It was a silent evening in the Byun's mansion. The hallways echoed with silence, and the grandfather clock ticked dutifully on the second floor next to the roaring fireplace. Sparks of flames crackled inside, popping here and snapping there, as the dimly lit living room became enclosed with the suffocating scent of burning firewood.  Earlier, the President and his wife had left the house in a hurry to attend a small dinner party with other business entrepeneurs. They had rushed out of the house so quickly that they had forgotten to bring their own son along. 

  Chanyeol and Suho had stopped by earlier to exchange a quick talk with Baekhyun before heading back to town to buy groceries for the family their mother's worked for.  They had asked him if he was planning on attending the new Jazz bar that recently opened up. Apparently, doing the Charleston and fox trot there was far more lively and fun than any other place in town. Baekhyun was surprised to see the eager looks on their faces as they told him about the new place. He had long thought that once the roaring twenties were over and the Great depression had sunk in, people had no time for fun and games.    "It'll be fun. The swinging jazz band is amazing, I hear. Quite well known in these parts of town. Come on, Baekhyun. Just once would be fine for me!" Chanyeol tried to persuade him. His eyes were wide and gleaming with hope and excitement. Baekhyun could already tell by his eccentric behaviour how much he really wanted to go.    Suho smiled and elbowed Chanyeol lightly. "If you can't go, it's fine Baekhyun. Chanyeol here just wants to go and meet the flappers." He rolled his eyes, making Baekhyun laugh and Chanyeol's cheeks to redden.   "Flappers? Really Park Chanyeol? I thought you liked your women classier than that." Baekhyun raised an eyebrow. There weren't many girls here that had piqued his interest. But then again, he was kept indoors most of the time so the only girls he knew of were his maids and the women in the books he read.   Chanyeol held out his hands in defence. "Excuse me, I am going for the music and dancing as well. You know I got them crazy legs."    The boys laughed. Chanyeol's dance moves were as awkward and stiff as a cactus. Baekhyun let out a laugh before sighing. He knew if he went, his parents were going to have a fit. The thought of having their pure, perfect image tainted would be a devstating blow to them. The thought only entered his mind for a second before he realized what a crazy decision it would be if he went to a bar; his tolerance was low as is and he knew if he went, something embarassing was bound to happen. It was ironic that his parents owned a Wine company, considering how badly his entire families tolerance was for alcohol. "Sorry mates, don't think I can make it. You two go and tell me how it goes." Baekhyun clapped their shoulders in apology.   Chanyeol's shoulder sagged in defeat and Suho gave him a sympathetic look. Soon after establishing Baekhyun wouldn't be able to go, the boys quickly exchanged their goodbyes and left. Baekhyun watched them leave with a soft expression. As much as he wanted to live the life of a kid his age, he had to hold back for his parent's sake.    Hopefully I don't regret this decision. Baekhyun sighed as he watched Suho thump Chanyeol's back gently.    ---   Baekhyun had just come out of his room, mind still fresh of the words he had been studying for the past two hours. He glanced down at his hands, and frowned deeply. The tutor really did a number of punishments on him today. It was difficult learning English as is; there were just so many words and terminology in the English dictionary. There were at least a million words, he couldn't possibly remember every single one of them. The imprints of a ruler were evident on his small palms, stretching from the tip of his finger nails to the bottom of his wrist. It faded slightly, but tiny faint blotches of blood seeped through his skin from the harsh impact. He stretched his hands open for a second, then curled his fingers into a fist as he clenched the muscles together. He repeated this for several times until his hands felt more relaxed. It was a trick he picked up from his Dad after a long night of working at the office. Baekhyun frowned at how callous his hands looked. Who would have thought hands can turn this hideous in time from over-writing? His hands ached, but it wasn't bad to the point he couldn't handle it.   The house was quiet, and he momentarily forgot why he came out until something rumbled below. Baekhyun sighed. He would have holed himself in his room longer if his stomach didn't protest; it lurched inside making it hard to concentrate. The growling of his hunger came and went, but after about a few minutes of resisting, he caved in. It was late and he didn't feel like bothering Butler Lee for a simple, small dinner so he gave himself the benefit of a doubt to make himself something to eat. With one hand in his pockets, and the other on the spruce wood railing, Baekhyun leisurely descended down the long flight of wooden stairs, his footstops making soft thuds against the creaky steps.    "Master Baekhyun," Butler Lee appeared in front of the stairs. "Is there something I can help you with on this lovely night?"   Baekhyun blinked in surprise, but nonetheless his composure was indifferent. He hadn't even fully reached the bottom of the staircase yet, and here Butler Lee stood, ready for commandment. An entertained smile appeared on Baekhyun's once expressionless face. He should've known