failures III » kpop ✓

CHAPTER 1

Sunlight was pooling through the windows, the cool breeze making the white curtains flutter as the rays shined through the branches of cherry trees and casted shadows and patterns on the ground. The unusual heat of that early spring, glued my thighs to the seat as I tried to pay attention to the job interviews that were happening right in front of me. Tried and failed. My attention was drifting further and further away, easily enchanted by the fantasies in my head and happily slipping in to a brighter dreamworld until the loud fall of my crutch made me snap back to reality.

My gaze darted towards Mina, the house manager. Both her and the man that was being interviewed, were watching me and waiting for me to say something. Mina's hair was freshly dyed, making it as red as a ripe apple and she was wearing another one of her favourite blouses, buttoned all the way up to her neck, so that just looking at her was enough to make me feel like I was suffocating.

This is a whole load of bullshit.

" As interesting, fun and enlightening as this might be... You don't really need me to be here, do you? I'm just going to go get a breath of fresh air, " I said and cringed at the sound of my own voice. It was obvious that I was lying and the man sitting in front of Mina looked way too offended about it. She noticed that too and a smirk flashed across my lips as I saw her try to discreetly cross out his name on her clipboard. Anyone who got offended easily, wasn't right for this job.

I limped past the other men and women who were sitting outside of Mina's office. Some of them looked like they wanted to stand up and ask me if I needed any help, but just one glare was enough to make them sit down again. It was pitiful really and I didn't bother hiding my scorn as I headed down the hallway. How did they imagine to tutor a rich family's problem child if they didn't even possess a backbone? I didn't need a coward like that in my life. I saw enough of them at school already.

The scent of freshly baked bread was floating through the hallways and making my mouth water and the villa's leading chef was singing her favorite song by Edith Piaf, but instead of making my way to the kitchen, I directed myself towards one of the balconies. Passing a half-opened door to one of the art rooms, I suddenly caught a glimpse of a man. At first glance, he seemed like a fish out of the water. The art room was adorned in gold, crystal chandeliers were hanging from the ceiling and the marble on the ground were scrubbed clean, to the point where you could see your reflection in them. He on the other hand, was like a lump of coal, lost in the middle of all the luxury, with his scuffed and muddy boots, a jacket that was ripped on the back and covered with stains from an old wall painting job and the unlit cigarette that was hanging between his lip. And yet, somehow he still looked like he belonged right there, admiring a painting that was worth more than someone like him could make in his entire lifetime. A piece of art, looking at art.

" Pretty, right? " I spoke up and took a step closer. He already heard me approach, but he only slightly tilted his head before he went back to looking at the painting in front of him. He didn't bother looking at me and acknowledging my presence, not even when I stopped right by his side. I was blatantly staring at him, intrigued by his seemingly cold silence, the bandages that were covering his leg and peeking through his ripped jeans just like mine and the tattoos that I saw covering his arms and disappearing under the rolled up sleeves of his jacket. " I painted it. "

" Girly, do you think that I'm dumb? I know that this is Monet. I'm just wondering if it's an original or not, " he snapped at my obvious lie and provocation. He crossed his arms on his chest, turned around and looked at me for the first time. His gaze briefly darted over the crutch that I was using to support myself, my own bandaged legs and badly bruised face. " Dang, I heard that you got in a fight, but I didn't think that it was this bad. Did someone insult your outfit? How do they look? Or are they doing much better than you and this is why you're embarrassed to leave this mansion- "

" He's dead. "

" What? "

" The guy who did this to me... " I paused for a moment, carefully studying his expression. " He's dead. "

Silence enveloped the art room. It felt wrong to speak about that gruesome crime among the beautiful paintings of flowers. As wrong as the idea of someone like this man walking in to my life. And yet, in that moment, for the first time in months, my heart felt calm. Until the melody of the man's laughter suddenly cut through the silence, as he punched my shoulder and tilted his head back in amusement. " Well, it sucks to be him, I guess, but you should've seen the look on your face, girly... He's dead. Hilarious. You should try to become an actress. Seeing you in a comedy, would make me pee my hands from laughter. You'd be perfect for the role of that one weird friend that the protagonists always have. "

His light punch at my shoulder, made me lose my balance, stumble and fall on the ground. The crutch that I was using to walk, rolled out of my reach and it was clear that the strange man had no intentions of picking up or helping me. At first, I was in absolute disbelief, then my heart suddenly began to beat faster. In irritation, excitement, amusement. My chest was overwhelmed with emotions that I was feeling out of nowhere and all at the same time.

" As much fun as this conversation was... " He casted another look in my direction and smirked in amusement. My eyes slowly grew wide once I realised that he was using the same lying technique as I was earlier. " I'm here for a job interview and I don't have the whole day to waste here. This is already taking forever as it is and at this rate, I'm going to lose my spot in the line of other candidates. "

" There'll be no need for that, " I quietly declared and slowly lifted myself on the ground. His smirk slightly lowered when he turned around again. Putting pressure on my leg made me wince in pain before I leaned against my crutch, looked up and met his eyes. My breath was a little heavy from exhaustion and on the contrary from earlier - I was the one smiling now. Once again, he didn't ask me if I needed help, but that was exactly what I wanted. No stupid mercy, pity or sympathy.

I didn't want any of that.

" You're hired. "

A flock of birds left the cherry trees and flew under the clear blue sky. There wasn't a single cloud in sight on the day when I met Byun Baekhyun and I welcomed the storms that began to brew on the horizon. Sounds filled the silence once again, this time the voices of two housemaids, who were gossiping among each other and hanging up the freshly washed laundry. I was waiting to hear his laughter again, but his face remained serious and eyes dark as he stared at the hand that I was holding in his direction.

He didn't shake it.