imagine us being best friends.”

 

It was Kris’ turn to laugh. The laugh was short though, as he suddenly shivered at the thought of being the Prince’s best friend.

 

“I’m really honored, Prince,” Kris said truthfully as he stood up. “But…let’s just keep things as how it is.”

 

Siwon smiled and nodded his head. “Thanks for the tips; I think it’s really nice of you to correct me and such. Those people down there won’t ever do that without thinking I might punish them.”

 

Kris shrugged, trying to keep his cool image. “You have royal blood and next in line for King.”

 

The young prince sighed. “Who wouldn't be afraid of me, right?”

 

For a fraction of a second, Kris felt a sudden pity for the young man in front of him. How would it feel if he was in Siwon’s shoes? Having hardly no best friends because they were either sucking up on him, or just being plain afraid of him, or having people to not treat him normally because he was the future King?

 

“Hey,” Kris mumbled softly and Siwon looked at him. “I’m not afraid of you.”

 

And then, for the first time ever, Kris smiled to him.

 

It wasn’t the oh-this-is-the-right-time-to-smile-so-I-shall-smile type of smile, nor was it the hey-it’s-the-prince-so-I-shall-have-to-smile-to-respect-him type of smile.

 

It was more of a Let-Us-Be-Friends’ type of smile, and for Siwon, it meant a lot to him. Growing up in the Palace, he only had three close friends; Donghae, Sungmin and Eunhyuk. And that wasn’t because he had befriended them by himself, it was more of because their fathers knew his father, and therefore, automatically became his friends. Of course Hae, Min and Hyuk were nice and Siwon had enjoyed countless moments with them, but this was truly one of the very rare times where the Prince could experience what normal people would call; a new friend found.

 

So all Siwon replied was a smile in return and; “I’m glad you’re not.”

 

Kris’ laughed slightly before raising his right hand up with his two fingers poking out. “Later, Siwon hyung.”

 

Siwon hyung.

 

Choi Siwon could only smile to himself in amusement as he watched Kris walking towards Sooyoung and Yoona, who teased him about something and then the trio leaving the stage together. Eunhyuk came over and tapped Siwon by the shoulder and both of them looked at each other for a brief moment.

 

“Did Kris just call you hyung?”

 

Siwon groaned. “That habit of yours never disappeared has it?”

 

Eunhyuk crossed his arm defensively. “Hey! I walked past and I couldn’t help but overheard, okay? I wasn’t eavesdropping!”

“Sure you weren’t.” The Prince snorted. “But yeah, Kris called me hyung. Would you look at that kid? I did not even give him the permission to address me informally but he did.”

 

“That’s Kris Wu for you. So what are you going to do? Punish him? Fine him?”

 

Siwon stood up from where he sat and grinned at Eunhyuk. “Nothing.”

 

Eunhyuk didn’t seemed surprise with the answer; he merely returned the smile with his goofy own.

 

“I’m not going to do anything.”

 

--