𝑾𝑰𝑳𝑳𝑶𝑾 (Taejin)

Part 10

Jin

Jin woke up around late evening, judging from the slipping sun and the yellow-red sky he saw when he opened his eyes.

Getting up sleepily, he switched on the lights of his room and shut the windows. Proceeding to rub his eyes and opening them again, he realised where he was. In the castle. A bedroom in the castle. His own bedroom.

The thought made him so happy that he gave out an excited yelp and jumped around the room until he remembered that he had to call his family. About to make his way outside, Jin looked at his reflection in the mirror- messy hair, the shirt with the hole and the only pair of jeans he owned. Sighing, he combed his fingers through the hair, trying to manage his bangs which kept on falling in his eyes- and tucked the torn part of his shirt in the jeans' waistband.

Then he stepped out.

The first thing he saw were the several cameras propped on the wall pointing towards him, the glass lenses making Jin feel small- as if he had been accused of something. Why would he need so many cameras? He wasn't a prisoner or a criminal of any sort.

Walking down the hallway and trying to replay the direction towards Chanyeol's office, he also saw some other staff people busy in their own jobs like cleaning the furniture or dusting carpets.

Jin hadn't yet met any other royalty here, apart from the Prince himself.

Was Prince Taehyung the only royal family member who lived here in this humongous castle? That must be lonely.

Yes, Jin was poor and had left school and started working since he was very young, but he had never once felt alone. He didn't have any friends but there was his mother who always listened to him and his brother who loved him. That was all he needed. He had a family.

Jin's house was small and cramped and they struggled a lot in trying to maintain it but it still felt like home. It was warm hugs and delicious food and television noise.

Whereas this huge castle with expensive portraits and furnitures, a thousand servants- it felt empty. And bare and cold.

After walking through the wrong corridor at least twice, Jin finally reached Chanyeol's office and knocked on the door slowly. Hearing a curt 'come in', he opened the door and stepped inside.

Chanyeol was still in the same posture Jin had seen him in before, working on the laptop while sitting on the desk chair.

Did he ever get up from that position?

The tall working advisor looks up from his device at Jin, a slight frown on his face. "What is it, Seokjin? Is everything alright?"

"Yes, um...sir. I took a little nap as I was feeling a bit tired but I promise that from tomorrow I would keep up with everything and do my job dutifully". Jin said with a determined tone of voice. Chnayeol hummed. "I wanted to ask...whether I could borrow a phone? I have to call my family back home and let them know that I have arrived".

The frown on the taller man's face deepens. "I hope you know that no contact is to be made with anyone when you are inside the castle as a worker. You can only talk to your relatives or family during your holiday break during winter and meet them only then".

A look of perplexity crowds Jin's face.

He hadn't know about the talking part. How was he to stay in touch with his family and make sure if they were alright?

"Sir, please, at least this once let me call them and let them know I have arrived safely". Jin pleads and sighing Chanyeol takes out his iPhone from his pant pocket.

"Of course you would have arrived safely. No one would have kidnapped you if you were in the royal car". Chanyeol mumbles and hands the other his phone.

Ignoring the comment, Jin quickly dialled their home's landline number, hoping Jungkook or his mother would pick it up soon.

After two rings, the call gets picked up. "Hello?"

It's his brother's voice.

"Kook! It's me, Jin Hyung". Jin says, making sure to lower his volume when Chanyeol glances at him.

"Hyung! What took you so long? Are you alright? Mom was so worried. I wasn't that much stressed because I am a strong man". The other's voice became intentionally deeper.

Jin giggles. "Yes, Jungkookie, you are a very strong man. I have arrived safely but I had fallen asleep. Sorry I couldn't call you sooner".

"It's okay, hyung. I understand you must have been tired. How is the castle? Are you comfortable there?"

"The castle is huge, like expected and my stay is nice. I am afraid I can't say more".

"Oh. Right. Privacy". Jungkook says from the other end. His brother's voice then picks up volume. "Have you met the Prince yet, hyung? How is he?"

Jin side eyes Chanyeol to see he is focused on a file. "Yes, Kook. I met the Prince. He was....".

He hears Chanyeol mumble 'jerk' while looking at the papers and Jin's eyes widen.

Did Chanyeol just call the Prince a jerk?

"...he is very good, Kook. Kind and sweet. Like expected".

Chanyeol shakes his head and gets up from the seat, making Jin pause. The other than takes his phone from Jin's hands. "That is all the time I can give you to talk, Seokjin. You aren't supposed to make calls in the first place". He hangs up the call.

Jin remains standing there, sad at the fact that he was unable to say bye or talk to his mother or explain why the call got cut.

"Dinner is served around this time for all staff workers. You have to go the kitchen and have it. Did anyone show you where the main kitchen is?" Chanyeol asks while seating himself again, putting the iPhone back in his pocket.

Jin nods. Hoseok had shown him each and everything.

"Good. You can leave then. You get around thirty minutes to complete your meal". Saying this, Chanyeol looks back at his laptop and Jin takes it as a cue to leave.

Disgruntled about the call situation, Jin made his way to the kitchen- still finding the empty halls, excluding a few people cleaning- empty and scary. Even if the lights were bright.

He wondered when he could meet Hoseok again. He was the only one Jin knew properly.

He also thought about where the Prince was. He had never once seen him in the hallways.

Climbing down the stairs till the ground floor and turning to the kitchen, he sees two young girls with the same black and white uniform, Jin had seen earlier- leaning against a wall and talking.

"....you hear that? Poor girl. Another one of his playthings". A girl with a high nose says in a conspiratorial manner.

The second girl nods. "Ryujin was cleaning the room right next to his, when she heard screams and moans. I would say she is lucky".

The first one giggles. "Liz was literally limping after that. The Prince must have been super rough on her. I swear most of the girls...and even boys... intentionally make him angry to end up like that".

Jin's face flushes and his eyes widen at hearing the words spoken through gossip between the two young girls.

Before he can ask them what they mean by 'going rough', a woman comes from the door behind him, accidentally pushing Jin into the sight of the two girls.