The Pauper's Prince

*Distance*

Nine stared at himself on the mirror, it's about the Nth time that he washed his face after he entered the bathroom. He cannot believe that he gave in right away to Chen. "This should stop." Nine told himself. It's not that he's not enjoying it, the truth is, just the thought of Chen's lips sends tingles down his spine. He just can't have sex with someone just because it feels good. He's been down that road and unfortunately crashed and burned. It's a pretty unpleasant memory and is a mistake he doesn't want to repeat.

Nine fixed himself, stared at himself and went out the door. He saw Chen halfway through fixing the clothes. When the other boy saw him, he flashed his boyish smile. It took Nine's breath away, how can a boy he met two days ago have this effect on him? He ignored the smile and proceeded with fixing the rest of the remaining clothes. 

"What's wrong?" Chen asked noticing the aloofness.

"This." Nine gestured to the clothes then himself and Chen.

"What do you mean?"

"Us, fucking on the side."

Chen was suddenly silent. 

"I just know that if we continue this, something bad is going to happen. Someone's going to get hurt." 

Chen watched Nine, the boy never looked him in the eyes but he can see the pain in them. He felt the urge to find the person who made Nine feel this pain and make him pay. His body seemed to have a mind of its own and pulled Nine into a hug, he then kissed his lips.

"Chen, I told you, we need to stop this." Nine sighed.

"I know and understand what you mean." Chen gave Nine another peck on the lips. "But can you stay over tonight? Then we stop this extra curricular activity." Chen said sheepishly.

Nine laughed and nodded, 'goodness I am so fragile, it's just two days Nine, two days!' he thought to himself.

A knock on the door pulled them out from their hug and they scrambled to get as much distance from each other. Nine opened the door and found the buff guy from the first night he met Chen.

"You look familiar..." the guy said while he entered the door.

"Hey Pavel!" Chen called.

"Hey bro!" Pavel greeted until realization hit him and he looked at Nine then looked back at Chen "BRO?!" he was pointing from Nine to Chen then back to Nine again.

"Yes, I'm the waiter. I work for Yo, at least for the mean time."  Nine said.

"Oh okay, okay, I thought you two were fucking or something." Pavel said dismissively.

"NO!" Nine and Chen answered at the same time.

"You don't have to be defensive guys, it's not like you were just sucking each other off before I got here."

Nine wanted the earth to open up and swallow him whole. He tried to divert the conversation "If you are looking for Yo, he went to a client to show some shots from his new collection, he should be back any minute from now."

"I see, I came here to tell him that we were invited for a masquerade party. It's imperative that we are there, we can establish connections for the business."

"I'll go ahead and plot it in his schedule" Nine proceeded to go to the laptop "this is for what event and what are the dates?"

"It's going to be  this weekend, it's a charity masquerade party for this multinational company, the KGC." 

Chen thought of an idea perfect to get back at his ex "This is the best time for us to be public Nine! I'm sure Fluke will be there."

Ah yes, his ex. This is exactly why Nine should stop fucking him. The guy is still obviously into Fluke. "Let me just remind you that I am a runaway and it is a social event with a lot of cameras pointing at you. I can't be seen."

"Don't be silly, it's a masquerade. Your face will be covered most of the time." Chen rebut and Nine rolled his eyes.

"Okay, what is going on? I am not following." Pavel asked in confusion.

"So your friend right here hired me to be his pretend boyfriend so he can make Fluke jealous."

"Wow, that's petty Chen. I didn't think that you can go that low, but damn." Pavel laughed.

"Well, I just want him to see that I found something better and more precious." Chen said without looking up.

"Kid, I know Nine here is such an eye candy but you just got out of a break-up. It's too early to fall." Pavel kidded.

"It is" Nine seconded.

Chen looked up and stared at Nine, challenging him "Is it really wrong to fall for someone right after your breakup? Especially when you think you find the right one?"

"We don't live in fairy tales Chen, life is not a matter of a prince falling in love with a pauper and both lives happily ever after. Life is a more sordid reality than that." Nine replied.

"But do we really have to embrace that so-called 'sordid reality'?" Chen said not averting his gaze.

"Do you realize that what we are doing is part of that sordid reality? This plan to get your ex-boyfriend back? "

"Why do I have a feeling that I am so out of place in this conversation?" Pavel said.

Yo entered the room just in time "What is going on?"

"We are attending a masquerade!" Pave shouted.

Nine started to think about the horror that this event will bring.