Falling Flower (A Meanie Fanfic)

8. Pretty You

The rain came dancing along with the strong winds the next morning. Wonwoo swam through the same nightmares but this time it was not just his familiar nightmares. He saw a scar, the bearer of the scar was stabbing someone, there came a scream and then everything was burning. He woke up gasping for breath.



The morning passed with Mingyu teaching him the sword moves. He had to agree  for someone of that age, Mingyu was quite skilled. They practiced in a raised veranda at the back of the house.

Mingyu looked quite unreal as he swinged his sword, the rain became more stronger as the time went by. A few strands of his hair were wet from the rain. When he moved around it almost seemed like a dance.

"My Lord. Swing like this"
"Not that"
"Like this ...oh no"

Wonwoo obviously struggled to make those swings, even the simplest of them. He regretted agreeing to practice. And Mingyu's rolled sleeves and wet hair were not really helpful for Wonwoo to concentrate.

The dark blue hanbok of the guard reminded Wonwoo of his first love. His senior who wore a navy blue shirt in their middle school festival.   The senior was really popular with girls, the junior girls used to follow him around and  the guys were envious of him. Wonwoo never really dated or loved anyone after that heartbreak.

That farewell of high school still lingered in his memories. It was a rainy day just like the present. That senior guy always helped him, gave him chocolates on white day and he even gave a rose to him. Wonwoo acted like a nonchalant cool kid, but his heart was bursting with that senior's  kind acts. Blotted ink on a shirt and some mere scribbles those  sweet words welcomed him to a labyrinth dressed in fairy lights. He confessed without expecting anything in return only to experience his first and last greeting with homophobia that gave him bruises and a broken nose.

He was still attracted to men after that incident  but he kept it to himself  while the attraction vanished with time. Now Mingyu was making his heart quiver and the rain seemed like a melody singing to his longings. But this world was far worse than the modern world. Mingyu will really stab him for being gay if not for being the enemy of the Kims.

"I am trying okay. I have no experience or skills." Wonwoo snapped. He was more annoyed with himself than with Mingyu's nagging.

Mingyu was amused to see the prince lose his patience. The prince's sleeves flowed in the air like wings as he tried to attempt the swings. It was a pathetic try but still the prince looked like a deity. The white attire made him look otherworldly. Mingyu couldn't understand why he felt so peaceful around this prince. There was not that fear of the war or the need to achieve something. He just needed to protect this prince and the prince didn't even expect that mere protection from him.

"Try again."

"Oh yeah...yess..!! I remember the crown prince asked me for tea yesterday. I need to visit him. Let's continue this another day."

"Okay" Mingyu knew the prince was trying to escape practice but he allowed it.

The prince changed into a light blue attire. He needed to distract himself from these confusing feelings and the best way was to dissect the murder/ poisoning going around the palace.

Wonwoo decided to walk in the rain rather than take a palanquin. He enjoyed walks and rain. The umbrella did little to keep them dry but still it was useful.

The crown prince's residence was elegant.  It seemed like the crown prince was already expecting him. A guard guided them through the door into the prince's chamber.