Zhang Yixing.

The golden boy. The school’s perfect little prodigy that everyone wanted to be or to be with. Suave and well mannered, the teacher’s beloved pet and his parents’ precious spoiled prince. After all, he did walk, talk and act like one. A real life charming prince minus the crown. He was good at everything he did, whether it was brain related or body related Yixing was good at it if not even perfect. He radiated of charm and grace. A rich handsome smart young man like Yixing was also well wanted among his peers, though for some reason he never cared to date any of them. Not even a mere interest in anyone of those kids—as he liked to call them. They were just too plain for him. He craved a certain thrill that none of the people he knew seemed to possess. He was waiting for something, for someone to set his whole being on fire. A spark or an electricity to take over him and make him ache for more. Sadly, for now he felt nothing and was forced to wait, but Yixing was a patient person. He was never one to fret about something as meaningless as love. Don’t get him wrong, he did want a taste of the infamous sensation but not to the point of madness. He was patient, composed and always in charge. He was strong and thick-headed. Love makes people weak and pathetic and Yixing didn’t want that, wasn’t going to go through that actually.

Don’t play with fire or you’ll get burned they say, but Yixing wasn’t stupid. He knew when it was the exact right time to pull his hands away from the raging fire—or so he thought he knew at least.

The sky was a dark shade of grey with thick clouds spreading around it at a scary fast pace; a few bright flashes of lightning making an appearance every now and then. The change in the weather came unannounced, just a day before the sun was as bright as ever and the breeze was warm and comfy unlike the biting wind of today, icy cold and in a way horrifying. Yixing stared solemnly at the said sky from behind his car window halfheartedly listening to his old chauffeur who went on and on about the various different speculations about the climate change he heard or read about somewhere. You see Yixing wasn’t really listening but who could blame him, he honestly didn’t care about half if not everything his chauffeur was complaining about. He placed his head on the palm of his left hand, humming from time to time in agreement although he didn’t hear a word, earphones nicely plugged to his ears. The hypnotizing soft melody of Mozart soon enough invaded his senses and made his tense body relax a bit. He let out a muffled sigh, gaze locked to the silhouette of his school.

The sleek expensive car went through the gate of his school in a more than familiar way. A private school, where only the elite of the elite were allowed to go to. It wasn’t all that special actually, it just so happened that its owner was a filthy rich old man who allowed only the rich of the rich to attend it. Most of those attendances didn’t give a damn about education, after all their parents pay fortunes for them to be a part of this sophisticated institution, so they walk around bragging with their heads held high like they own the place. Their graduation was guaranteed so why waste time for something as futile as education? Yixing was an exception though; he actually did care about getting a degree he worked hard for. A part of it was to please his father, but mostly because he aspired to become somebody worth something. He believed that hard work was the key to success, so he worked hard hoping to be the perfect son his father has always dreamt of having.

“Yixing-ah, I’d hate to ask you this, but can you drive back home on your own? My daughter has her monthly check up today at the hospital and she wants me to be there. I understand if you—“ His chauffeur addressed him by his first name because his parents thought that in this way Yixing would be more down to earth, he was a tad bit full of himself he won’t lie about that, but his parents made sure to constantly remind him that he wasn’t any better of the people who worked for them. They all played a certain role in this life and it just so happened that he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

“It’s okay, you can go. I’ll be fine on my own.” The grey haired old man grinned in satisfaction before thanking his young master and wishing him a good day at school. Yixing bowed slightly to the elder before gracefully sprinting towards the school’s stunning entrance.

The day was anything but good.

It seemed that the storm came with bad news that day; that hideous unforgettable day. It was the first time he ever got a low mark at something. Yixing was furious. It may not be that bad of a mark for the other students but for him it was a disgrace; humiliating and unexpectable. He felt like tearing his hair off his skull. What was he supposed to tell his father? How can he even begin to explain his failure? He couldn’t. He didn’t have enough courage to face his father with the tragic news. You see, you might think he was exaggerating but you’re wrong, so wrong. Yixing was always in charge, always. So the fact that he slipped and lost balance was frightening.  

But it wasn’t just the low mark that got him all worked up, there were other reasons of course and one of them was the nerve-wracking rain that pounded against his car glass like bullets. He hated it. He shouldn’t have easily let his chauffeur go and leave him all alone, now he was forced to drive in a thunder storm. Yes, he was scared. Who wouldn’t be? The road was empty and Yixing wasn’t the best driver out there. Also, it didn’t help that he was on the verge of having an anxiety attack and tears streaming down his face in fear. He felt helpless—but because all of this wasn’t enough his car suddenly stopped in the middle of nowhere. Just like that. It stopped in a ing empty road and the thunder roared as if the sky was mocking his misery. As if he was a puppet made to entertain. Yixing growled, screamed and cried even harder. He was a smart man, yes—a boy with a toned body that excelled in various sports—definitely yes. Yet, Yixing was anything but a mechanic. He knew nothing about cars, absolutely nothing. Hell, he wasn’t even good at driving them let alone repair them.

“Please work, please.” Yixing pleaded, phone stuck to his right ear as he impatiently waited for his mother to pick up. The signal was weak, horrible even but it was something he predicted. After all, the storm was getting worse so no wonder the signal was y. The dark haired boy leaned back against his leather seat and took a long breath, he closed his eyes shut hoping this was nothing but a nightmare that he’ll soon enough wake up from. Though when a knock was heard against his window, reality came sinking in making Yixing jump in shock and push himself away from his own vehicle door. He blinked in a mix of confusion and fear at the dark shadow behind the glass that for some reason seemed waiting for him to slid the window down. But why would he do that? What are the odds that this stranger wanted to help him and not him or murder him? After all what’s happened to him till now, the late assumptions were more likely to happen so Yixing chose not to risk his life. He made sure the doors were locked and hugged himself in a pitiful defensive way.  

The stranger didn’t get the hint or chose not to, because he wasted no time to knock on Yixing’s car glass again and this time the knock startled the life out of the Chinese male.

“Wh—what do you want?” Yixing hated himself for stuttering but he was terrified. He wasn’t used to these kinds of scenarios in his tidy life. The stranger was clearly a guy, he had a coal-black helmet on so Yixing wasn’t really able to properly scan him. What if he got robbed? How would he describe the criminal to the police? His thoughts were interrupted by the guy’s voice, a warm deep voice that sent shivers down his spine for some unknown reason.

“Do you have a lighter?” Yixing blinked at that in daze. Because what? Does he have a what? Was this guy crazy or something? Was he messing around with Yixing? Though it was clearly not the right time for him to joke around with cold, lost, confused strangers who had tears clinging to their eyelashes.

“What?” The guy shamelessly repeated his request with a serious tone and Yixing was visibly dumbstruck for a whole minute. It was still raining, thunder, lightning anything that comes with a storm was still going strong outside his car and this guy, this immoral savage guy was asking him for a lighter instead of offering to help him out and safely get him to his house? “I don’t.”

His short answer made the guy give him a once over before turning and walking away from him. Ridiculous, this was ridiculous. Who the hell did that guy think himself is? Yixing got out of the car without a second thought. He run towards the stranger in rage and stepped right in front of him with a deep frown—a sleek motorcycle just a few inches behind his back.

“That’s it? You ask me for a lighter and then leave me in the middle of nowhere? Who the does that?” Yixing glared when the guy chose not to answer and tried to resume his walk towards his bike.

“I’m ing talking to you! Answer me!” Again, the guy kept his cool and skillfully got on his black motorcycle. Yixing turned around in defeat and cried softly into his hands, he was soaking wet from head to toe. He was scared and tired. Why the hell was this happening to him? Why him? His life was perfect—he didn’t need this right now. He wasn’t used to feeling weak and now he was feeling crushed and worthless. He should have taken mechanic classes or something, he should have never let his chauffeur go. Yixing cried harder into his hands, he felt imperfect, he never felt imperfect—he didn’t want to feel imperfect.

Yixing jolted up in confusion when the stranger pressed his motorbike’s horn to get his attention. He stared at him in shock for a second, mouth unattractively gaping. The guy was looking ahead of him, silently waiting for Yixing to get on the bike. He was still there. Why was he still there?

“What do you want?” The Chinese male gritted.

“I have something to deliver, I’ll take you where you want to go afterwards.” Yixing blinked slowly at his feet, the tears and the rain were blurring his vision but he could still make up the outline of his dress shoes. He his plump lower lip between his teeth, and stood frozen to his spot in war with himself on whether taking the offer or not. After all the fuss he made he was still contemplating on whether trusting the stranger or not.

“Take me home first then go do your thing.” Yixing boldly ordered. He didn’t know what made those words come out but he was used to giving orders and just because he was a tad bit helpless at the moment didn’t mean he was going to lose charge.

“I said, I have something to deliver first then I’ll take you home. Look, you either take it or leave it. I’m busy.” He gave up and sulkily got on the bike. His body tensed when the stranger forced his arms to wrap around his torso. Immediately he took his arms back and roughly pushed the guy’s back. Again, the stranger kept his calm—the taller guy was silent for a second before he lowly and calmly spoke up again.

“It’s bad enough that I only have one helmet, you’ll get me in trouble if you don’t—“

“Just give me yours! I’m not going to touch you, don’t even dream about it.” The speed that guy used to turn around and face Yixing with was absolutely terrifying. The Chinese male tried to act like he wasn’t fazed by it but his saucer like eyes more than gave him away. 

“You’re getting into my nerves kid. Look, the only reason why I’m tolerating you is because I’ve already called my friends to come get my new car. I am not someone you’d want to mess with, I’m warning you. Now, I’m going to give you my helmet because I sure as hell don’t want you to touch me either and you’re going to shut the up. Did I make myself clear?”

“What do you mean by your new car?” Jongin growled in frustration as he took his helmet off. Revealing by doing that a totally different face from what Yixing has pictured in his mind. Well to be honest a half mad dog half dinosaur wasn’t exactly a realistic picture but that did come off as one.

“Take it and shut the up or I’ll shut you up myself!” The tan skinned stranger ran his fingers through his disheveled hair that smelled strongly like cheap cologne and cigarette smoke. It was an obnoxious smell that made Yixing almost gag at it. He hated the situation he found himself stuck at, he wanted to get over with this. He wanted to be safe at home with his mother’s delicious Jasmine tea resting between his hands. His father’s soft warm voice sharing some news he just read about in the newspaper. He hated being bossed around but what he hated most was the way that guy brought his focus back to the front and ignored his existence for the whole ride after adjusting his leather gloves and pressing the gas pedal to the bottom.

∞

When they finally arrived at the place where that obnoxious guy was supposed to deliver something at, Yixing decided then and there that it was time for him to run away. He soundlessly took a few steps back as he carefully stared at the stranger’s figure, which was back facing him. The guy was long lost in his own thoughts as it seemed and this was the perfect opportunity for Yixing to escape and call someone to go take his car before anyone of that stuck up ’s friends managed to get there and steal it; though not five steps later the stranger’s amused tone stopped him in his tacks making Yixing groan miserably at his misfortune.

“Leave the helmet and then you can go if you want to.” Yixing didn’t mean to gasp out loud but he was so humiliated he just wanted to walk over towards that prick and punch his teeth off. Zhang Yixing wasn’t going to steal someone’s dirty helmet; he just forgot he had it on. It was simply shielding him from the rain. Who the heck did that guy think himself is?

“I was going to anyway, you don’t have to tell me!”

“I’ll take you home. Just give me a minute.” Yixing was about to protest when the guy walked away towards what strangely seemed as an underground club. The blasting music was more than an evidence to back his assumption up. He let out a groan and silently followed the tanned male’s steps. He was close to him but still kept a decent distance between them. With how that guy looked and how people looked at him he must have STD or something. Yixing didn’t want to get infected. He was going to try as much as he can to not touch or come near the man. Of course his plan didn’t work out because just a second later he pumped into the taller guy’s back and the latter smirked as if he perfectly knew what Yixing was thinking.

“Stay here, I’ll be right back.” The guy coldly ordered and Yixing frowned. But this time he didn’t bother to bark something back. It was only a matter of minutes until he’ll be back at home, safe and sound—well, hopefully. He let his gaze roam over the place and his frown deepened. The club was so shabby and awfully tacky. It made Yixing sick to his stomach. The people in it were no exception, they were loud and disgusting. Yixing couldn’t care less about judging them, they were gross and he sincerely hoped to never put foot in a rotten place like this one ever again.

Just what would his father say if he found out his only son was in a low place like this one waiting for an arrogant pierced boy to give him a ride home? What if they saw him getting off a motorcycle like some douche? He just wished they’ll be too busy drinking tea by the time he’ll get there. His train of thought was interrupted by a young woman practically half- with too much makeup and hairspray on; he couldn’t help but blush as he tried to resist staring at her almost bare busty . She was nice to look at too, but the sneer she had on made Yixing feel like she wasn’t exactly interested in him as much as he was in her.

“Look here you little punk, Kim Jongin is mine!” The Chinese male blinked at her in confusion, she probably mistook him for someone else. Yes, that was exactly it, because he didn’t know anyone by the name she just shared. He actually never heard of someone called ‘Jongin’ let alone knew someone by that name.

“Eh, what are you talking abou—“ The girl cut him off by a strong punch to his left shoulder blade and that was it. The straw that broke the camel’s back, just who the hell did these dirt poor people think themselves are?

“What is wrong with you?!” Yixing growled as he towered over her, hoping to somehow scare the girl off and get rid of her, but the petite girl was surprisingly much stronger than she appeared to be, easily pushing him back against the bar counter.

“I said Kim Jongin is mine! Now I don’t know you but I can clearly tell you’re into him and I’m definitely not okay with it!”

“I don’t even know who you’re talking about, get your filthy hand off me!” He wasn’t going to hit her, he would never hit a girl. Though for a split second he did think of grabbing her hair and smacking her face against the counter. Just for a split second of course. She tightened her grip on his arm and narrowed her kohl rimmed eyes at him; daring him to move.

“Kim Jongin. The owner of that helmet you’re holding.” It felt like a cold slap of reality that hit him hard in the face once again. He was being rudely pushed around just because some worthless slu—girl was jealous over her man. It didn’t even make sense, Yixing wasn’t gay. He’d rather bang her than that lowlife .

“You got it all wrong, I’m not trying to take him from you, I don’t even know him I swear.” Yixing calmly explained as he carefully took her hand off his arm. “He’s just giving me a ride home because I run out of gas. I promise you that’s it. I’m not even gay.” The last word for some reason made her burst out into an annoying fit of laughter. Her voice high pitched and irritating. She almost made his ears bleed. “What’s so funny?”

“You—“ She laughed some more before wiping a few stray tears. “—you are not gay? Honey, everything about you screams gay. I mean—you—I can’t—oh my god—“ She snorted an obnoxious loud chuckle, fox-like-eyes tearing up. Yixing was about to finally do it and smack the life out of her when the tanned stranger made a sudden appearance next to them; a brow quirked upward in amusement.

“What’s so funny?” The girl immediately controlled herself and blushed a deep crimson color. The Chinese male couldn’t understand how she did it but in a blink of eye she was a completely different person. A bashful person that couldn’t even make a decent eye-contact with the man she claimed to be hers just minutes ago. 

“Nothing, can we please leave now.”

It was the first time they met. Jongin never forgot about it and Yixing barley managed to remember it.

∞

A month later Yixing found himself staring at his mirror reflection with a light frown gracing his pale face. He was wearing a navy suit that fit him perfectly, his hair nicely slicked back and white dress shirt fully buttoned. He looked drop dead gorgeous, he knew that well enough but still he couldn’t shake the uneasiness he was feeling for god knows why. A bit of insecurity mixed with a hint of anxiety made him feel like throwing up. He changed his mind, he would look even nicer with his bangs on; his forehead was too big for his liking. Just as he was about to comb his hair down his mother knocked on his door and asked him to come downstairs. He took a long shaky breath to calm his nerves before softly murmuring back an ‘I’m coming’ to his mother.

People were dressed to impress. High heels, short dresses and expensive perfume made the men in the room go nuts, Yixing was no exception. He allowed his gaze to roam all over the guests in his house’s dashing ballroom. Soft classical music and even softer murmurs filled the spacious room in a somehow soothing way. He was going to be introduced to their society as the next CEO of the Zhangs' branches of Medical Devices Companies. He was so nervous; agitated with sheer panic. He couldn’t help but swallow his alcoholic drink in one gulp as he approached a familiar bunch of his father’s coworkers. Yixing greeted them with a charming smile after bowing in respect to them, they all smiled warmly at his sight and wasted no time to make him feel welcomed into their world of business. Just a few minutes afterwards, he politely excused himself from an insanely boring conversation and left the crowded ballroom heading towards a hopefully empty large veranda. He needed some fresh air, and he needed it fast. To his unpleasant surprise the veranda wasn’t empty, his neighbor Kim Jaejoong was standing there alone with an unreadable expression as he gazed at the Zhangs' stunning front garden. He looked sad and tired and Yixing felt related to him somehow.  

“Not a big fan of ballroom parties?” Yixing loosened his tie a bit as he made his presence announced. Jaejoong smiled but didn’t look at him.

“Something of that sort.” The Chinese male hummed as he approached the ceramic railing and leaned his suit cladded body against it. They stood in a comfortable silence for a moment before the elder averted his gaze towards Yixing and broke it. “These kinds of parties remind me of someone I once lost.” 

“They do?” Jaejoong hummed, his beautiful face looking even more enchanting under the moon’s pale light.

“The weather is quite nice today, don’t you think?” Yixing nodded with a light smile.

“Yeah, a nice change from the past few weeks’ terrible one.” Jaejoong ran his hand through his hair with a sigh. He took something out of his pocket and handed it to Yixing with a sad smile on display. Yixing blinked at the thing before glancing back up at the elder in confusion. “I want you to take them Yixing, I no longer need them. But you, you’re still young and I’m sure your girlfriend would love to have one of these.”

“I can’t—I…I don’t have a girlfriend.” Jaejoong grabbed Yixing’s slender hand and pushed the two half-heart necklaces into the younger boy’s hand forcefully.

“I insist Yixing, take them. If you don’t have a lover at the moment, I’m pretty sure you’ll have one in the near future. You’re a well mannered good looking guy any girl would want you.” The elder’s eyes pleaded him, it’s like he was desperate to get rid of the necklaces and Yixing found himself absurdly stuck between getting offended and being flattered.

“O—kay, eh, yeah okay, thanks hyung.” Jaejoong nodded with a smile and Yixing grinned awkward