The next day was chaotic, to put it lightly.
Kahi had basically announced that she and Hongjoong had kissed last night. Nayoung admitted that she had kissed him a few days ago too.
The reactions ranged from jealousy to anger to curiosity- what was it like? Who kissed first? How did it feel?
You supposed it was bound to happen sooner or later, though you were a bit disappointed in the obvious choices- Nayoung being the palace star and Kahi being people's favourite.
However, you were more surprised when you conveyed all of this to Arin and she showed little reaction.
"Did you already know?" You asked.
"I didn't," she admitted, saying nothing, but you didn't spot disappointment on her face either, so you shrugged it off.
Arin told you that she would be spending more time with Miyeon since she was here for only two more days, offering you to join but you turned it down. You didn't want to be the third-wheel and you really wanted her to talk to someone else as well. You were glad that she had a friend now.
You went to Arin's room, chatting with Momo, Mina and Sana, catching up with palace gossip such as what the selected were up to, who was whose favourite, etc. After a game of cards, you went to your room and slumped on your bed, wondering if it was time to finally visit your parent's room.
You were still conflicted, but you decided to go to the kitchen and steal something while you would decide.
However, you were surprised with the sight of Hongjoong sitting by himself in a corner, watching the brownies in the oven bake, the rest of the kitchen busy with their own work, paying no heed to the Prince.
"How long has he been coming over?" You asked a woman you knew was the assistant chef.
"Every other day, basically. Sometimes he eats, sometimes he just watches us, poor thing," she waved her hand in a motherly nature.
As if Hongjoong had felt your stare, he turned, his face lighting at the sight of you as he patted the spot next to him.
"What are you doing here? Don't you have a kingdom to run or girls to kiss?"
You cringed a bit, wondering if you sounded jealous, but he just put his face in his hands, clearly ashamed. "I guess everyone knows now."
"Well, it was bound to happen," you shrugged.
"I didn't mean to. With Nayoung... she kissed me at our date. And Kahi... I was really frustrated and- ugh, I feel ashamed."
You grinned, "No need to. You can kiss whoever you like."
Hongjoong clapped when the oven went off, and you got up to take the brownies out, placing them on the table you sat.
"Enough about that, why are you here?"
You sighed, "I was wondering if I had grown the balls to visit my parent's room."
Hongjoong choked on his brownie, muttering 'language'. "Do you want me to come with you?"
You looked at him, wondering if that was what you needed. Someone to be with you. Someone who knew.
"I don't know... I don't know if I am ready."
"Well, if you're here, you're ready," he told you, "Let's go after eating."
You watched him eat his brownie as he gazed at the rest dreamily. You wondered how you two had become so comfortable with each other- to the point you'd forget he was the Prince. Hongjoong caught you staring.
"What are you looking at?"
"You, obviously," you scoffed, shrugging awkwardly as you took a bite, "Just wondering how we got... here."
"I know," Hongjoong smiled, "I didn't expect a friend out of the Selection."
After eating another brownie, Hongjoong told you to wait while he got the keys from Sophie, and you sat trying to muster up your courage.
You were finally going to go to their room and not find them there, only their belongings left. You didn't know what to expect.
Hongjoong led you to the other side of the palace, stopping in front of a room you assumed was your parents. "If you really feel like not going in, I understand."
You shook your head, "Rather go in then turn around from here."
He smiled, putting in the key and turning, opening the door.
The first thing you noticed was the sunlight illuminating the white sheets on the bed, and it looked like someone had packed their belongings. You stepped in, Hongjoong behind you, turning once.
"This doesn't feel like their room anymore- everything's packed."
"Your mom's friend packed the stuff. Do you want me to leave while you look at it?"
"No- you can stay," you told him, and he took a seat, you bringing a box to the seat next to his, opening it to find your dad's clothes.
One by one, you opened the boxes- clothes, personal belongings, a few of their favourite books, and then you found a few pictures- pictures of you, pictures you had never seen. You didn't even remember half of the moments.
"You were cuter when you were little," Hongjoong laughed as he saw one of your pre-teen years.
"I admit that I was," you smiled, finding a photo album and flipping through it, Hongjoong bringing his seat closer.
You didn't realize you were crying until your tears fell on the album, and you hastily wiped your eyes, holding back a sob but failing when Hongjoong put a comforting hand on your back.
"It just... feels real, now that I'm in their room alone without them. They'd never let me come here alone," you smiled sadly.
"It's okay, let it out," Hongjoong rubbed your back as you sniffed, bursting in a sob and holding your face in your hands, Hongjoong's arm wrapping around you as he held you.
You really felt their absence now. You'd grown up away from your parents, but this was the one place you'd always be with your parents, with your dad's funny face as he cracked jokes while your mom would scold you both for being too loud.
Hongjoong handed you his handkerchief and you wiped your eyes and nose, apologizing for being a mess.
"It's okay, really," he said, "I know it's hitting now that you're here."
You nodded, another stream of tear escaping your eyes, and Hongjoong's heart ached- he had always seen you with a smile or a smirk on your face. He couldn't bear to see your eyes full of tears, pain evident on your face. He didn't realize what he was doing- he brought his hand to your face, cupping it as he wiped your tears, kissing your cheek once, drawing back rather slowly and you looked at him.
It was as if time stilled- his hand remained on your face, fingers unmoving, while the two of you stared at each other. You were the first to draw away from your trance, muttering a sorry, looking away awkwardly, staring at the distance as you wiped your face.
"Do you want to take some of these to your room?" He asked, getting up, "We can make a box and you can take that."
"That's actually a good idea," you got up, putting all the pictures and photo albums in a separate box, some of your mom's jewellery, your dad's favourite books, and then you were done. You noticed Hongjoong smiling at a picture.
"What are you looking at?"
"I think this is the most recent one," he waved it at you- he was right. It was from the time they visited your home, a candid picture of you where you were out in the sun with a hand in front of your face to block the light. Your mom was always clicking such random pictures of you. "I'm keeping this."
"You are not," you glared at him, coming forward to snatch it away from him but he only stepped back, holding it in the air, smirking playfully.
"I'm gonna frame it and keep it in my room, caption it, 'the only time she looked normal'- hey!"
Hongjoong was startled when you jumped, holding on his shoulder for support, but he took another step back, which was a mistake, and he ended up loosing his footing, his free arm automatically going around your waist for support, but he ended up falling back- thankfully on the bed-
And you on top of him.
You groaned loudly, getting up a bit and laughing loudly when you snatched the picture from him, waving it in front of his face in victory.
But he wasn't having any of that- and he really wanted to wipe the smirk off your face. He brought you closer- dangerously close- and you realized only then the position that you were in, your eyes going wide.
"You're giving me that photo back," his voice was hoarse, expressions smug.
You shook your head, putting your hand behind you, only one hand holding you up for support.
Hongjoong shook his head, muttering 'you're gonna make me regret this' as he pushed himself up and caught your lips in his, kissing you rather furiously, swallowing your surprised moan, his hand tightening around your waist as one hand snaked up your face.
He wasn't even giving you time to think or breathe as he moved his lips along yours, and you didn't realize you were responding to the kiss until you heard his own satisfied moan, your hand on his shoulder now squeezing it unconsciously, because this was wrong, this shouldn't be happening, but you didn't care in that moment, those thoughts being pushed out and out-
Hongjoong snatched the photo from you, and you thought he'd stop, but his hand went to the back of your head, guiding you along better, pushing into you until you both had switched position, your back arched very low.
You had to break apart for breath, your foreheads still joined as you both tried to catch your breath and you couldn't help but sigh at how out of breath you both were. His arms stayed around you as he drew apart, out of words as you stared at each other.
You shook your head, "All this for one photo?"
"I'm definitely framing it," he muttered.
You exhaled, licking your lips as your gaze fell on his, and you finally came to your senses, getting up and away from his warm embrace, suddenly feeling cold.
Hongjoong cleared his throat as he straightened himself, and you picked the box, awkwardly standing in the middle of the room.
"This was definitely only because you wanted to distract me and snatch the photo, right? Because you're in a goddamn Selection, Prince Hongjoong, and Arin is my best friend and I could never do this to her."
He felt his heart twist, but he nodded, "Definitely."
The two of you knew you weren't being honest. But you decided to ignore it for now. "Let's go then. I'll be taking this to my room."
"Alright," he said, motioning you to go forward, locking the room back. As he walked you to the chamber where the girls and you were staying, he told you he was gonna go to his room.
"Can I ask you something?"
"What?"
"That was... just how many girls have you kissed?"
Hongjoong realized you basically meant he was a pro, and he threw his head back as he laughed, making you laugh as well, the ice breaking for now. "I'm not that experienced!"
You made a face that said that you were not having any of it. "Liar."
"Believe it or not, before the Selection, I've only kissed twice," he admitted, and you gasped.
"I guess you're a natural. Let's forget about this, okay? Stay focused, Prince! 16 girls waiting for your response, and I'm not one of them."
Hongjoong saluted, going back to his room- once he was inside, he slumped down with his face in his hands.
He was glad you were cool and things hadn't messed up indefinitely, but...
One thing he was sure of was that he'd never felt anything like this in his life before- and he wanted more. He wasn't sure if he could forget this.
-----------------------
A/N: happy new year to everyone <3 stay happy, healthy and blessed :)