Royal Temptations

Chapter 8

I have to work tomorrow blaaaahh (the best part about this is even if this doesn't get posted until months later it's still going to be true).

OH MY GOD FAKE LOVE IS SOOOOOOO GOOD! (lol nearly a month after this chapter's conception and it's still my jam. Also random update surprise).

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Yixing's POV

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Note to self, if I ever wanted to see the most radiant smile ever, all I had to do was come eat dinner with Junmyeon when his parents were here. Seriously though. He looked like he'd just been handed the best prize when he walked in and saw all of us seated at one end of the table. And while it was comfortable, for the most part, it still seemed we found it hard to look at each other.

"So, Junnie," his mother began, and he looked up. "How was your date this afternoon?" He swallowed hard, setting his chopsticks down. I glanced away.

"She played piano, I sang, we ate lunch, that's it," he said, all in one breath. "She's very nice, but not really what I'm looking for." His gaze subtly shifted to me, and I felt heat rising to my cheeks. His mother also glanced to me, a thoughtful frown on her face. "I will try harder next time, I promise," he said.

"You don't have much longer," his father reminded him. He nodded once, risking another glance at me.

"Mother, father, may I be excused?" he asked. "I'd like to talk to Yixing." I glanced up, slightly taken aback as he yanked me from my seat. I shot a look over my shoulder to see one confused face and one small smile. Please for the love of whatever god could hear me right now don't let them hate me by the end of tonight. That would be bad. "Look, Yixing..." he began.

"Yes?" I asked, forgetting all about being unapproachable. "If this is about your date, it's not like it matters. It's what has to be done, right? And it's not like I care." He stopped short, and I slammed into his back. "Dude," I whined as I peeled myself off him.

"Just...you have to trust me, okay?" he said at last. But he refused to look at me. "It'll make more sense when we get to our end point, I promise." And with that we were off again. I went willingly though, glancing around curiously when we ducked into a corridor I'd yet to explore. Three doors in and he was pulling me into a room that honestly looked like any other, save for the beautiful white piano and crystal chandelier hanging off the ceiling. My mouth dropped open. Junmyeon ran for the piano bench. "Come," he said, patting the spot beside him. I slid next to him. For a long time, he glared at the keys, and for a brief moment I wondered if he wished for them to play themselves. But finally his fingers brushed the keys hesitantly.

When I think about you, it's still so warm
If I say I miss you, will you come?
The world has stopped and only you are here
I want to to tell you something, my dear

Oh someone like you
Are you listening?
Oh someone like you
Where are you?
If only I could see you in my dreams
My dear, my dear, love you

For a few breaths, neither of us said anything. Nor could I think of anything to say. This must've been the song he learned while he was on his date. But why was he singing it for me? I glanced to the side, studying his figure. He seemed frozen in place, hands resting lightly on the keys, the only sign of life in him being the ragged rise and fall of his shoulders.

"Why are you sharing this with me?" I asked. "Wasn't this the song you said you sang on your date." He turned and blinked at me. And then he promptly slammed his fists down on the piano, tearing an ugly note from the instrument. I winced.

"I...I just wanted you to hear it," he said quietly, his fingers now dancing over the keys again, playing nonsense rhythms for nothing other than the sake of being busy. "It touches on how I feel, and I guess I found it important for you to hear it too." His fingers glided into a melody familiar to me. Perhaps the backdrop to the song he just sang.