Mingyu groaned at the thought of having to wake up early from tomorrow. He couldn't fathom how the break whizzed by so fast, and now he had to spend another term, a new academic year, at Pledis. And he hated the thought. To make it worse, he was going to have to deal with a lot more — the cause being his mother's pointless demands.
Kim Minkyoung. On the outside, it seemed as though she did everything to ensure an over-the-top, successful future for her son, but Mingyu knew she had other motives she immaculately sugar-coated.
During dinner the previous evening, Minkyoung had demanded something Mingyu would never be able to fulfil. She wanted him to date, and make ties, with Lee fucking Chaeyeon. "We're both important families leading the country's economy, Mingyu, and we need our heirs to be just as efficient. And there's no other way Minjun and I could think of. This is a final, mutual decision, and we both would like it if Chaeyeon and you could cooperate without any childish fuss."
These exact words had been ringing in Mingyu's ears for the past twenty-four hours. Chaeyeon, as he figured from the way she had responded over text last night, was also, gladly, against this entire business pact.
Having kept silent in the house since yesterday, Mingyu wondered what his mother would ask for, further, if he finally spoke up, and when it reached the matter of public announcement. There was no way Mingyu would let that happen – to himself, or to Chaeyeon – whose relationship could be at stake.
Mingyu rolled out of bed a while later, sleepless. He needed to talk to Chaeyeon before dealing with the matter in person the next day. And so he did, holding the phone to his ear until she picked up.
"Mingyu? What's up?" she spoke, sounding as tense as he felt.
"Hey..."
"Are you thinking about it again?"
Mingyu sighed, "yeah, it's really disturbing,"
"It is."
"What do we do?"
"I really don't know, I've let Hyewon know for now. She doesn't sound happy."
"Of course she won't," Mingyu snorted, "why would you expect her to accept it just like that?"
"Shut up."
"I can't let anything happen to her, Mingyu. You know how these rich parents are," sighed Chaeyeon, "they will cross all limits just for their profit, and I'm sure as hell Mum would be the first one to remove Hyewon from the picture. She doesn't seem too fond of her in the first place."
"You've mentioned."
"Maybe if you could, you know, pretend to be in a relationship as well... I think it should work?" Chaeyeon suggested, and it got Mingyu thinking.
It wasn't a bad idea, he wondered. Maybe he could make it seem like a secret relationship he had had all along, and then make a show of revealing it to his mother if she pestered him all the more. Sounded like a fool-proof plan to Mingyu.
And it was right where he remembered to address the biggest setback— he had no one to pretend being in a relationship with. Mingyu didn't even know anyone plausible enough other than Chaeyeon.
Mingyu snickered, "I'm sorry missy, but did you forget I literally don't talk to anyone other than you?"
"Well, get the fuck out of your shell and talk to someone!" Chaeyeon snapped, "but I'm pretty sure you do know some people other than me, you're just too much of a pussy to go and talk."
"You're right about the last part, but I really don't know anyone else."
"What about Jeon Wonwoo? You sure as hell interact with him a bit too much, for you to consider him your rival."
Mingyu froze. What had made her say something so ridiculously outrageous? "What the fuck?" he growled, "are you fucking stupid?"
"Woah, calm down Tiger, it was just a suggestion. But I'm right, aren't I?"
"Did you forget what happened before break?"
"I know, Mingyu, but you don't expect someone to hold a grudge for over a month?"
"He's been holding a grudge for over a year just because of one point!" he whisper-yelled into his phone, "and suddenly he'd be all rainbows and sunshine, agreeing to go out with me?!"
"I'm sorry Mingyu, but since he's the only one you talk to, other than me, he's your best bet."
"Nope. Never. It's not happening. I'd rather get disowned by the Kims than talk to him voluntarily."
"Then I don't have anything else to offer... Wait I have to go, Hyewonnie's calling, I'll talk to you tomorrow. Goodnight."
"Sleep well."
"You too."
--
Mingyu, in fact, wasn't ready to get disowned by the Kims, as he figured while brushing his teeth the next morning. But he wasn't ready to talk to Wonwoo either.
Why was Chaeyeon so unnecessarily helpful? Now he was going to end up spending at least a day thinking about her suggestion. Not that he would actually consider it, but the thoughts still lingered for the whole time Mingyu did his hair after a shower, and throughout the entirety of breakfast. It was his favourite today – waffles, with a generous amount of fruit and suspiciously gourmet whipped cream. Mingyu didn't know even whipped cream could be gourmet.
He took a leisurely stroll around the exterior of the mansion just for the sake of it, and partly because his chauffeur was being too slow again. Mingyu was getting late for his classes, but no one could really explain that to a mere chauffeur.
He seriously considered biking to Pledis once, and he was sure as hell he would reach earlier than usual. Unfortunately, he had to sit in his car, grumbling to himself, looking out the window during the whole ride.
Chaeyeon was there to greet him with a hug as soon as he entered the building. Mingyu was taken aback; he'd never hugged anyone before. Chaeyeon giggled evilly as she pulled away, pointing out Mingyu's obvious cluelessness.
"Hello to you too, Chaeyeon,"
"Hi," she grinned.
"So, what happened with Hyewon last night?"
"Is it that obvious?"
"Yeah,"
So Chaeyeon proceeded to tell Mingyu all the things she talked to her girlfriend about. This was all new to Mingyu; he'd never talked so much with any of his past friends, not even Soonyoung or Minghao.
"So, how was break?" asked Chaeyeon, walking next to Mingyu till their classroom.
Mingyu presumed him rolling his eyes was a plausible response.
"It sure seems like it wasn't the best,"
"Any time I spend in the house is terrible."
"Aww, I wish you had some company in the house, but not siblings. Having siblings is not for the weak,"
"No, but I'd rather not have company in the house. Mother wouldn't like it,"
"Why?"
"She doesn't like it when I associate myself with anyone below our supposed status,"
"That's..." Chaeyeon hesitated to complete the remark.
"Go on, I wouldn't care," prodded Mingyu.
"She seems like a very uh- Uptight person, no?"
Mingyu chuckled. "Trust me, she's worse."
