Just as Tao had said, a good part of the audience had straggled away after the performance and by the end of the hour, only several, more affluent guests remained.
After the bell chimed from the clock tower, the remaining guests’ invitations were collected and they were ushered into a parade of limousines that drove to a magnificent manor toward the far side of the town, closer to the snowcapped mountains than to the central copper tower in the city.
They’re led from the cars up the front steps into a lavishly decorated home, at least seven stories tall. The banisters of the grand steps have circles of roses and ivy wrapped up the sides and glimmering crystals dangle from the ceiling like snowflakes.
The guests immediately head to the ballroom, at the end of the main steps. The monstrous doors are pried open to reveal an equally posh room, taking up an area that stuns Chanyeol. He wonders if he’s ever seen a room quite so big, or if he could buy just ornament from the hall with his entire life savings.
Chanyeol enters the ballroom discreetly at the back of a rush of men and women. He watches as men in sleek black TUXEDOS and women in lace embellished fineries congratulate Baekhyun for his excellent performance and revere his talent.
“Your father must be so proud.”
“Thank you, thank you for coming.”
“You are by far the most talented youngster I’ve ever heard.”
“Don’t flatter me, I still have far to go. Thank you for coming.”
Chanyeol stands in the sidelines, idly rubbing the pad of his index finger up and down the gold emblems plastered to the walls. He stares down at his shiny black shoes and examines the unfamiliar soles. Everything Up Above is so finely crafted and elegant, he will be sad to exchange the shined black leather for worn canvas.
“Hey,” a soft voice startles Chanyeol and he looks up with a jolt. His shock is rewarded with a soft chuckle.
“Hey,” Chanyeol manages to gasp out.
“I-- I’m not going to ask why you’re here, or how, or--”
“You don’t need to ask,” Chanyeol smiles, “I’ll tell you.”
“Just not,” Baekhyun leans in and his breath ghosts Chanyeol’s jaw, “Not now, not when everybody is watching.” Chanyeol struggles to hold back the shiver that threatens to erupt down his spine. He glances down at the sly grin Baekhyun gives him and feels his chest pound and cheeks flush. Baekhyun is so close that Chanyeol can see the blended shimmer on his cheekbones and delicate lines of brown drawn on his lids, an attempt to enhance perfection.
Baekhyun rocks back on his heels, smiling brightly and his eyes sparkle as Chanyeol covers his mouth with a hand, trying to cover the red that is staining his cheeks.
“You sing very well,” Chanyeol manages after he’s calmed himself. Baekhyun smiles gratefully and Chanyeol expects the same robotic thank you that Baekhyun gave every other guest.
“I was thinking of you,” Baekhyun says boldly, shrugging nonchalantly.
“Your voice is beautiful,” Chanyeol blurts out, determined to be unfazed by Baekhyun’s forward behavior. Baekhyun laughs again.
“Thank you,” he says before letting an old woman fitted into a red velvet dress whisk him away for another round of praise and humble thanks.
Baekhyun gives him one last look, one of expectations and poorly concealed excitement. Then, Baekhyun turns away, opting to deal with the reality at hand rather than just tumbling into their fantasy. There were matters to be dealt with and he had to be adult about them, no matter how much Chanyeol wanted to wrap his arms around his waist and take him somewhere far away.
