To say that the iron gate in front of me would put the gate in front of Royals Highs to shame, would be an understatement.
I park the scooter I borrowed from San next to the small security post. There was no way I could drive up to this area in my cycle.
Their estate was situated on top of a hill, in the poshest of the poshest area of the city. I couldn't drive up here on my bike because a. This area was really at the other end of the city from my house and b. I don't think I would get an entry if I came here on my ratty old bike.
Beomgyu insisted that I come over today because tomorrow he will be busy packing for the weekend trip and they will leave the day after tomorrow, so tonight was the only time he had free.
Even with my constant effort to shift the discussion to our school library after school, he was persistent that I come over tonight. So I finished tutoring a little early and swapped shifts with Woojin.
I adjust the uniform I am wearing, the tie seemingly strangling my neck, the blazer too hot, the skirt too tight, churning the food in my stomach.
Out of all my outfits, this was the safest bet, at least according to Woojin. I was just going to wear the simple t-shirt and jeans but he convinced me that it was absolute trash and it would be better if I was just in my uniform.
I stare up at the gate again.
My neck hurt from looking at the top of the gate for too long.
The black iron gate is so high, it looks like a barricade.
A barricade between the real world and the bubble inside.
I am sure even the air inside the estate boundary will smell different. Even the grass looks greener on the other side. Literally.
The sky was twilight, evening muddling into the night and the lamps at the edge of the pebbled road inside the kind of gave the whole place a fairy-tale-like feel.
I never thought I would look at such scenery in real life. Didn't this kind of landscape only exist in precisely curated movies and shows?
This wasn't supposed to exist in real life.
I could see a large house 5 minutes from the gate where I was standing. It was a really big house but a very simple exterior. Off-white building with large windows and a red-tiled slanted roof.
It reminded me of a cottage.
If the cottage was worth a gazillion of won.
"Miss Park, kindly sign here and I'll assign someone to take you to the front mansion" An elderly gentleman in uniform holds out a register and pen for me.
I just nod mindlessly and sign wherever he asks me to. He then takes a futuristic-looking gun to my face and scans me before typing a code that opens the gate.
Makes sense that the gates are automated with a code. I am sure at least four people's manpower would be required to open and close the gate if not for the machine automation.
A chauffeur drives me a golf cart to the main house - which was NOT the one that I saw from outside the gate. Apparently, it was a party salon.
I don't even know how to comprehend what the driver was telling me as he was driving me.
"Yuri! There you are. I grew old while waiting for you" Beomgyu shouted and lept at me as soon as I got down from the cart.
"What are you wearing?" he looked at my uniform in confusion. I shifted uncomfortably on my feet.
Beomgyu was in olive cargo shorts and an oversized black t-shirt. His copper hair was wet and swept back. And he was wearing his blue contacts. He looked so chic, so different.
"Why are you still in your uniform?" he asks, confused.
"I - uh - I came straight from tutoring" I lie. I didn't want to reveal the truth behind this. Even if he suspects that I am lying, he thankfully doesn't comment on it.
"Okay, come on in. This is our shed, the others are here as well. You can meet them before we get started on our project" he leads me into the small house by the pool.
And I use the term 'small' very loosely. Compared to the other expansive mansions- yes - multiple - in this estate, this was the smallest house I came across. But by no means it was small. At least three of my apartments could fit inside this house.
"We got company" Beomgyu announces as he opens the door to reveal three other people inside.
Kai was hunched over a pool table, aiming for a shot when he looked up at me. He was in a navy blue sweater and light jeans. He acknowledged my presence with a nod, and I mimicked him.
Tahyun was working on a laptop with a remote-controlled car on the table in front of him. He spared a glance at me and then worked back to spewing something on his Bluetooth and working. He too was in shorts and a t-shirt with his hair wet.
Soobin was at the other corner of the room, farthest from where I stood. He was casually dressed in a loose linen white shirt and light blue jeans. He had some files in his hand and his expression was unfiltered shock.
He was not expecting me here.
Well, same Soobin, same.
Compared to all of them, I looked out of place.
I was out of place.
"Hi Yuri" Soobin breathed out. I just waved at him. I wasn't sure what to say to him after this afternoon.
"Make yourself comfortable. Soobin and I have to attend a meeting. Very short. I promise it won't be more than ten minutes. Then we can start the project" Beomgyu tried to appease me when he noticed my panicked glance.
Soobin nodded at Beomgyu but his gaze never left mine when Beomgyu gestured to him follow him out.
Within two minutes of entering the room, I was now stuck with one whom I had barely talked to twice and one who thought I was a gold digger.
Great.
Just Freaking Great.
I try to even out my breathing and focus on anything but hitting Beomgyu over the head with the cue in Kai's hand.
"Do you want something to drink?" Kai offers as he opens the mini refrigerator, pulls out two cans of beer, and keeps it open for my inspection.
I awkwardly walk towards him and take a bottle of water for myself.
As I twist open the cap of the water bottle, I can feel the weight of everyone's gaze on me, their silent scrutiny hanging heavy in the air.
It's like being under a microscope, every move, every word, dissected and analyzed.
I take a long sip of water, trying to quell the nerves that are threatening to bubble to the surface. This wasn't how I envisioned spending my evening â trapped in a room with people who barely knew me, their suspicions and judgments casting a shadow over any chance of genuine interaction.
"I haven't seen you in school for a while" I make small talk with Kai because I know talking Taehyun is useless. I haven't talked to him since our interaction in the class.
"Yeah, I was shooting a movie overseas. Missed out on some classes but will catch up. What project are you and Beomgyu working on?" he asks taking a sip of his beer and passing one to Taehyun.
Taehyun has stopped working on whatever it was and has his attention on me. I don't look in his direction but focus on Kai.
"Wow, which movie? If you can tell, that is. And Beomgyu and I have a literature project together. We'll just outline the story tonight so that we have a head start after the trip" I explain and Kai nods.
"And this couldn't be done at school?" Taehyun interjects and scoffs.
I shift uncomfortably under his scrutiny, feeling like a deer caught in headlights. I don't want to give him the satisfaction of getting under my skin.
I will not give him any reaction.
"Uh, Beomgyu invited me over to work on a project together. He said he will not be free tomorrow since he will be busy packing for the trip," I explain, hoping my words come across as genuine.
Kai, sensing the tension in the room, steps in to diffuse the situation.
"Come on, Taehyun. Give the girl a break. She's just here to help out. No need to interrogate her like she's a criminal." Kai passes me a small smile and I am grateful to him.
Taehyun's lips curve into a smirk, but there's a sharpness in his eyes that sends a shiver down my spine.
"I'm just making conversation, Kai. No harm in asking questions, is there?" he directs the last part at me rather than Kai, a challenge in his gaze.
"Taehyun, not this again" Kai warns but Taehyun just shrugs.
"I didn't say anything. I am just making small talk, like you are" he points his beer at Kai and gulps his beer.
I tense up, my fingers tightening around the water bottle as Taehyun's words hit me like a slap in the face. My heart pounds in my chest, and I can feel the heat rising to my cheeks.
Kai shoots a warning glance at Taehyun, his jaw clenched in frustration.
"Taehyun, enough. Lay off," he says firmly, his voice cutting through the tension in the room.
But Taehyun just smirks, his gaze lingering on me. He is baiting me. I know it.
"I'm just curious, Kai. After all, it's not every day we have not an Insider grace the halls of our estate," he says, the disdain dripping from his words like venom.
I swallow hard, trying to keep my composure in the face of his blatant hostility.
"I'm not here to cause trouble, Taehyun. I'm just here to help Beomgyu with our project," I reply, my voice steady despite the turmoil raging inside me.
Taehyun raises an eyebrow, his smirk widening into a mocking grin.
"Of course you are. But forgive me if I find it hard to believe that someone like you would be interested in anything other than taking advantage of the Choi brothers' generosity," he says, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
My breath catches in my throat, my chest tightening with a mix of anger and hurt. I clench my jaw, willing myself not to lash out in response to his cruel words.
Kai's expression darkens, his fists clenched at his sides.
"That's enough, Taehyun. You have no right to judge Yuri based on your own prejudices. Besides, I am sure the other three are mature enough to make that decision on their own " he says, his voice low and dangerous.
But Taehyun just laughs, the sound grating on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard.
"I'm just stating the obvious, Kai. You can't deny that she's an outsider here," he says, his gaze locking with mine in a silent challenge.
I meet his gaze head-on, refusing to back down in the face of his hostility.
"Maybe I am an outsider, Taehyun. But that doesn't give you the right to treat me like I'm beneath you, You don't get to make assumptions about me from your high pedestal" I say, my voice trembling with pent-up emotion.
Taehyun's smirk falters, a flicker of uncertainty flashing across his features.
But before he can respond, the door swings open, and Beomgyu and Soobin reenter the room, their expressions serious.
The tension in the air thickens as they take their seats, the weight of their presence casting a shadow over the room.
But despite the lingering discomfort, I refuse to let Taehyun's words break me.
I may be an outsider here, but I won't let anyone make me feel inferior. I'll prove that I belong, I'll prove I earned my place at Royals High no matter what it takes.
A/N: Welcome to all my new readers. Welcome to the world of Royals High. 13.3+k reads. WOW. And we've almost hit 1000 votes. I am very emotional. Thank you â¤ï¸
2000+ words. This is a long ass chapter but I kind of felt this conversation was doomed to happen sometime or the other in this story. Plus I feel like we've not see Kai in such a long time. He deserves some screen time.
What do you think will happen next in the story?
We already hit the 80 chapter mark. Phew. I have some plans for the 10th ep. I'll share more details later on. Stay tuned.
Also, I mentioned it in one of my comments that my personal goal is uploading 2 chapters per week but I don't have any specific days. Also 2 chapters a week with my real life working schedule is hard. Paying bills is kinda mandatory. I can't just live in my dream life with the Royals. I try to incorporate bits and pieces of information that will propel the story forward and not just be there as a filler for the main plot ( lol, I am not sure if there ever will be a major plot. This is more of a slice of life kinda story now).
But I hope you bear with me and stay till the end of the story.