Chapter 2: Belle

“Finished!”

Myungsoo beamed triumphantly as he emptied the last of his boxes and placed the book on his bookshelf.

“Finally!” Hoya groaned.

“All you did was eat my ramyun and watch me unpack!" 

“Why are you so stingy about ramyun?! I haven't eaten ramyun in 6 months! And for your information, I was supervising.” Hoya clarified.

"Right...Supervising."

“Well Myung, you've moved here since 5 months ago yet you've only finished unpacking everything now. It was getting pretty stuffed in here.” Hoya complained whilst shaking his head dramatically.

Myungsoo rolled his eyes at his 'hyung' even though he acted like an little at kid at times. Actually, most times.

Hoya's phone rang and he visibly brightened when he saw the screen. Probably a certain girl that he was infatuated with from class.

“I gotta take this.” Hoya excused himself and walked off to the balcony over looking the busy streets that were lined with preened trees and immaculate pedestrians.

Myungsoo inspected his own apartment; adjusting the blinds and moving the books like the perfectionist he was.
It was still early; just past 10 in the morning and his fingers were itching to grab his camera and explore. He hasn't really had time to see all of Paris. There was just so much to see. Too much to distract him.

Ever since being “relocated” to Paris (not that he can complain), he had become immersed with his studies,the beau monde life he led and occasionally, bouts of wine tasting.

You see, Kim Myungsoo was one of the scion of Korea's elite; the youngest of the three Kim brothers. Their father is the CEO of one of Korea's biggest conglomerate; though he ruled with an iron fist, he actually had a good sense of humour.

His brothers, though good natured and softies, had engaged in a full out war to inherit the company.
In their efforts to better their chances; they somehow managed to convinced their father to send him here to Paris. In pursuit of 'furthering his studies' in business school.

Like he said, he couldn't complain. There were worse places that he could've been deposited to. He was just glad it was Paris.

“Myung, I have to go meet someone.” Hoya said whilst grabbing his jacket.

“Someone by the name of Jung Eunji? ” He asked slyly.

“Maybe.” Hoya grinned.

“Just date already! You have no guts, hyung.” Myungsoo cried exasperatedly.

“It's not that easy, you know.”

“You don't have to court her, it is the 21st century, hyung. Just ask her out on a proper date.”

“Well, you see, I'm planning to ask tomorrow...But.”

“Why do I get a bad feeling about this ‘but’?” Myungsoo sighed.

“You see... Eunji has this roomate. And she's really pretty! So...”

“No” Myungsoo rejected him before he could even finish his sentence.

“But Myung!”

“I don't do blind dates. You know I don't do blind dates.”

“But Myungsoo! Just sit there and talk! Please! For me! You know how awkward I am with her alone!”

“You're always awkward.” Myungsoo pointed out bluntly.

“I am not! Please!” Hoya vehemently denied much to the doubt of the other guy.

“Fine! But no more blind dates. Ever. Again.” Myungsoo warned him. Hoya jumped excitedly and hugged him.

“Thank you! Thank you, Myung! I owe you one!”

“Yah! Hyung, get off me!”

“Okay, okay. I gotta go now. See you tomorrow.” Hoya said, patting the younger one's back and heading out the door.

“How should I spend my Sunday morning?” He asked himself, looking around in his empty apartment.

After changing into an all black ensemble. Well... Most of the garments in his closet are black anyway.

He strode out of his apartment and took the nearby metro to the Île de la Cité; where the Marché aux fleurs was located.

He knew that Sundays were when the flowers were replaced by birds. Being a photographer, he naturally gravitated towards beautiful things.

And the thought of capturing natural beauty in the central  Paris tempted him.

Greatly.

Emerging from the Cité metro exit and straight into the heart of the market.

The melodious bird songs and the squeaks filled his ears. The potted plants and little bird were lined up on display, tourist and and children poked their fingers through the tiny cages of honey yellow canaries and rainbow parrots, all curious at the feathered creatures.

He took a few shots, of the plants, the people and the birds.

When he suddenly collided with a girl.
Quickly, he gripped his precious camera but also caught the girl and steadied her before she could fall backwards.

He froze when he saw her.

Anyone could tell she was Korean... And anyone could see that she was absolutely beautiful.

Lustrous wavy ebony hair framed her face, tall and slim, cherry red lips shaped in an ‘o’ as she blinked confusedly.
She wore dark blue jeans that hugged her figure, a cream sweater and pink ballet flats that revealed her real height. She desperately tightened her grip on her bag, which he could see, had orchids peeking out of them.

“G-gwenchana?” He blurted out without thinking and mentally slapped himself. 

He was Kim Myungsoo for Heaven's sake! Why was he stuttering?!
Girls are enamoured by him, not the other way around!
Why was he acting like this?!

“Deh” She replied shortly after reality hit back and suddenly gasped.

He wondered why.

He stared at her for a full second, when she looked up to him and their eyes met. At an instant, she made his heart skip a beat.

Every thought vanished from his head at that one moment. He was irrevocably enchanted by this stranger whom he randomly met on the street.

And then she changed; it was so quick that it shocked him.The glimmer in her eye disappeared, replaced by cold indifference. She distanced herself mentally far far away. That puzzled him, and he was used to solving problems. Too used to knowing the answer to everything.

“Excusez-moi.” She brushed coolly past him, not even giving him a double take.

Had he done something wrong?
He turned around and eyes fixed on her back as she got into a cab; disappearing with the last whiff of her sweet perfume and a flutter of her long tresses.
And her orchids.

Adjusting back to his surroundings,he shook his head as if that was going to erase her.

I'll probably never meet her again.

“Belle.” He whispered to himself.

Beautiful.

“Quand l'un tombe, l'un ne tombe jamais bien”

 When one falls, one never falls well.

-Alexandre Dumas

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A/n: I can't update as often as I want too... mian~

If I could have it my way,I would sleep write and eat all day...

But it's exam year for me and school is just taking up all my time....T_T

Thank you for reading ~