Snapping pride

“Yoona…have you fallen for me?” Luhan gulped anxiously. Of all the things that could have gone wrong with his plan, Luhan would have never guessed it would be this. A tense moment of silence filled the room.

“Yes…I have.” Yoona looked straight at Luhan and Luhan knew that she wasn’t joking. Another couple of minutes of silence went by before Luhan sighed deeply.

“This is my fault.” Luhan finally said. Yoona flinched at the words. She already knew what was coming. “I should have guessed something like this would have happened…”

“Luhan…” Yoona trailed. She bit her bottom lip and sighed. “I was only joking you know!” she chuckled. “You look so serious right now!”

“Yoona I need to give you my answer…don’t avoid it.” Luhan said.  

“But I really…was only joking.” Yoona mumbled. She could feel tears forming and quickly brushed them away.

“You’re very important to me.” Luhan said. “At first I was just protecting you because that was my job but now I now that’s not the only reason why I look after you. However no matter how important you are to me…you’re the crown princess Yoona. You can’t like someone like me.” Luhan smiled. “I’m sorry but I will have to reject your confession.”

“I already knew it was coming anyway…” Yoona whispered. “Even if I wasn’t the crown princess, you don’t see me like a woman.”

“I’m sorry…”

“Could you leave me alone for a while?”

“I’ll be outside then…”

The door shut firmly a second after and Yoona was left in the room alone. She collapsed onto the nearest sofa letting all the tears fall down her face. It had only been a short while since she had started liking Luhan but it was a feeling she held dear. The way he would always stand up for her yet as well sent her heart galloping. His single smile managed to make her whole face red.

“It’s only because he was the first person to be so nice to you…” Yoona said to herself. “You’ll get over him soon.” Even though she said it with such firmness, Yoona didn’t really know whether she really would be able to get over Luhan. Right now he was so important and special to her…how could he suddenly not become that important and special anymore?

Yoona tried to think of this as a lesson. The heart ache she felt right now might mature her. She could learn from this experience. However those strong thoughts disappeared soon and she began weeping again.

“If Luhan saw you in this state he would definitely hate you…” Yoona told herself through hiccups. “What if he hates me already…?” The thought sent a shiver down Yoona. More than getting rejected the thing that would affect her the most was if Luhan hated her. “I have to quickly pick myself up again!” she whispered to herself.

Yoona looked up at the door. Luhan was probably standing outside it right now. What did he think about her now? Was she annoying? A weirdo? An obsessive weirdo? She pushed herself off the couch and walked to the door whilst wiping away her remaining tears. She had to get over the rejection quickly otherwise Luhan would definitely quit being her bodyguard. With a deep breath, Yoona summoned all her courage and opened the door.

Unsurprisingly Luhan was leaning against the walls of the halls with his hands in his pockets. At the mere sight Yoona found herself getting excited. Her heartbeat was getting so loud she was sure Luhan would be able to hear it now.

Luhan was surprised to see Yoona out so early. He was sure she would sit in there for an hour at least but it had only been a half. Yoona must have been trying hard to get over it. Luhan smiled to himself. Yoona really was a strong person. He wanted to console her but he knew he was in no position. Right now all he could do was wait for Yoona to pick herself up again. If it was Yoona, then Luhan was sure she could do it.

Yoona didn’t say anything to Luhan as she started making her way back down again. She was planning to say something cool but the sight of Luhan had made her heart leap and she knew she would say something stupid. Luhan silently followed her like a shadow. As soon as the pair had gotten back to the main hall, Hwayoung bombarded them.

“Yoona, you got to try this! It’s so good!” she smiled widely. Yoona tried to smile back but it turned out weak and wobbly. Hwayoung instantly realised that something must have happened. She looked over to Luhan who was standing unusually far away.

“Hey Yoona…did something happen?” Hwayoung asked. She stuffed some cakes into .

“N..no…why do you ask?” Yoona chuckled anxiously. She didn’t want Hwayoung to find out about what had just happened. Hwayoung would probably think she was an idiot for confessing.

“You look like someone just broke your heart…” Hwayoung trailed. “You know you can tell me anything.” She added with a reassuring smile. Telling Hwayoung would certainly lift a whole boulder off Yoona. But would Hwayoung’s opinion of her change again? She had just finally gotten things on track with the girl as well.

“Yoona, I’m not gonna laugh at you if you are heartbroken you know.” Hwayoung said through food. “I’ve been rejected plenty times before so I know how it feels.”

“R..really?!” Yoona gaped. Hwayoung had also gone through this awkward experience. Hwayoung nodded eagerly, ready for her first girl talk with Yoona after what felt like forever.

“There was this guy who was super friendly to me when I was in college. Naturally I fell for him. One day this girl from our class confessed to him so I got really agitated and confessed as well. He rejected both of us.” Hwayoung mumbled. “That hurt.”

“Wow…” Yoona trailed. “You just butted into the girl’s confession?” Hwayoung nodded with smile.

“Hwayoung style!” she grinned. Yoona let out a light hearted giggle. “But it felt really nice to tell him my feelings you know. I felt free!”

“Ohh…” Now that Hwayoung had mentioned it, Yoona did feel her heart was a little lighter than before. “Hwayoung…I confessed to Luhan.” Yoona said with determination.

“What?!!” Hwayoung spat out all of her food and coughed. “L..Luhan?!”

“Shh! He’ll hear you!” Yoona snapped. Hwayoung gulped and regained her composure.

“Luhan?! You liked Luhan?” Hwayoung stammered. Yoona nodded meekly. “I would have never guessed…”

“Really? I think I was pretty obvious…”

“It’s a good thing you told me before I fall for him! Luhan is off bounds now~” Hwayoung mumbled.

“He rejected me…you still have a chance…” Yoona sighed.

“Seriously? But you two get along so well!”

“He said he couldn’t date the crown princess…” Yoona trailed.

“Well…I guess that’s true…”

“He doesn’t see me as a woman anyway so it wouldn’t matter whether I was the crown princess or not…”

“What does he see you as then? A man?” Hwayoung teased. A glare from Yoona shut her up. “Seriously speaking though, even if he did reject you, aren’t you glad you told him?”

“Glad?”

“Think about it…you don’t have to worry about how he thinks of you anymore.”

“I…guess…” Yoona titled her head. She glanced at Luhan who was standing quite far away but close enough to them to stop anything suspicious. “I think I know what you mean.”

“You’ll only be awkward with him for a short while if you try hard to get along with him again. You don’t want to lose him as friend right?” Hwayoung asked. Yoona nodded firmly. “Then you gotta make sure you don’t stay like this with him.” Hwayoung said.

“I…I’ll try!”

“Hey there you are!” the voice of Junmyeon roared. Yoona and Hwayoung turned to see Junmyeon striding towards Luhan. “You’re going to be fired!” He shouted triumphantly. “Father’s going to put a word to his majesty!” Luhan looked blankly at Junmyeon.

“Do you not have anything better to do?” Luhan raised an eyebrow. A large crowd had begun to form at the commotion.

“Why you! You won’t be smirking when you’re jobless!” Junmyeon laughed. Yoona and Hwayoung pushed their way through the mass of people to the centre where Junmyeon was roaring with laughter.  

“Junmyeon, what are you doing?!” Yoona shouted.

“Ahh…your highness.” Junmyeon grinned. “You should fire this trash. He doesn’t know his place.” Luhan looked anxiously to Yoona. There was a chance she could fire him after his rejection. He clenched his fists tightly with frustration. There was no way he could allow himself to get fired. He was just about to apologize to Junmyeon when Yoona spoke again.

“Say sorry to him.” Yoona snapped. Junmyeon chuckled uncertainly. Yoona was looking at him and telling him…but there’s no way she was on the side of mere bodyguard?

“Say sorry to me!” Junmyeon laughed to Luhan. Luhan gritted his teeth and was about to apologize again when Yoona interrupted them once more.

“Not him, you.” Yoona pointed straight to Junmyeon with a fierce look. “Luhan isn’t trash. He’s my bodyguard.”

The crowd went wild at that moment. Everyone was talking at once.

“Yoona…what are you talking about? You’re joking right…?”

“Not only did you have the nerve to go deciding who is my bodyguard and not, but you also call him trash. Apologize right now, Junmyeon.” Junmyeon gritted his teeth and faced Luhan.

“…I…I’m….s..s..sorry.” He said after a couple of minutes of silence. The crowd suddenly parted as the King himself made his way through.

“What is going on?” He snapped angrily. The authority he held was evident in his voice. The whole crowd hushed.

“Y…Your majesty!” Junmyeon stammered. Luhan felt like digging a hole at that moment. Everything was going wrong for him.

“What is going on?” The King repeated firmer. Yoona was about to explain but Junmyeon quickly intercepted.

“Your majesty! This bodyguard rudely ignored me and walked away from my calls!” Junmyeon said. “He doesn’t know his place!” The King looked over to Luhan. Luhan began to shiver. The King’s eyes were unreadable.

“I was looking for the crown princess your majesty.” He finally explained. “At a crowded party like this where her safety was not insured I got desperate. I am sorry.”

Everyone watched the King intently.

“You are not in the wrong Luhan.” The King smiled.

“P…pardon?” Luhan stammered. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“Your majesty!” Junmyeon protested. The King turned to Junmyeon. The younger boy shut up immediately.

“Junmyeon, the princess’ safety is the utmost important thing to Luhan. I assigned him personally because I knew he would understand this.”

“..Personally? Your majesty hired him personally?” Junmyeon stuttered.

 “All he did was his job. I hope you understand this and on behalf of his rudeness, I apologize.”  The King continued.

“Y..you don’t need to apologize your majesty! I should be apologizing on behalf of my son’s idiocy!” the voice of Junmyeon’s father stammered. The fat man had somehow managed to squeeze through the crowd. “Junmyeon apologize!” The duke roared.

“…I’m sorry!” Junmyeon bowed 90 degrees to the King who just chuckled lightly.

“My, my, all is forgiven now.” The King laughed. “Let’s continue with the party.”

“Father…could I return home?” Yoona said before the King was about to leave.

“Hmm? Is something the matter?”

“Uhh…I feel very dizzy…” The King walked over to Yoona and put his hand on her forehead.

“You are warm. Fair enough. Go back to palace and visit the royal doctor.” The King instructed. Yoona nodded and made her way out of the party with Luhan following closely behind. Before the pair entered the car, Yoona turned to Luhan.

“Uhh…thank you.” Luhan quickly said first surprising Yoona. “Thanks for sticking up for me…I was sure you would fire me…” At this statement Yoona couldn’t help but giggle.

“I would never fire you!” she laughed. “This state I’m in right now will only be for a while…I’ll be back to normal soon.” Yoona assured. Luhan nodded and the pair entered the car.

“Wait for me!” Hwayoung shouted in the distance.