The Titanic Incident » xiuhan

Chapter 13

Hello, dear readers. Thank you so much for your support, your likes, your comments, your messages. They mean the world to me.

I have found the separate point of views of the characters to be rather tricky. After a lot of pondering, I have decided to move to 3rd person view in this story. I will be able to bring out the story and the characters better in this view and to create longer and more intricate chapters.
I have been thinking about this for a while, and I want to create better content for you.
This change will provide me that opportunity.
Please give me feedback about it, whether you like it or not.

And as always, thank you.

***

"Are you sure you won't get into trouble if people recognise you?" Minseok asked, a nervous tone evident in his voice as the two were sat in the cafeteria. It hasn't been that long after breakfast for Luhan, but he sure felt like he needed another cup of coffee - as a distraction for silent, maybe awkward moments. Luhan shrugged to the other, not letting the man opposite to him know he'd already received some rather strange looks from people who knew him.

He didn't want to make the other one too worried. His conscience seemed to be knocking on the back of his head heavily enough already.

"You don't need to worry. If that happens, I'll just know to drop my connections with them..." Luhan continued, crossing his legs under the table carefully to not to kick the other in the process.

Minseok didn't notice the shift movement of the other as he was too lost in what he was saying.
"...people who judge others based on their wealth are painfully shallow. I don't need that kind of people in my life."

Minseok felt a little stunned by the words that were flowing in the air by the one he looked greatly up to, it was like poetry. In a casual cafeteria setting. He fiddled with his fingers, feeling a little insecure over his small words and quiet voice, like whatever he said didn't have such a deep meaning as something the other had said so casually.

"That's... good." he finally mouthed, careful to conceal what kind of a storm he was having inside of his head. He felt so messed up by only Luhan's presence that a part of him wanted to run away, run, hide, never come back. He didn't know why he was having such a dark feeling, and he was afraid it was leaking out from his eyes and was visible. Which it was to the sharp-eyed partner he was seated opposite to, but it wasn't mentioned.

Luhan couldn't help a small smile at the man, how he seemed to sink lower into his seat whenever he said something, how he was shy enough to try to avoid eye contact when he said his chosen words. The smile seemed to go unnoticed. Spotting a waitress, he waved at her to come take their orders. She nodded, yet stayed next to the table she was occupied to. The older bald and glassy-eyed gentleman for sure had a lot to say to the young woman, poorly working here.

What had driven Minseok into working here? He suddenly thought as he was staring at the floor with aimless eyes. Was he too poor? He did look like he'd struggle financially but what would he need money for in here? He was so curious.

"What are you going to get?" he was suddenly asked by a shy-ish voice and brought himself back to this world, still finding the waitress stuck with the older gentleman and the same young person seated at the same table with him.

"I was thinking about a coffee... you?" Luhan answered, returning the question. Minseok felt a little bit more confident in himself, feeling like he could create actual conversation instead of just sitting there. "Wait, it's still first classes' time for brunch, isn't it?" the rich suddenly realised, seeing no more people than a few richer fellows in the cafeteria. Minseok nodded, feeling a bit uneasy. He was afraid someone would come by and pick on them, saying hey, this kid fo' sure isn't any first class person, cut the crap and get out of here, you don't deserve it, you don't deserve us.

"Uh-huh. Didn't even realise. God, you must be hungry, it's been so long since breakfast. Don't you worry," Luhan said like it was nothing and smiled sweetly at the other, feeling his face burning slightly as their eyes made contact and Minseok's face softened, the tenseness disappearing partly.

"Okay."

***

Almost exactly fifteen minutes later and a couple steaming cups of coffee and some breakfast material arrived later, the feeling in the air had gone from nearly intensively tense to comfortable, nice. Something they both were happy to feel.

A pat on Minseok's shoulder made him shudder and he turned his head around quickly to see someone familiar from the day before; Tao. He had a smirk drawn across his face as he looked briefly at the older and then the younger, Luhan's expression changing from confused to a grin. Tao left no time for conversation as he created one mischevious smile at Minseok and excused himself non-verbally, walking away his back straight and head up - like it seemed to belong.

"Do you know him?" Luhan blurted out, somewhat baffled his fairly good friend from the good old Southampton had known a peasant such as his partner. He replied with just a nod, reaching out to stir his still piping hot coffee with the little spoon. "Yeah. He came across to me and a couple friends yesterday as we were playing chess in the lounge," he said, looking at his opponent occasionally, "I don't know why, though." Luhan chuckled. "That sounds like what he typically does. Goes around, talking to people. Always going and doing."

He dragged his finger across the rim of the mug. "You should've invited him to play a round of chess. He sucks at it," he sneered, amused. Minseok grinned, thinking of challenging the other one later for a game or two. Luhan and Tao, both. Would be funny if he'd beat them, he thought as he reached for the sandwich Luhan had insisted on ordering for him. He hadn't been wrong. He was starving.

Biting into the sandwich his face had a satisfied look and Luhan sipped on his already second cup of coffee of the day.

"Did you skip breakfast or?" Luhan questioned, feeling relished by the strong coffee as he was more or less obviously watching how the other munched on the sandwich. Minseok swallowed. "Yes, actually, it was so early when I should've gotten to the breakfast but I was too busy with Suho and Kai..." he talked, putting his bread down. "Oh, I've heard those names somewhere," Luhan said vaguely, not even realising how much it made the other's face burn. Oh, the morning had been full of action, truly, he thought.

Luhan uncrossed his legs and moved his ankle, feeling it to be a little stiff.

"How's your... Hand doing?" Luhan was asked and his eyes were drawn to the right hand of his, covered by white, nearly freshly changed bandages. "It's actually a bit funny what happened. I accidentally broke a wine glass," he said with a smirk, leaving practically out what had driven him into breaking that glass. He didn't think it was important enough to mention to Minseok. Or maybe he was just insecure.

Minseok nibbled on his sandwich. "Does it hurt a lot?" he asked, remembering the medication he'd seen in the other's cabin. He felt like he knew too much. Luhan didn't seem to mind, though. He seemed to find joy and jokes in about everything - he wasn't a super serious person, but he also was a super serious person. Minseok couldn't tell what kind of person Luhan was, but it made him interested. He wanted to find out who he really was, what he was hiding so obviously.

Luhan shook his head lightly, tearing his eyes off an ex-business partner. "Not that bad, I mean, Sehun gave me pain killers. He's the doctor," he smiled, remembering that he wanted to talk to him later. "I should actually introduce you two. He's a very nice person."

Minseok's eyes widened a little bit. "Seriously?! I mean..." his mood grew a little heavy as he searched for the other's eyes. "Aren't you afraid even talking to me is going to ruin your reputation?" he let slip. He had been so worried about such a thing that he hadn't been able to rest his mind at all during their otherwise very comfortable brunch, or well, breakfast for him.

Luhan's facial expression didn't change much other than sympathy for the other. That was what he had been trying to hide? Well, hide and hide... Luhan once again shook his head and gave Minseok a sweet, genuine smile. He could see his cheeks redden slightly for whatever reason. How cute, he thought, letting the thought escape without trying to cover it up. "Minseok, I don't care, I know a lot of people here, trust me, I do," he spoke. "And trust me, I don't care if they look at us weird."

Minseok almost choked on his coffee. Us.