Not Quite a Prince || Eric Sohn

~ 24 ~

Eric lay curled up in bed, unsure of what she was bringing to cheer him up. He wished she'd hurry back. He didn't want to be alone right now. 

He heard a knock on his door and sat up in bed as she entered. 

With Juyeon and his parents right behind her. 

He gasped, jumping out of bed so fast that he crashed to the floor. His parents rushed towards him as he heard the familiar click of Chanmi locking his room door. 

"You guys came!" he cried, standing up and hugging his parents tightly. Through his tears, he smiled at Juyeon and Chanmi. 

"We're sorry we couldn't come sooner," his mom whispered, stroking his hair lovingly. 

He sniffed, trying and failing to stop the happy and relieved tears from spilling from his eyes. "That's okay," he told them. "What matters is that you're here now. Thank you. For not abandoning me."

"We'd never abandon you," his dad said, his voice a mixture between gentle and stern. "Don't ever think that. We just..." 

"They weren't allowed," Chanmi said, sounding angry. Eric looked behind his parents and at her, seeing unshed tears shimmering in her eyes. Angry tears. "The King and Queen wouldn't let them," she continued, balling her hands into fists. She looked ready to go fight them.

"How have you been?" his mom asked, putting hands on both sides of his face and looking at him with wide eyes. "You've been eating? Healthy? Happy?" 

"I've been okay," he laughed, wiping the tears from his face. "I just really, really missed you guys." 

"We missed you too," Juyeon said softly. "More than you know."

He noticed his dad looking down at his watch, and then share an apprehensive look with Juyeon. 

Eric understood. They couldn't stay any longer, they could get caught. Maybe they even had work right now. He faked a yawn, stretching. He was certain his mother would see right through him, but he smiled and said, "I'm tired. I'm going to go to sleep... so you should probably go for now. But come back to visit soon. Even if Chanmi has to sneak you in." 

His mom hugged him again. "Always be happy," she whispered, holding him tight. "Being a Prince is hard, I'm sure it is. But try to be happy, please."

Be happy. 

He couldn't help glancing at Chanmi, and was partially relieved to find that she wasn't looking his way. 

Be happy. 

He was happy when he was with her. Really happy. Every day they spent together, he could feel his feelings for her intensifying. 

He wanted to be with her. He wanted to hold her hand and hug her. He wanted to spend more time with her. He wanted to be allowed to do more things with her. 

He wanted to confess to her. 

Eric escorted his parents and Juyeon out the door. He stood in the hallway for a moment, watching them go, when he felt Chanmi's hand on his shoulder. 

"You okay?" she whispered. 

A smile came to his face. She really cared about him. Whether it was as a friend or something more, he didn't know. But he did know that she cared. She showed it in all her actions towards him. She wasn't just doing his job, but she was being his friend. She was supporting him. For goodness sake, she'd argued with the King and Queen for him. And now, she'd done this.

He nodded, leading the way back into his room. He heard the door lock behind them and listened to the soft sound of her footsteps as she followed him deeper into the room. 

He reached the middle of the room and then turned around, suddenly facing her. Her eyes searched his: worried. 

Eric smiled at her and he reached out, grabbing hold of her hands and pulling her a step closer to him. Not so that they were really close, but just so that they were closer. She raised an eyebrow at him, but thankfully she didn't pull away. 

"Thank you," he said softly, a smile still gracing his lips. He hoped she couldn't tell how nervous he was. "You're amazing." 

Chanmi laughed, shaking her head at him playfully. "Cheer up now, will you? I can't stand seeing  you sad."

"Thanks for caring about me." 

"Why are you suddenly so serious," she joked, squeezing his hands. "Really, don't thank me. You're a good friend so-" 

"Chanmi," he whispered, interrupting her before she could officially friendzone him. "I don't want to be friends anymore."

Her face took on a guarded look. "What?" she asked, her eyes telling him that she hoped this was a joke. 

"I don't want to be friends anymore... because I like you. I like you, Park Chanmi."

***

A/N

I felt like posting an extra chapter so... hope you enjoyed😉