─── ･｡ ﾟ ☆: * .☽. *: ☆ ﾟ. ───

❝ All caught up in your feelings, don't run me round and round. Don't build me to just let me down down down (eh). Don't mess with my head, don't tell me you're falling with your feet on the ledge. I'm all out of breath, baby. Don't run me round and round, don't kiss me, no, don't kiss me. Right now, on your lips just leave it if you don't mean it ❞ — Lauv & LANY, Mean it

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 C H A P T E R  E L E V E N

"What kind of reply?"

"Why is it that when I'm feeling pain, we suffer the same way?"

"Your overthinking. My pain has nothing to do with you."

"If your pain has nothing to do with me then . . . why do you worry about me?" Youngjae asks one last time, eyes glistening with tears. 

It takes almost a minute for Changmin to answer Youngjae, gaze falling to the ground, eyes blinking to brave the words he says next, "What do you mean? I don't understand." 

He knows it's a lie as he swallows the cold and distant tone. He knows he's been lying the entire time. He's ignoring his feelings for the wolf boy and if he looks at him he might have a heart attack because of two reasons that collide into one main reason. 

Changmin is lying.

But Youngjae, he's not giving up until he gets a proper answer. He needs an answer from him. That good for nothing dashing prince charming is just a liar. Can't he be honest for now? 

The shine in his golden eyes flares, hot with tears pooling them, all he can think of is Changmin's determination to not tell the truth, how he can run away so easily if he tries. He just stands there glued to the wall, looking anywhere but at him, chest heaving.

 After contemplating over his choices, Youngjae decides he doesn't want to hurt him. 

Youngjae can't hold his feelings in any longer either, so he backs off, hands leaving the author's, calls out to him before walking away, and Changmin meets his eyes. "Get out of my life," he says bitterly. Eyes sharp not leaving the brunette's glistening caramel honey wide ones. 

When Youngjae starts running away, heart jogging, holding back tears from falling, he feels the wind gush through him, a coat of warm fur blanket around him, dress his face, and a pair of ears grow on his head. 

He throws a quick glance up the night sky illuminated by the full moon, running on four feet fast, reaching the castle he calls home ever since he's been cursed. And Changmin? He almost loses his balance. 

Steadying himself by planting a hand against the wall behind him. Changmin recalls Youngjae's words he feared to hear, echoing in his ears and everything just crashes down on him as his back glides down against the wall, bottom meeting the ground. He buries his face in between his legs, holds himself, and breathes, desperately fighting back tears but they come anyway.

What have I done? 

"Your sister's condition is getting worse and may get worse if she doesn't accept surgery." The doctor tells Youngjae. 

Changmin hears this, glancing at the wolf boy who doesn't seem to notice him behind the door. Changmin wants to help him but he can't. 

He's only hurting him. So, he just stands there silently again before exiting the hospital, not missing out on Youngjae's cries.

I'm such a horrible person.

I promise everything will be okay and you'll be loved.

The mission, right of course. Be there for the wolf boy but nothing more if you're going to hurt him too in the process. 

CHANGMIN'S AT the police station. He enters the chief police's bedroom, hands pulling the blanket off him, and grabs him by the shoulder, patting him there. "Wake up. Yoongi hyung, wake up. I need you to tell me where's Kim Younghoon's uncle?" Changmin asks, worry swimming in his honey caramel eyes. 

"Destiny already has things handled in its hands. It doesn't matter if you help Sohn Youngjae with this matter. And why are you looking for Younghoon's uncle too?" Yoongi says, sleep pulling him over as he lays back in bed. 

Yoongi just wants to sleep but Changmin isn't letting him. 

"If we're able to find Younghoon's uncle then we can help save Youngjae's sister." 

Yoongi wakes up, eyebrow raised. "How are you sure?"

"In The Castle, I wrote that Hyunjae's older sister needed ear surgery and Younghoon's uncle was the doctor!" Changmin exclaims, stepping back as Yoongi slips out of bed. "Did you forget, ever since you came into this world, the story didn't follow the actual line?"

"I don't care!" Changmin almost yells, hands flying, coming to fold across his chest. He looks at Yoongi with a crestfallen expression, chest heaving, ears red. 

I don't care because I want to help that stupid wolf boy. . . . 

I can't have him going through so much pain without me. 

"I don't care if this situation isn't easy. I want to try." Changmin says calmly this time.

Sighing, Yoongi, grabs his small notebook, quickly writing down an address, "I trust you. Here's the address, take it and go. Hurry!" Yoongi lets him know, giving him the piece of paper. 

"Thank you! You can sleep now," Changmin says, full of relief and joy, gently pushing Yoongi back to bed.

DAYLIGHT SPARKLES on the sapphire pond, turning it into a shade of artic, ducks quaking, flapping wings, leaping a little before waddling, cumulus clouds whisk by in the sky blue sky stretching vastly. 

A gush of wind greets a man with brown hair, and brown intelligent eyes, glasses sitting on the bridge of his nose, reading a book sitting on a green hill. 

"That's your uncle?" Changmin asks, bemused.

"Yeah, Kim Namjoon's my uncle," Younghoon assures him. "He doesn't look like it," Changmin says. "He's my uncle. Namjoon may seem very quiet but he's sweet and a genius. He isn't always willing to accept a task if he doesn't think he can do it . . . so, good luck!" Younghoon encourages, throwing his fists in the air, a small smile appearing on his lips.

And so, Changmin strides towards the very intelligent man, lips a straight line, holding his breath. Don't ask him. He doesn't know why. 

"Hello, uncle. I'm Ji Changmin, Kim Younghoon's teacher. Today, I am here to ask you to help someone undergo surgery. You're our last hope," Changmin urges, plopping himself on the hill, and takes the book away from Namjoon, smiling mischievously. 

"I'm afraid I cannot help," is all Namjoon replies.

"Uncle, I'm wondering if you can change this person's mind and help them understand the surgery is important and so is she, especially to her brother." Namjoon listens, understanding what the boy means but he then remembers his current therapies he has to attend. 

"I understand, however, I cannot let my three therapies disturb this new one you are asking for. I am not working on another therapy at the moment," he hopes the young boy knows what he means well. 

He leaves, causing the brunette to sigh in despair. 

This can't be the end. Changmin's got to figure out a solution fast. 

Yet, his hands are planted on his hips and a pour rests on his lips. 

Namjoon, just did what? He says internally, hoping Younghoon can read his face. 

Changmin sits at a bench beside Younghoon. "Teacher Ji, do you know what his three therapies are? A royal knight from the Sun royal family, an American who came to study abroad, and our school's principal. If he does these three therapies successfully, he will get a promotion."

Well, that's fantastic! 

"I'll figure out a solution to stop them from happening."

THE NEXT day, rumors float through the hallway of the hospital and bounce from every corner as nurses quickly walk by, whispering to one another. Namjoon can't ignore the rumors spreading faster than any sort of disease. One of the nurses don't believe Namjoon to be so ruthless, so she doesn't say anything more.

The rumor in dark red bold words read, therapist Kim tricks people for their money on newspapers and online. 

Namjoon ambles out of his working room, stopping in his tracks, eyes slowly dragging up, meeting familiar pair of brown ones.

"Uncle, I know you refused once, but her life is in your hands. She may lose her hearing if she doesn't accept surgery." Changmin says, concern dripping in his voice. 

"Didn't you see what they said on the web about me?" Namjoon reasons.

"I don't care what they said! I just know I trust you." 

Namjoon almost laughs. Changmin looks at him sternly but the worry doesn't wash off his face at all and the therapist feels pity. Namjoon wants to help, he really does. "You know, if you help Areum undergo surgery, then it will resolve all those rumors." 

Changmin taught about this before causing the rumor, yes he is the one who started the rumor just so he can stop the three therapies from occurring. 

Namjoon leaves, thinking about it, in fact, he helps the wolf boy's sister because he doesn't want his patients to suffer, secondly, he wants the rumors to stop spreading. Once the surgical operation begins, it ends in due time, and the group of friends hurries towards the therapist, asking him how the operation went. 

"How's my sister?" Youngjae's the first one to ask, worried eyes dragging up, holding Namjoon's intelligent warm ones.

"I didn't do the operation but get your sister to understand undergoing surgery. She accepted. The operation went well and your sister is perfectly fine. It will take about 2-4 weeks for her to recover."

. . .

Younghoon and Sunwoo bid their goodbyes to Youngjae after staying for a while, the sun has gone down and silence hangs in the air. 

"Younghoon!" Hyunjae calls out to the Moon prince, smiling just a little when the tall, lean male turns around, a glint of hope in his brown eyes. 

"I want to talk to you for a little while." 

Sunwoo manages a faint smile before pushing Younghoon towards Hyunjae and then leaves. Of course, the two princes should be together, after all, they love each other.

"Don't worry. Nothing will happen to your sister again. Try not to worry too much, you'll hurt your body from exhaustion. As for me, I'll always stay by your side," surprised isn't the right word as Youngjae turns, locking eyes with Changmin. "Until your sister is perfectly healthy." 

"I don't need you."

. . . 

"Teacher Ji, already told me everything," Younghoon starts. 

Hyunjae walks behind him and when he's sure the younger has reached his destination, arms laying on a white architecture, staring ahead of the extending blue sky, he stands next to him. 

Younghoon turns around and his arm fidgets from Hyunjae's bumping into his. He isn't sure why the Sun crown prince did this childish act of affection but he does know the butterflies swooping in his stomach means it's a good reason. 

"So, do you still think I am cold and selfish?"

"Last time, I misunderstood you. I came to apologize."

"No need. I want to help Son Youngjae. You thought I did something wrong because you didn't trust me. You've always been like this, making people's good deeds look bad." Younghoon folds his arms across his chest. 

"We should always try to help our classmates who are going through the most. You shouldn't think I'm always a bad person. It's me who thinks of you like that." Hyunjae says, sort of questioning himself too. 

Younghoon wasn't expecting this, he storms off. Morning arrives the next day again fast and Namjoon exits his room, taking a step back, meeting eyes with Changmin who's hesitant with his words, seemingly ashamed.

"Son Youngjaes grateful for your help." Namjoon gives Changmin a pat on his arm, then starts leaving but stops, hearing the author, "Thank you," he says, a silly smile on his lips. 

"Listening to you seems like you need to apologize to me," Namjoon figures. 

Changmin laughs at this. "Did you already figure out I was trying to . . . trap you?"

"Seems like it. Next time you need to come find me, don't start anything." 

"Of course," Changmin promises, a smile making its way to his lips. 

Oh gosh, this character is far more functional than I thought. He hit rock bottom and still created an external article. 

Changmin finds a seat and adjusts there, waiting for Youngjae with Hyunjae who hands him a lunch box, suggesting him to eat because he's been working so hard and needs to eat anyway. 

In all honesty, Changmin has no appetite. His eyes land on Youngjae's, walking out of the room his sister is resting in, he brings the lunchbox filled with the wolf boy's favorite food toward him, stepping back from the sudden push, and the food drops onto the floor. 

Youngjae didn't mean this. He just doesn't want to see him. 

"I remember telling you, I don't want to see you anymore. You better leave right now. Stop annoying me." 

"Son Youngjae!" Hyunjae stands up, not pleased with the way the wolf boy acted with his teacher. "Please apologize to teacher Ji."

"For what?" Youngjae raises his voice, brow hitched.

"Teacher Ji found Younghoon's uncle. He saved you and your sister's life. You can't treat him like this. He has good intentions!" 

Yeah, sure. "Why don't you ask him if he's doing all this for me or himself?" 

Hyunjae doesn't know how to answer now and he's positive Changmin doesn't mean any bad intention. Youngjae just makes his leave, receiving a paper from the nurse. 

"My bill has already been paid for?" He asks, surprised. Hyunjae pulls Changmin by the arm, reassuring him it'll be okay, he should go home and relax, but the author tosses a glance over his shoulder, worry etched on his face. 

Will Youngjae be okay?

YOUNGJAE DOESN'T know what to feel about Changmin. He never really did. Sometimes he had two feelings battling to win over another, and right now, love is winning. 

He feels a smile take over his face, every happy feeling rushes through him, and he wants more despite the falling red petals reflecting his coffee irises. 

He strolls around in the forbidden room of his castle, asking the magic mirror the definition of soulmates: soulmates have a telepathic connection, extremely rare, rumors say they are meant to be together. 

Stupid! Who would believe that? 

He throws the mirror away which lands on his large bed, the garnet blanket draped across. Yet, he finds himself questioning it as he recalls memories of him and the brunette. There's a teasing smile spreading across Youngjae's face and he suddenly wants, no craves to see him. 

He grabs the paper listing things the dancer doesn't want him to perform but does anyway, excitement flooding him. Youngjae skips rope, it's fun too, so why not?

Changmin wakes up immediately, muddled. Why is his heart pounding so quickly? Maybe, it's a nightmare, he thinks and goes back to sleep. He wakes up again, this time, groaning in pain, reaching for his throbbing foot. 

Then, Youngjae grins. He grabs for one of his favorite foods and they are spicy. 

He isn't allowed to eat so much spicy food but he doesn't care. He just wants to see Changmin. 

The brunette isn't able to take the pain anymore. He slips out of bed fast, storms out of his room he received from the wolf boy's friends in the castle. Raising his hand to knock against the forbidden room's door, he contemplates if he should tell Youngjae to stop or not, however, his brain decides for him. 

Content, Youngjae jumps out of the chair he was sitting on and runs forward, drawing the door open. Something better than happiness consumes him, seeing the dancer in front of him. He has to control himself from literally jumping on him. 

His heart jumps actually, the both of their hearts once his eyes glaze over the smaller's honey caramel ones glowing, although tired, and upset, he looks adorable; dark hair swept across his forehead, flushed cheeks probably from anger. 

The wolf boy is also surprised because one minute he's admiring his face, then the next minute, everything happens too quickly. 

His hands cradle the older's face, thumb near his ear. Before Changmin could even ask why he was doing what he was doing it transitions into a different one that doesn't make out or register the easy words, "I like you. I want you to be mine, Changmin," leaving Youngjae's mouth, then there's a strong press of lips against his own. Changmin's eyes widen, heartbeat resonating in his ears, losing himself in the fiery kiss. 

His mind triggers him to pull away but as he starts, he's pulled inside, the door shutting behind him. He finds himself in the same position as last time. 

He's lifted against the wall, legs wrapped around his freaking character, his own arms wrapped around his neck. Heart racing,  thoughts are everywhere, noisy, slowly dying down the moment he feels a gentle hand caress his hair, the soft touch of a thumb brushing near his ear calming him. No, this isn't right. I don't deserve him. No. 

He can practically hear the other's heartbeat and his own matching, chest heaving.

Youngjae kisses him passionately, all of his emotions diving into one hurried, demanding, searing kiss as his lips glides against the older's. He bites down on Changmin's lower lip making the boy squirm as he whines loudly in the room, hand fisting the silk material of the younger's shirt, traveling down his arm, pinching him against the skin there.

Youngjae pulls away, mouthing an "ow", raising his head to look at Changmin's flushed face, crimson hues bright on the high of his cheeks, ears tinted red, brown eyes looking at the younger's from one to another.

"Why?" Youngjae says quietly. Changmin folds his hand around Youngjae's wrist lightly. He wants to speak but can't. He's so scared, to tell the truth, well half-truth at least. 

He knows it will slip out either way. 

The wolf boy looks so happy right now; ginger eyes sparkling, blush creeping up his cheeks as he realizes what he just did, adoration contrasting the now lustful look in Youngjae's eyes, whispering again, "Why?" Because it's always been the main question between them. 

His look, his touches are too much, and when Changmin doesn't answer, Youngjae leans to whisper in his ear, "I think I understand how to love now," kissing the shell of his ear. He begins dragging his lips along the brunette's jaw, and down his neck, planting butterfly kisses at the skin there. 

Changmin bites down on his lips, eyes shut close from the pleasure blooming through his body. Let go, you're going to hurt him more by lying. His hands push Youngjae by the chest with a difficult blast of courage, tearing his gaze away. Changmin's cheeks are dusted pink, hair a mess. 

And Changmin's wrong the moment his eyes lock with Youngjae's because he can see affection and sadness burning in his dark brown eyes and the next words he says contrasts how he feels about him. 

He can already feel his heart shatter as his lips tremble. 

"I said I liked you to trick you. I don't like you."

UNEDITED :")

EDITED: 10/24/20