"Thanks Yuri, it means a lot"
"Hey, do you plan on eating the ice cream? It is going to melt, if not already" I say diverting us from the pain we both know he is in.
He hands me a cup from the bag and I open it to see Rocky Road icecream - my favorite. Woojin must have suggested he take this for me.
"I remember you asking for Rocky Road the day Woojin made all of you drink the milkshake so I thought you might like this" he shrugs as if no big deal. I just stare at him.
He remembered that? The flutters make an appearance again and I want to punch myself in the stomach to stop it. I would probably look mad for doing it.
But then, I am sure the pink staining my cheeks was making me look stupid as well.
Who blushes for an icecream?
If he pointed it out, I would blame the chilly wind and then push him down this hill.
"So Yuri, you know a lot about me. You owe me some dirty secrets or old skeletons in the closet at least" he nudges me lightly with his elbow and I narrow my eyes at him.
"Come on. You must have something. A bad decision. Making out with strangers. Going on a trip without telling your parents. Maybe a C in a test?" he asks hopefully and I laugh.
"Nope. Nothing. Never made a decision I regretted. Never kissed anyone. Never went on a trip without informing my parents and never got a C in my exams. Although that would be a great way for me to die out of humiliation" I say and he looks at me quizzically.
"I don't have any dirty secret to reveal. No skeleton in the closet. I am a pretty boring average teen of this Nation. Nothing special" I answer honestly continuing when he keeps staring at me.
I did not lead an adventurous life like him or any other Royals. The thought hits me that maybe what is an adventure for me is daily life for them. For him. And I am not sure whether the feeling that bubbles inside me is pity or relief.
"You kissed me. Was I your first kiss?" I see curiosity pooling in his eyes and I look away, trying not to give away my embarrassment.
"That was not a kiss. And if you bring up that incident one more time, I swear to god Yeonjun, I will strangle you with that plastic bag" I warn and hear him chuckle.
"Okay okay I won't mention that but it kinda boosts my ego if you ask me knowing that I was your -"Â I glare at him and he shuts up before finishing the sentence.
Why do I always end up digging my own grave? I did not have to mention this to him. I could have just said 'no, nothing of the sorts you mentioned' but I had to go ahead and answer each of his assumptions.
"But hey, you entered Royals High on scholarship. You must be brilliant. There is nothing average about you" he speaks while looking directly at me but I cannot maintain his stare. I look away.
Why do his words twist up in my mind in a way that makes me think he means something more than he just said? He only means academically. Nothing else.
Absolutely nothing else.
"We are in the same school" I remind him and he scoffs in return.
"Oh please. I would not be here if it wasn't for my father. I am not sure whether I should be thankful or despise him for this" he tugs on his leather jacket and my eyes soften.
"I have so many people who don't want me here but I don't understand why the old man insists on me staying here. I was happy in the US. I could have continued my life there but he had to go and uproot me from my life and throw me in here, in the middle of these sharks who are craving for my blood" he fists his hands as if trying to calm himself from saying anything else.
He looks ahead and shakes his head, a darkness clouding his features that tells me that he is haunted by many things. I don't like seeing him like this.
He puts on such a strong front that is easy to forget he too is just 17-18 years old. The leather jacket always seems like armor on him but the way the darkness spreads, I see how it is a burden to him.
"Hey, I am sure you're not as dumb as you think you are" I nudge him trying to lighten the mood and make sure he doesn't succumb to the darkness.
"Thanks. But studies is not something that ever interested me. I am much more into arts. Dance to be exact" I halt the spoon of icecream before it reaches my mouth and stare at him.
Did he just say dance?
I can't imagine him dancing.
Just the thought of this rigid man with stiff shoulders and sharp fox-like eyes breaking it out on the dance floor makes me laugh.
"Glad my passion is the source of comedy for people" he scoffs and I realize I laughed out loud and not just in my head.
"Sorry, I just... I can't imagine you dancing... with you stiff posture and all that gloominess. Shouldn't dancers be fluid and flexible?" I counter and he raises an eyebrow.
"And how do you know I am not flexible?" An unwanted blush creeps up my cheek yet again and this makes him smirk.
Now he looks like the Yeonjun I know.
"Shut up. I think you're just bluffing" I challenge him and he folds his arms.
"Is that a challenge? Cause I will beat you on a dance floor" he warns and I shake my head.
"Oh no, I don't dance. I couldn't to save my life" he laughs at my response and proceeds to rub his hand on my head, ruffling my hair in the process.
"Well, Yuri, you might just have to learn if you want to keep up with me," he teases, his smirk widening.
I swat his hand away from my head, trying to maintain a semblance of composure. "Keep dreaming, Yeonjun. I have two left feet."
He chuckles, his eyes lighting up with mischief. "Come on, where's your sense of adventure? You never know, you might surprise yourself."
I roll my eyes playfully. "Yeah, right. I'll leave the dancing to the professionals."
Yeonjun leans in closer, his voice low and conspiratorial. "Who says you can't be a professional? I could teach you a thing or two."
I scoff, trying to hide the fluttering in my stomach. "Please, spare me. I have a feeling your idea of teaching involves a lot of embarrassment for me."
He shrugs, a mischievous glint still in his eyes. "Maybe a little, but it'll be worth it. Trust me."
I glance away, feeling a blush creeping up my cheeks again. "I'll pass, thanks."
"Okay. So you're not interested in dance. What is your interest then? Please don't tell studies because I might throw you off this hill" he warns and I roll my eyes.
"I don't like studies. I study so that I can get good grades. And if I get good grades, I can get into good colleges. And so on, you get the gist" I wave my hand dismissively.
"And then what? You get into your dream college. Then what do you plan to do? You seem to have a set plan in mind. Tell me. At least let me on in this secret of yours" his voice is playful but his eyes are earnest.
He is not asking me just for the sake of asking. He seemed genuinely interested in knowing about me.
Even though it makes me feel nice, I want to take it with a pinch of salt.
"Fine. I'll tell you this one secret. I love literature. I love reading stories. I love creating stories and telling stories. I want to be a writer" I confess and he looks at me with a puzzled expression.
"How is that a secret? You can become a writer. I am not sure whether you will be successful or not but you can definitely become a writer" he say and I roll my eyes at him. I want to face palm as well but I refrain.
"You might not understand this but for a middle class low income family, writing is a hobby. It is not a viable profession. My parents will never support me on it. My mother believes that writing can only be a profession for the rich people, which unfortunately my family is not. So, this is my secret" I explain and he stares at me thoughtfully.
"Writing is not just for the rich. Believe it or not, I did not grow up rich. My mother always led a modest life. She was a writer. And very successful one at that" he says and my interest piques up even more.
How does this man has so many secret?
"What? Who was your mother? Maybe I know her" I suggest and he shrugs.
"I am not sure. She was well known but I don't know whether you know any of her work. She mainly wrote philosophical novels. And she never revealed her face to the public so people don't know how she looks like. Her name was Ella Joy Kim"Â he speaks and my jaw drops to the floor.
"Do you mean E. J. Kim?" I ask him for clarification and he nods, his eyes lighting up at the name of his mother.
Yeonjun was the son the of three time Pulitzer winner E. J. Kim? The author who was known to be a pioneer in telling the stories of Asian immigrants and the hardships they have faced in first world countries.
I was at loss of words.
A/N: dun dun dun!
Another reveal into Yeonjun's life. More to be revealed in next chapters. Tell me what you think of this chapter?
Also I wasn't sure what I wanted to name this chapter. It was a vote between Secrets and Armour/ Burden. What would you name this chapter?
And I want to thank all the new readers and the people who are recommending theor friends to read Royals as well. I see you. I love you. I hope you all are enjoying the story because I enjoy writing it.