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purple

royalty, that's what he was. well, almost anyway..

the lights of the kitchen highlighted the pristine white walls, reflecting the room. outside, he could hear the makanes playing video games; their happy noises reaching his ears. sighing softly, he put his headphones back on and increased the volume of his music. in his hands, he held a tablet along with a digital pencil. unfinished drawings, unfinished ideas; what else could he do except try to finish them?

hwang hyunjin was the pretty boy. sometimes, he wondered if that was all he was. the first thing every person would say to him when they first met him, 'you're so pretty!' clearly that wasn't all he had, right?

that's what his parents brought him up to be. the perfect son, for whom nothing was too hard. he was given the title of 'prince' when he was younger, enchancing his status as an almost royal. being born into one of the richest families of korea would prove to be both a curse and a boon for hyunjin. the business tycooons, the galas, the atmosphere; all of it was embedded in his mind, stuck firmly. no slouching, no smiling too wide while showing his teeth, no talking louder than a certain octave, all this for what? did it really matter in the end? fourteen year old hyunjin didn't know at that time. but he was sure he would realise sooner or later.

his parents worked in the business industry, specialising in the trade of foreign goods imported from other exotic countries. from a young age, he was told to come to the meetings. he would stay in the background as he watched his father talk. he was never really impressed. until a special shipment of goods came from germany.

a special art company. they had requested the presence of hyunjin's father for a meeting, he had grudgingly agreed, clearly not interested in whatever they were saying. the boy standing at the back took in every word with wide eyes. he didn't care if it wasn't worth the investment or if art was something he shouldn't spend his time in. this was something completely different from anything else he experienced.

so that started it. so many nights, he stayed up telling his parents he was studying. in the glow of his phone light, he created anything that he wanted, a world where he didn't have to live by the rules and where everything he wanted was within the grasp of his hands. he was as infatuated with art as a smoker with nicotine or an addict with drugs. in his life, this was the one thing that kept him alive. however, like all things were this too was short lived.

6 times.

that's how many times his father beat him on the head. his mother hated it as much as he did, but for different reasons. she screamed about how her boy's beauty would disappear and how his hair was getting damaged. hyunjin was broken in two ways that day.

that didn't stop him from quitting art. he graduated high school with honours and moved out of his parents house. art would always be his first love. the members understood that. hyunjin loved them too much, sometimes he wondered what he loved more. pretty was no longer a main adjective he wanted to use for himself. first he was hwang hyunjin and then pretty boy, he was never letting go of that title any time soon. the dude knew he was beautiful and accepted it way too openly.

"hyunjin! tell them that we need to eat that 5 course meal again! guys guys ugh-!"
hyunjin chuckled softly as he adjusted his glasses. gazing up at felix who smiled widely at him. "uh lix that's not the most practical option right now..?" "nooo not you too!"

he smiled sweetly before checking the messages on his phone. a certain picture caught his eye as the group chat's display picture came into view. all 9 of them, together in one photo. those times never died. illuminated by the memories, he decided to take a short break and go and call changbin from the basement where he probably was, blowing off steam.

his hand ached for his drawing tool, his brain went into work mode as he turned back to gaze at the tablet on the kitchen table. hmm.. changbin could wait for a few more minutes. he grinned as he drew the silhouettes of the members, shading their bodies according to the sun in the picture. he was slightly aware of jeongin resting his head on his shoulder; the younger gasping and murmuring words of praise to the older.

hyunjin saved his drawing and turned to the clock. ninety minutes?! that long? well, it was common knowledge that he got immersed in his work when he was really into it. he willed himself to get up from the table, passing the makanes in the hall; they were still playing.

as he made his way down the stairs to the basement, he smiled. a small smile, filled with unsaid thoughts. he didn't know when or how his art or members could be taken away from him from a snobby royal like his father. but hyunjin being the prince he was wasn't going to back out.

after all, along with their beauty, aren't royals also known for their stubbornness?

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wow another chapter done an we're still not at the main storyline yet 💀
tbh i really enjoyed writing this one. it's not as dark as changbin's tho
okay time for today's question!
-what role do you think hyunjin would play if a disagreement occurred between the members? (foreshadowing? maybe..)-
see y'all next chapter!
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