Just a little incident | Junhao

9

The Seoul National University College of Music certainly beat every high expectations that Minghao had, starting right from the very moment he entered the banquet hall. Huili, being a highly regarded professor there, had been very adamant on being punctual, so naturally her brother had no choice but to turn up half an hour early with her. 

He looked around the place in awe, jaw open and everything. The place was exquisitely decorated, without anything looking too gaudy. The clothed tables had been numbered and assigned with individual guest names. He checked for his own seat, relieved when he found that he was sitting next to Junhui at the same table, though it was the one apparently reserved for the people way higher-up in their career advancements. He found it strange, but it didn't really matter how he got there. Later, Junhui had explained that Huili had called in a special favour with the board of directors who seemed to really like her and asked for all four of them, including her mystery man to be seated in the same table. 

The attendants handed a program booklet to him, which stated the list of events for the night. Minghao stopped at the side to read it, just to prepare himself. The first course of dinner would start, then a guest of honour would be speaking, a lady named Elizabeth Liu, who Minghao found out had been a very generous donator to the school. She also happened to be seating at the same table as them along with a few members from the board of directors (and would later arrive twenty minutes late). He flipped through the booklet, astonished to see Junhui's name under the list of three performances there. 

Junhui clarified that it was only a simple accompaniment to a top student playing Chopin on the violin, yet another favour called in by his sister. "I'll have you know," Junhui said, "I'd have been a pianist if it weren't for veterinary." Perhaps the two siblings were wealthier and much more reputable than he thought. After much wandering around, and multiple refused offers of champagne on Junhui's part, the gala had finally started. 

The hall was filled with guests dressed up in different levels of extravagance, all gathered in small groups, each of their animated conversations turning to gossip, exactly what Junhui found the most pretentious about such events. The ladies, with their diamond necklaces glinting under the light, to the men, with watches decked in such expensive detail that the time was no longer readable, all polite to your faces until you turn around and no longer do they string together words of praise about you to others. 

Still, he had to get through the night regardless. The only way to do so was smile and shake hands, then stay in his seat nodding at everything the important people said until everything was over. On the other hand, he understood Minghao had never attended such an event before, and he didn't want to turn it into such a bore for the other. So, just for tonight, he was willing to go the extra mile. He watched as the younger accepted a flute of champagne from the attendants, sipping on it gratefully. 

"It's a bit loud in here." He whispered, casually slipping past a few guests to reach Minghao's side. 

"I don't know about you, but I could get used to the food and free champagne." Minghao answered back. That's what they all say, until they've lived a life full of it and suddenly they despise it. 

Not long later, they were called back to their seats as the night opened with a wide array of appetizers. Minghao dug in to the food, cautiously making sure he ate presentably. At the same time, he responded politely to a man sitting beside him, who talked of nothing more than his car collection. His attention, however, was redirected to the scene beside him. The president of the university (Minghao read from the booklet) had offered a plate of stuffed and sauteed mushrooms to Junhui, who seemingly had a hidden look of disgust on his face. 

Without thinking, he blurted out, "He doesn't like mushrooms." In that split moment, he would loved nothing more than to take his words back as almost every person at the table turned to look at him. Junhui, seating right beside him, stared in surprise.

"How'd you know?" He asked.

Minghao struggled to plaster a calm demeanour to his facial expressions. "Well, you mentioned it once... sometime." All around him, the table broke out in small laughter, and quickly returned to its initial conversation. He smiled awkwardly. 

Everyone quietened down as the emcee returned to the stage, halting all service of food, much to Minghao's disappointment. The emcee proceeded to give a quick but ceremonious introduction for the next speaker, Elizabeth. Minghao watched the way she gracefully stepped up to the stage and smiled at the audience. It was familiar, but he just couldn't put his finger on it. 

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Minghao was starving as Elizabeth concluded her speech, so he was extra relieved when the attendants started bringing out more platters of food. The next course of food had arrived, and the attendants were busy distributing equal portions to everyone. He watched Huili and Junhui eat with grace, forking small pieces of meat into their mouth like it was normal to be eating this every day. It made perfect sense, that the two siblings might have an air of wealth to them. He stared at Junhui in a new light. Of course, he had no doubt Junhui and Huili were both this successful as a result of their own efforts, but not springing such a surprise would have been helpful. 

Despite his initial hesitance towards the event, he managed to sit still and even enjoy Huili's beautiful performance of Rachmaninoff prelude, and Junhui's Chopin nocturne. After two hours, when the gala was coming to a close, he'd taken the opportunity to speak with a few people, leaving the table and walking around to mingle. 

Junhui had stuck to Huili for most of the evening, only talking to people when he absolutely needed to. He was feeling quite overwhelmed, as dozens of people slowly made their way over to discuss his family's riches to him. This same reason made him shy away from associating himself to his mother, who just so happened to be watching him from afar. He preferred some peace and quiet over anything else. "Where's Minghao?" Huili asked, scooting her chair closer to him and further away from the loud guest beside her. 

Junhui glanced over, and finally noticed the empty chair beside him. He quickly stood up, swearing under his breath. How could he let Minghao get lost in a place like this? 

Though, it didn't take him long to find the younger. He'd tapped Minghao's shoulder, only for him to turn around with a red tinge to his cheeks, and his words slurring slightly. "Jun!" He said, all giggly. Junhui's arm shot out and wrapped itself loosely around his waist, to stop him from swaying too violently. 

"How much champagne have you had?" He leaned in closer, and all he could smell was the scent of the strawberry bubbly. 

"Just two!" Minghao exclaimed, but his fingers holding up another number told a different story.

Junhui wanted to laugh at Minghao's drunk nature, but it was neither the time nor the place. "Alright, time for you to go home." He announced, leading the other towards the carpark. Since they were both already near the doors, he shot a quick text to his sister to inform her. 

As it turned out, drunk Minghao was quite a handful. Junhui took a good five minutes trying to secure him into the passenger seat, and finally when he had promised the younger lollipops, he managed to start driving. 

Throughout the drive to Minghao's apartment, the car had been pleasantly quiet. The younger was nodding off every once in awhile, and Junhui focused on the road. How do you even get drunk on champagne, he thought. Either way, it was entertaining. A little perk to his night.