𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲•𝐣𝐢𝐡𝐚𝐧

three

IF ANYTHING, jisoo would prefer strawberry over vanilla. he knew that his closest friends were aware of that fact ever since what—18 years ago, and yet, here he is, being served a pint of vanilla ice cream as they were printing the pictures from their wedding a day ago.

jisoo didn't go off about such a trivial thing, but nonetheless, he was a little upset. to convey this, he decided to only respond to the questions throwed to him with a nod or a shake of the head.

"jisoo, you think they'll be happy with the motif of the album? well, gold and white was the theme of their wedding so... or if not, do you suggest anything else?" junhui runs up to jisoo, showing the album—which was more than halfway done. if jisoo suggests anything else, their hard work will be put to waste.

jisoo nods. off-putting, junhui made a face and nodded as well, running back to hansol and soonyoung. maybe to rant about jisoo's attitude today. well, excuse him; he's just enjoying his pint of vanilla ice cream. which they bought along the way to jisoo's house for jisoo.

"jisoo," hansol approached. oh, they're done talking about jisoo? "we've all done lots of work, and you, especially filming lots of clips and taking lots of pictures yesterday. we are tired, and you seem to be the one who's.. the most tired, so yeah, you can take the day off."

wow. putting all that attitude just for them to give him a day off? hey! jisoo expected them to have a deep internalization and reflection on what they'd done wrong and promise jisoo to never do it again. whatever. jisoo needs some air to think about this vanilla-ice-cream ordeal anyway.

"okay." jisoo grabbed his phone and keys. the rustling sounds of the objects that jisoo took a hold of made the three friends(frauds) of jisoo look at him. "i'm just going to find a hotel. i think it's weird for me to lounge around my own apartment as you guys work."

"ah.... okay." soonyoung looked at jisoo weird. jisoo did not acknowledge it, he just went to the carpark and left abruptly.

jisoo was obviously lying about the hotel thing. jisoo did not have enough money to buy a room for one night, even. jisoo decided to just drive around and vent his anger by huffing and grunting many times.

how the heck could they forget? they've been together for almost two decades, and jisoo had always told them about it—just as much as junhui told everyone that he was a foreigner just to brag that he was trilingual. preferring strawberry ice cream over vanilla ice cream is no thing to brag about—but still!

well, to be fair, his friends(and workmates) forget a lot of things. like, carrying the throw pillows in jisoo's car back into his house instead of the lighting equipment, forgetting the cameras inside the car when they ar—

oh shit. the diamond button! jisoo almost forgot!

pressing a few buttons on jisoo's gps, he locates the tree house of the prince quickly and took a u-turn to go there instead. jisoo was extra annoyed now: the vanilla ice cream and getting to meet the scripted prince again was too much to handle all in one day.

god, was that tree house near. jisoo wished the drive lasted longer so his annoyance would waver off a little. now, the pent up annoyance from the vanilla ice cream would only get worse because of the upcoming conversation with jeonghan.

jisoo shoves the diamond button in his pocket and steps out of his car with a huff, stomping up the stairs of the tree house. he knocks on the door. no answer on the first try, so jisoo knocks again.

and again.

and again.

ugh! "prince jeonghan? it's hong jisoo."

instantaneously, jeonghan opened the door and greeted jisoo with a nervous smile. jisoo noticed that jeonghan was still wearing his goddamn suit. what the heck, is this prince willing to oblige to the dress code even when he is alone and supposed to be dead?

"i am glad to finally meet someone i know. come in." jeonghan stepped aside, reeking of iron; probably the dried blood. "the police are looking for me. i think they're going to find me anytime now."

"why are you hiding from the police? did you steal something, prince?" jisoo raised an eyebrow, yet his tone was calm. jeonghan was unnerved. "aren't you also supposed to be dead?"

jeonghan sighed. well, jisoo sighed as well, because knowing the prince's secret meant being involved in the royal family drama and possibly getting an execution for knowing too much. well, maybe the statement ignorance is bliss was true all along.

"i was supposed to be wed to miss min suhae, when a hitman sent by her own sister arrived and shot her. miss min suhae said that her sister was after me now, and she said i had to run away. they announced that i was dead to prevent miss min suhae's sister to push through her plans."

"but.." jisoo trailed off. he had a lot of questions, but he did not know where to start.

"i had my half brothers, princes lee chan, lee seokmin and lee jihoon help me achieve this fake death. we spoke about it and agreed on it on a whim; once miss min suhae's sister is contained, i will be returning as the heir. prince jihoon is temporarily taking over bellezia."

jisoo shifted uncomfortably, finally understanding jeonghan's situation. off i go with my head. but not today, jisoo thought. putting away the despairing thoughts of his execution, jisoo fishes out the diamond suit button that jeonghan lost, stretching out his palm to jeonghan.

"actually, i'm leaving now. i just went to g-"

jeonghan gasps, hearing the distant sirens of the police cars. jisoo was startled as well, but not because of the police cars, but because of jeonghan's gasp. off-guard, jisoo didn't notice jeonghan taking the diamond button from his palm.

"go, go go! you'll be a suspect as well if you stay here, hong jisoo-ssi, so i suggest you leave." jeonghan grabbed his shoulder(which jisoo presumed was injured), before using his other arm to push jisoo away.

you know what? no.

"why are they chasing you?" jisoo asked, not complying to the prince's orders. jisoo was going to be executed anyway, he knows too much. "prince jeonghan?"

jeonghan heaves. "i was trying to steal clothes, since i don't have anything to change into—and then they saw my face, and what i was doing, then they called the police it was so suspiciou—just leave, hong jisoo-ssi!"

jisoo refused. "i might have an idea."