1.1 | Desiderium ✓

30| thirty

Tae Shin had not expected the auditorium to be so grand. It felt surreal, like one in the movies, with grand curtains and a section for musicians, seats with a sloping altitude and balconies with delicate paintings on their bannisters. 

"Well, we're at the front," YooChan said, "because I want a closer look." 

"Anything is fine by me," Shin said in a delirious voice. 

"Me too," MaRoo agreed. They were early, and people had just started filling in. Shin took a look around, watching people hustle and bustle in classy dresses, effortlessly blending in with the velvet seats. Shin's outfit suddenly didn't seem extravagant. 

"I should go now," said the man standing beside MaRoo, who Shin had deliberately not paid any attention to. He didn't seem to be very pleased with himself and kept pulling his tie loose, hands fidgeting in the pockets of his dark blue overcoat. One thing, however, that Shin noticed was his striking similarity with MaRoo. 

Almost like an older, a bit shorter, and a more handsome version of MaRoo. 

"Tae Shin," YooChan slapped his back, "meet HaRoo Hyung. He's a politician." 

Older, a bit shorter, and a two timing, cunning, evil version of MaRoo. Shin's eyes narrowed and he stepped back, hands frigid beside his thighs and head lowered in a stiff bow. 

The man chuckled good naturedly, and shook his head. "No need to bow, my brother's friends are my brothers as well." 

Shin raised his head, still wary with a ferocious intensity as HaRoo's brows dipped in a curious concentration. 

"Tae Shin, right? Have we met before?" 

Shin frowned. "No?" As if he himself wasn't sure of his answer. He could have met that man before, and then forgot about it, both to his own disadvantage. But Shin said what he could, "I'm from Namhae." 

"Okay then." San HaRoo put his hands in his pockets and looked around, his jittery nervousness all over the place. Shin faintly wondered if he was a fan of Miss Hwang JiYeon too, or he was a pretentious wealthy man who liked to show off how classy his tastes were. He leaned in and whispered something to his brother, who nodded and whispered something back. 

"They're having an argument," YooChan translated. 

"How do you know?" Shin frowned harder. Whatever whispering was going on between the brothers felt like they were secretly dissing their mother's recipes or making fun of their father's wardrobe choices. 

"Actually," YooChan tucked one hand in the pocket of his blazer, his visuals temporarily distracting Shin. He had never known that side of YooChan also existed. Gone were his wild blonde curls and casual clothes. YooChan's jaw looked stronger, sharper, and the glint in his mossy eyes more pronounced. 
Everyone looked their best, and Shin didn't know if it was for the better or the worse. 

"Actually HaRoo Hyung is JiYeon Noona's ex boyfriend." 

Shin's jaw dropped. For the worse, definitely for the worse. Hwang JiYeon had a boyfriend, no, a roguishly handsome boyfriend with the weight of stars on his shoulders, and he was standing in front of Shin. Hwang JiYeon was beautiful. Shin's mother was beautiful. Hwang JiYeon could have married the disgustingly handsome politician. Shin's mother married a disgusting politician. 

Hwang JiYeon could also end up dead. 

Shin didn't like to think in what ifs and possibilities. He was one of those lying crowds once, but not anymore. His feet stuck to the carpeted floor like glue and he heard HaRoo laugh again.